Best wheel cleaner for BBS wheels?

[street sleeper]

My BBS CH-R wheels and beautiful, but a nightmare to clean!

Right now, I just use my car shampoo and a sponge to get around all the spokes. But there has to be a better (less time consuming) way.

Is there a spray and rinse wheel cleaner that actually work? Or is nothing going to get the job done like good old elbow grease?

[wkhanna]

did you ceramic coat first?

......makes cleaning much easier for mine.....

[Audibot]

So you want to use Sonax, Griot's Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner, or similar wheel cleaner--these have chemicals that react with the iron in the brake dust to help remove it. They change color from greenish to reddish-purple as they do their job. Will of course require some elbow grease to properly and fully clean. But afterwards, regular upkeep will make it a breeze. I prefer the Griot's because it smells much better than the Sonax.

After that's done, as wkhanna said, you can ceramic coat your wheels as well as wax them. If you want the best finish, you should get wheel clay first to pull out any extra junk from the wheel.

Also you may want to look into ceramic brake pads. Much less dust than stock or any semi-metallic

[A6sport]

Bill and Audibot, gave the perfect answer to cleaning wheels, couldn't agree more.

[beast-roast]

I like Adam's Polishes wheel cleaner (the regular one, not the eco formula). I've used Sonax in the past but I think it's too harsh unless your wheels are REALLY covered with brake dust and grime. Right now I am using Carpro Iron X but it smells horrid. Literally smells like sulfur and rotten eggs. Adams doesn't smell great but definitely not as bad as Iron X.

[Game]

Yeah Sonax is good stuff but quite harsh.

[Audibot]

I like Adam's Polishes wheel cleaner (the regular one, not the eco formula). I've used Sonax in the past but I think it's too harsh unless your wheels are REALLY covered with brake dust and grime. Right now I am using Carpro Iron X but it smells horrid. Literally smells like sulfur and rotten eggs. Adams doesn't smell great but definitely not as bad as Iron X.

That's why I like the Griot's. Smells like cherries and works well. I agree you don't need to use that stuff unless it's bad, but OP seems to have some remnants that are stubborn.

[JWebb_C7_Comp]

That's why I like the Griot's. Smells like cherries and works well. I agree you don't need to use that stuff unless it's bad, but OP seems to have some remnants that are stubborn.

My stock wheels are for summer only, but I used ceramic coating before this summer season and anything I use seems to clean the wheels very easily. In the past, I had waxed wheels every season and used either (1) P21S or (2) BMW branded cleaner because it was effective and - believe it or not - reasonably priced.

It seems to me that wax and/or ceramic coating is really the key; and, both allow you to use the “gentle” wheel cleaners.

Good luck!


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[Neil F]

Also assume you are using stock or similar brake pads. Really consider going to ceramic pads. With the stock pads, (I thought every traffic light I had to want to get out and clean the wheels and buy stock in a wheel cleaner company I was using so much lol.) I put on Akebono and virtually no dust at all. I like Eagle 1 wheel cleaner, though I very rarely use it now

[wkhanna]

It seems to me that wax and/or ceramic coating is really the key; and, both allow you to use the “gentle” wheel cleaners.

...take note of this..... harsh detergents will break down the ceramic &/or wax much faster.....

....once you invest the time & $ to ceramic coat, try to avoid the drive-thru carwashes as they use V aggressive detergents....
& this is the beauty of the ceramic, it allows you to clean 90% of dirt from your wheels with a high-pressure wand like they have at the manual coin carwash places.....
---- or even if you have decent pressure from your hose at home.....

.... try to use only mild detergents to help maintain its effectiveness for a longer time....

i got some from carbon flex wash from chemguys to use on my wheels.... just put it a spray bottle.....

jmho... ymmv....

[beast-roast]

Right now I'm testing Hydrosilex Recharge on my wheels. Its a supposed to protect in a way that is similar to ceramic coatings, just in a less permanent way. Supposedly it lasts a few months. I cleaned my wheels this weekend and sprayed Hydrosilex on them. You apply it when wet, then blast it with a pressure washer and wipe down with a microfiber cloth. Going to see how the wheels look on friday and hit them again with the pressure washer with no soap or agitation used, just water. I'll let you guys know if its worth it or not.

[MME1122]

I use sonax and ABN wheel woolies. If you think the sonax is too harsh you can dilute it with water and get more out of it. Wheels take almost as long as the car itself to clean lol, it sucks.

[wkhanna]

..............Wheels take almost as long as the car itself to clean lol, it sucks............

....lol.... it is the price we pay.... lol....

[mikedizzzo]

Yeh I spending about 15-20 mins doing a good clean just on the wheels. Lol


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