Regular cleaning and protection of alloy
wheels will help prevent brake dust, tar spots, and other road grime from being
baked on by the power of the sun and the heat that can be generated by braking.
If neglected, wheels will prove very difficult to restore to their former glory
-- if not impossible in
some cases.
For optimum
results, remove each wheel individually and subject it to a thorough soak with
warm, soapy water using an old sponge. For quickness, the wheels can be
left in situ but subjected to a pre-wash using
something with shifting power.
Approved by
TVR,
MG, and Jaguar,
apply some Wonder Wheels solution over each alloy, agitating into all
the nooks and crannies using the brush supplied. For heavily soiled areas
and hard to remove dirt you can leave the cleaner to soak
in, re-applying if necessary. With this, you should find all of the grime
has been loosened. Turtle Wax Alloy Wheel Cleaner is just as
effective. To finish the cleaning process simply wipe again with a
soapy sponge and then rinse with clean water.
Once
the alloy is dry, it's time to add some protection. Turtle
Wax Extreme Wax For Wheels is easily applied and very effective.
Spray on the solution (I spray onto a cloth first then apply) and wipe over the
entire surface of the wheel (applying added pressure where needed to help remove any
remaining traces of dirt). Given some time to dry, buff with another clean
cloth to leave behind a great shine and protective barrier -- this will prevent dirt
and brake dust from sticking so much next time. Incidentally,
Halfords have their own product which is equally as effective.
Aged
and tired looking tyres don't suit an otherwise sparkling sports car -- not
a problem though as they too can be
subjected to the same pampering as the rest of the car. Ideally, clean the
tyre walls at the same time as the alloys, using an old sponge and warm, soapy
water. Give them a good scrub, perhaps using a brush as well. Once
free from as much dirt as possible, rinse away the dirty suds.
When dry
it's time to get dressed. Turtle Wax Extreme Tyre Gel is a wipe-on solution which is designed to
partially soak into and condition
the tyre wall. As well as an impressive finish, it's also water resistant
which helps prolong the shine. Also recommended is Simoniz Back To Black
Tyre Shine which comes in a more convenient aerosol form -- a couple of coats
ensures a dark, glossy finish which also won't fling off during transit. It's
reasonably water resistant too.
