How to Detail Wheels and Tires?

Good detailing involves cleaning your car thoroughly and letting it shine. The wheel and tires are an important part of the detailing process that often get overlooked.

In this blog, we look at ways to detail your car’s wheels and tires to give it an amazing look.

Have the Right Cleaning Products and Tools on Hand

The majority of experts recommend detailing your wheels with a good quality wheel cleaner. You should have approved wheel and tire cleaning brushes as well to do a good job.

Auto detail workshops are able to clean the tires on the outer face as well as the inner side. This is because they have a lift platform that allows them to easily get under the vehicle.

Since you probably don’t have access to such a platform, you will only be able to do a thorough job on the outer surface. Some people like to take the wheels off, one at a time, to clean them thoroughly.

This can be time consuming and require a lot more effort. If you aren’t particularly concerned about the inner side, leave the wheels on. Otherwise, take them off one at a time to clean and wash them completely.

Step 1 – Rinse Off All Dirt on the Wheels

The wheels of your car make consistent contact with the ground. This is why they accumulate dirt and debris more than any other part.

When you start detailing them, you need to spray off all standing debris first. The best way to do that is with a strong water jet. You can use a garden hose with spray nozzle or high-pressure water sprayer if you’d like.

Put some pressure on the water as you spray it on the wheels and tire. This helps the mud and grime to soften and wash off the wheel with ease. Remember to wash the brake disk as well. If you wash the whole wheel after removing it from the vehicle, you’ll be able to get inside the hard to reach areas.

There is no need to dry the wheels after this step and you can proceed to step 2.

Step 2 – Mix Soap and Water

This is where you get down and dirty. Grab a bucket and fill it with warm water. Add around two to three scoops of commercial grade, tire cleaning solution in it. Mix the solution up until it gets bubbly.

Some people use the regular dish washer to clean their wheels and tires. While it can work in most cases, the result is not the best. A commercial grade tire cleaner that is designed to clean rubber and metal gives a much better shine to your vehicle than the regular dish washing soap.

Step 3 – Scrub the Tires and Rim

Once the water looks soapy, dip a cleaning sponge in it and scrub the face of the tires and rims. Try to remove as much road contaminants and dirt from the tires as possible by scrubbing the sponge on the rubber sidewalls of the tire. You can also use a tire cleaning brush here for a better job.

Rub the cleaning sponge on the metal rims and spokes as well. If you can reach around the tire with your arm, scrub the rim from the inside as well. Usually, this is the place where grime accumulates the most. It is generally easier to reach this area for cleaning by taking the wheels off.

Step 4 – Rinse and Wash Away

After the tire has been scrubbed thoroughly, use the garden hose to rinse soap off with water completely. Do not hesitate to rinse thoroughly to ensure all the soap is removed from the tire and wheel. 

If you scrubbed the wheel from the inside, angle the hose to wash the wheel from the inside as well.

Move through the wheels one after the other. Let them dry complete before moving to step 5.

Step 5 – Coat the Tires with a Cleaner

Wait for 10 – 15 minutes to let the wheels dry up completely. Once they are dry, use a good quality cleaner and spray it over the surface of your tires and rubber sidewalls. The cleaner helps protect the tire against dirt and gives it a lustrous shine that can last for many hours.

With the help of a tire brush, spread out the cleaner and rub it against the tires in a left-right motion.

Step 6 – Wax the Wheels

After the tires are done, you still need to shine the wheels. Apply a layer of quality wax on your wheels and then to seal the surface. Use a soft, lint-free microfiber towel for buffing. 

The wax polish also prevents brake dust adhesion and plays an important role in making your tires look cleaner for longer.

To save time, you can do this 5 step process by moving through each wheel successively.