are those wheel and tire cleaner bad?

[Adam]

I’ve used it before and maybe the chemical hit the brake rotor and I had a feeling it gave it weird noise for a minute. Just curious if those chemicals are actually bad for cars? I’m thinking of using it again the No Touch Tire Cleaner to make my tires shine. It’s a spray that I can use on the sidewall of the tires. I will also use the some wheel cleaner from BlackMagic. I hope these products are ok to use without hard on tires or wheels. Anyone here ever used these?

Topic

[Paul]

I haven’t used the particular products that you have listed. As you have probably noticed, there is a wide spectrum of products, prices, and applications (alloy, clearcoated wheels, etc). I don’t have any hard evidence, but there are probably some good products and some lesser products, and price may not be the absolute determinant.

I have shied away from tire and wheel cleaners over the years. I became concerned of the harshness of some wheel cleaners after seeing an ant curl up and die after crossing some overspray on the ground. Also, I’ve wondered if the product has a negative effect on the exposed rotors and calipers, and if the product removes some of the brake lubricants. Again, I don’t know if the products actually cause any harm.

I usually start with the least aggressive approach to cleaning the wheels and tires: car washing soap and sponge/brush. Then, spot treat any areas with a more aggressive wheel-safe (Griot’s green) product. I clean the wheel wells with an all-purpose cleaner and a brush. Then, I rinse thoroughly with the hose and call it done. The tires and wheels may not look perfect, but they will get dirty again, and the cycle will repeat.

[Erin]

Those wheel and tire cleaners are a rip-off. You can get as good a results with some good dish washing soap (Palmolive or Dawn), a sponge or sturdy rag, and some elbow grease.
For the really harsh crap on the wheels, I have carefully scraped it off with a razor (careful not to nick the finish).

Now here is one I recommend exercising MUCH caution with but if you have a lot of brake crap or whatever on the wheels that is stubborn, “The Works” toilet bowl cleaner on a rag (and elbow grease) gets it. Wear GOOD rubber gloves for that, not the thin latex. Toilet bowl cleaner is acid based but should not hurt the finish. Do this at your own risk.

wheel cleaner on rotors – any water based liquid on rotors will cause a little rust and the first time you apply brakes it will break the rust off, kind of like after a good rain. You need not worry.
Tire shine – Just get one of those tire shine sponges from the parts store ($3 tops) and spray the tire shine to it THEN work the sponge around the wheels.
Other car cleaning chemicals – pretty much all of them are horribly overpriced. What you are paying for is the awesome looking labels.

So yes tire and wheel cleaners ARE bad. After using them, you will notice a gouge in your wallet. A gouge that could have been a mere scuff.

[grimsubaru]

When I was 16, I worked in a new car dealership part of my morning routine was to shine tires, before my days of detailing cars. The oil in the tire-shine spray we placed on the tires turnes to a non-shiny chocolate color and generally looks bad after sitting outside or in the sun. We ended up only shining the tires of the cars in the show room, because of the extra hastle of stripping the oils clean before coats.

Also spray chemicals onto rag, then apply.

[Lorrin Barth]

I’ve seen that chocolate color on new car tires and wondered what it was.

[Author]

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