Auto detailing is a hard job, but they probably wouldn’t call it “detailing” if it didn’t entail meticulous work and scrutinizing method. One aspect of auto detailing that can be quite difficult is the detailing of wheels and tires. Not only does the detailing of wheels and tires ensure that your car looks great, but it can also be an effective method of ensuring your safety on the road. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of wheel and tire detailing for proper car care.

To remove or not to remove

The first question you need to answer is whether you want to clean your wheels while they are mounted on the car or if you want to jack lift your car and remove the wheels. Removing the wheels can have some huge benefits, such as giving you easy access for cleaning all sides and angles of the wheels and tires.

Inspection before detailing

When you decide to clean your wheels and tires, the very first step is a thorough inspection. Inspect your wheels for new scratches, nicks, or other superficial damage that you may want to have repaired in the future. Inspect your tires to monitor the wear and tear on the treads, and check for air leaks or other abnormalities that may need repair or replacement.

Primary washing

Once thoroughly inspected, commence with a primary wash of water and soap. You may want to use wheel and tire brushes while soaping to remove dirt, brake dust, and other contaminants. Make sure that you use a soft bristle brush that won’t cause damage to your car.

Thorough washing

Once you’re done with the initial wash, you can then get down to the real detailing, using auto detailing products such as wheel cleaners, tire gels, and waxes. For this bit of the detailing, you will need microfiber towels and the proper detailing products. Follow the instructions on the bottle and remember to clean, polish, wax, and protect each tire one at a time to ensure that the products you use don’t dry up before you get around to cleaning each wheel.