Ultimate Tires and Wheels 101
Detailing your tires and wheels is crucial to the overall final detailed presentation look of your vehicle so let's jump right in.
Generally speaking...the cleaning should be done prior to the vehicle wash stage...The dressing, last.
What you'll need for the job:
1. A non acid/non caustic wheel cleaner in a spray bottle diluted properly
2. A butyl based heavy duty cleaner/degreaser (Butyl eats rubber) in a spray bottle diluted properly
3. A 4-6'" firm bristle scrub brush for scrubbing the tire and white letters.
4. A soft bristle Mag wheel brush or a soft bristle detail or tooth brush.
5. A 5 gallon wash bucket filled with warm soapy carwash
6. A wash mit that you only use for tires and wheels...Never on the paint.
7. A hose handy and ready.
8. Tire dressing and a sponge
9. A pair of rubber gloves
10.Wax and a wipe cloth
The Rules:
1. Never spray anything on a mag wheel in the direct sunlight. UV light can cause etching on a mag.
2. Never spray anything on a dry mag wheel...Always wet it first.
3. Never spray anything on a hot mag wheel.
4. Never walk away from wheels or tires that have chemicals on them. Use the 30 second rule and then rinse.
5. Always run extra water on the cleaned tires and rims to get any excess chemical off.
6. Try not to breath that crap in....known to cause Parkinsons disease.
Let's begin:
1. Begin by rinsing the tire and wheel to get off any excess dirt and to cool the wheel.
2. Always start with the Tire first...get your spray bottle, tire brush and hose ready.
Spray down the tire and the wheel well completely with the cleaner and count to 30...watch as the tire starts turning brown as the butyl based cleaner starts to deep clean the dirt out of the rubber...
Pay close attention to the mag and if you see any type of reaction....Rinse immediatlly.
After 30 grab your brush and scrub the whole face of the tire. Do it with vigor and do it quickly as you've oversprayed your mag. Scrub it hard and fast you wuss. RinseTire, Mag and Well...Repeat if necessary.
3.Grab the wheel cleaner spray bottle and get your wheel brushes and hose ready.
Spray down the wheel with the cleaner and count to 30 again. Begin to brush all the nooks and crannies GENTLY! rinse and repeat if necessary.
4. Grab your bucket and your wash mit and give the wheel a detailed scrubbing with your hands followed up by washing the tire. Rinse...
Next, proceed to the vehicle wash, dry and wax.
After your vehicle is completely washed, dried and waxed.....
Time to Dress the tires and wheels:
NEVER SPRAY TIRE DRESSING DIRECTLY ON YOUR TIRE!!!!!!!
1. Put your gloves on (so you don't get this greasy crap on your hands and have to rewash your truck...Trust me)
2. Squat near your tire and put the nozzle of your tire dressing right in the sponge and proceed to "load it up" with dressing. Apply with a circular motion right around the outside of the tire covering up to and over the first tread.
Next, make sure you move toward the center and then the inside tire BEING CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE WHEEL.( if you do wipe it off with a clean wiping cloth) Cover the tire completely.
3. You can then apply a thin coat of wax to the mag and wipe clean.
4. MOST IMPORTANT!!! Roll your truck forward or back slowly a half a tire rotation and wipe with dressing to get the underside of the tire you couldn't reach from the weight of the vehicle...
If you have to drive immediatley, don't go too heavy with the dressing or you'll spinn it off up the wheelwell and on the body.
Let it sit overnight for best results.
Have a beer and brag....you now have the cleanest kicks on the road....ANY ROAD!
Good luck, hope this helped and give me feedback as to your results!
