Spray-On Wheel Cleaners

Wheels make the loudest visual statement about a car. Rock stars and pro "ballers" aren't the only ones who know that huge, shiny rims personalize a ride more than any other single component. But as wheels get taller, they become larger targets for brake dust and road grime.

As wheels get taller, they become larger targets for brake dust and road grime.
Luckily, keeping newer wheels clean can be relatively easy. Several "one-step" wheel cleaners are available that lift and dissolve crud from rims. The residue can then be hosed off, returning the wheels to their full glory.

Etching
Wheel washing can actually etch the rim's surface: Minerals in hard water can etch into aluminum in the form of white-spotting. Left unattended, white-spotting can permanently damage the wheel's skin.


Surface contamination can also embed itself if allowed to sit too long on the wheel. This can include oxidation, oil, tar, dirt and the generic grime that migrates upward from the road.


One other infamous contaminant is brake dust. As the pads or shoes wear, their friction surfaces give off airborne particles that tend to cling to wheels. Brake dust makes rims look prematurely old. Heat generated by braking doesn't help the situation, as it tends to bake any bugaboos onto the wheel.