When it comes to auto detailing, many people focus on the more obvious areas like the paint, windows, or interior. However, detailing your tires and wheels is just as crucial. Not only does it enhance your vehicle's overall appearance, but it also protects against long-term damage caused by brake dust, road grime, and other contaminants. Just like exterior detailing services that focus on your car's paint or a ceramic coating to protect your vehicle's surface, tire and wheel detailing are critical to keeping your vehicle looking its best from top to bottom.
In this guide, we'll cover six essential tips to help you achieve the best results when cleaning your tires and wheels:
Before applying any cleaner or using any tools, thoroughly rinse your wheels and tires. A good pre-rinse removes loose dirt and grime, reducing the risk of scratches when scrubbing. This step is especially important if your wheels are coated, as it helps to maintain the integrity of the coating.
Tip: Use a pressure washer or a strong jet of water from a hose to get into the nooks and crannies of the wheels and tires.
It is crucial to select the appropriate cleaner for your wheels. Wheels come in various finishes, including chrome, painted, anodized, and roughcast aluminum, each requiring specific care.
Tip: Always check the cleaner's label to ensure it matches your wheel type.
The tools you use can significantly improve the effectiveness and safety of your wheel and tire cleaning routine.
Tip: Keep separate tools for wheels and tires to avoid cross-contamination.
To avoid cleaner drying on the surface, which can cause staining or spotting, it's best to clean and rinse one wheel at a time. After applying the cleaner, use your chosen brushes to scrub away dirt, ensuring you get into all the crevices.
Tip: Follow up with a thorough rinse, using a strong jet of water to remove all cleaner residue.
Drying your wheels is essential to prevent water spots and ensure a spotless finish. Use a dedicated microfiber towel for wheels and tires—never use the same towel for your car's paintwork.
Once dry, apply a wheel sealant or wax to protect the surface from brake dust and road contaminants. Products like BLACKFIRE SiO2 Wheel Seal or Wheel Wax create a barrier that makes future cleaning easier and keeps your wheels looking shiny longer.
Tip: For long-lasting protection, consider using a ceramic coating like Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Wheel Coating. This coating creates a hard, slick surface that resists brake dust build-up for up to 18 months.
The final step is to apply a tire dressing after your tires are clean and dry. Modern water-based tire dressings like Pinnacle Black Onyx Tire Gel provide a subtle, non-greasy shine and nourish the rubber, helping to prevent cracking and browning.
For a more permanent solution, consider a tire coating like Pinnacle Black Label Tire Clear Coat, which offers months of protection and keeps tires looking fresh without the need for frequent reapplication.
Tip: Avoid over-application of tire dressing, as excess product can sling off onto your vehicle's bodywork once you start driving.
Regular maintenance of your tires and wheels is an essential part of comprehensive car care. By using the right products, tools, and techniques, you can achieve professional-level results and ensure that your wheels and tires stay in pristine condition. Don't overlook this critical aspect of detailing—proper tire and wheel care can make all the difference in your vehicle's overall appearance and longevity.
Ready to elevate your car's detailing experience? San Diego Select Mobile Detailing brings professional detailing services right to your door, ensuring that every part of your vehicle, from the tires to the roof, is treated with expert care. Whether you're looking for a basic clean, a full detail, or even paint correction, our team has you covered. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and discover the convenience and quality of our mobile auto detailing services.
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Nick Powell
vito arminio
David Goshgarian
Phillip Walters
Jonathan Marden
Kobuk Van Houten
Kevin Craig
Carolina Don
Perfection & Protection.
Frustrated with everything that the car wash leaves behind?
Does your paint not shine like it used to?
In love with your car and want to preserve your investment for the long term?
That is why we are here. Not only do we leave you with flawless results, but we make sure that your paint, leather, and other materials are protected for years to come. We will treat your car (and you) like one of our own.
The shampoo and hot water extraction is the best possible care for your FABRIC seats.
We will bathe your seats in thick foam shampoo, agitate it with a fabric brush attachment on a drill, and then extract all the grime, dirt, stains and contaminant from the seats with hot water at 210ºF. If your seats need a refresh, this is as good as it gets. Because the service takes 45 minutes on average, and only a small percent of vehicles need it we charge extra for it. Don't worry - its only $50 extra. Totally worth it.
Do you have any little scrapes and scratches that bother you?
We can handle it.. to an extent. We are polishing experts - so if the scratch isn't too deep, we can get it out. Ever heard of "The Fingernail Test", this is a great way to know if your scratches are fixable. If you feel the scratch will your fingernail and you can feel a groove in the paint, it it probably a little bit too deep ~in the sections where the groove is~
A clay bar is exactly what it sounds like, a little ball of malleable puddy.
This is used in the decontamination phase of the detail to prepare your paint for protection.
Every exterior detail has 3 phases: 1. Wash 2. Decontaminate 3. Protect.The decontamination stage is responsible for removing from the paint everything that doesn't come off from the wash.
Remember when you bought your car and the paint was smooth to the touch? That is the goal of this stage. Remove all the crusty junk that is stuck to you paint. This way, when we apply sealant (protection) to your paint it will adhere to the paint itself, rather than the junk sitting on the surface. This will give the sealant its longest possible useful life.
For the same reason that you get an oil change. Engines are expensive to replace (8-15K) so we take good care of them. So is your paint - the average paint job costing around $5,000. If you don't protect your paint with some type of ceramic, wax, or sealant, your paint WILL fail.
In San Diego, our biggest enemy is the sun, or the salt if you live near the beach. Next time you are in a big parking lot, look around at the hoods of the vehicles. You will notice around 1/6 vehicles have completely delaminated clear coat.
That means the paint looks like dead skin on the surface and you could peel it off with you fingers. Not pretty. There is a simple solution to ensure your vehicle never ends up like this. Exterior Detailing. Bonus points for a ceramic coating with is the best protection possible.