How to clean car wheels and tyres properly
Barrels, spokes, nuts and the rubber — with an acid-free cleaner and the right brush for each.
40 minBeginner5 steps
Wheels carry the worst dirt on the car: hot brake dust, road tar, oil and grit. They need their own chemicals, their own brushes and their own bucket, and they should always be cleaned first so the mess never lands on clean paint. An acid-free cleaner is safe on painted, polished and chrome finishes, which is why it is all we use in the bay.
- 1
Wheels must be cool
After a drive, brakes and rims can be hot enough to dry cleaner on contact. Wait until you can comfortably hold your hand on the rim.
- 2
Rinse and spray
Rinse off loose dirt, then spray Wheel Rescue onto the barrel, spokes, nuts and tyre wall, one wheel at a time.
- 3
Agitate with the right brush
Long barrel brush inside the rim, soft-face brush on the spokes and face, lug-nut brush around the nuts. Then scrub the tyre wall until the foam turns from brown to white.
- 4
Rinse thoroughly
Rinse the wheel, the tyre and the arch. Move to the next wheel only once this one is done.
Bay tip · Still seeing orange specks or a dull film? That is embedded brake dust — follow our brake dust guide with Iron Out.
- 5
Dry and dress
Dry the face with a wheels-only microfibre, let the tyres dry fully, then apply a thin coat of Tyre Gloss with an applicator.
Common mistakes
- Cleaning hot wheels
- Using the paint mitt or paint towels on wheels
- Acid wheel cleaners on polished or damaged alloys
- Doing all four wheels at once and letting the cleaner dry
Safety: Wear gloves when using wheel chemicals and rinse any overspray from paint and brake components.