Aluminium tyre rims
Dazzlingly beautiful

Dazzling aluminium tyre rims are the pride of many a car owner. But brake dust and everyday grime can make them dull, and not only visually, unfortunately, rims of this type are also very sensitive when it comes to cleaning and care.
The professional tip: Conveyor tunnel washes with wheel-sill washers

Most dirt on rims can be removed with wheel-sill washers. This is a special washing unit designed particularly to remove the stubborn dirt on the lower part of the vehicle and the wheels. Ask your conveyor tunnel wash operator whether his system has a unit of this type.
The professional tip: Washing
- Slightly dirty:
- This is when the braking dust can be removed by gently rubbing with the finger (wear gloves) to reveal the metal or if road dirt (dust) has built up on the rim.
- Spray all rims with the cleaner and carefully remove dirt with the rim brush.
Rinse the rims thoroughly until no dissolved dirt or cleaning products can be seen.
Turn the rim through 180° and repeat the cleaning process.
In the case of sensitive aluminium or chrome rims, there is a risk, after rinsing, that water or lime scale stains may be left. It is best to use a compressed air gun for drying. - Normally dirty:
- This is when deposits form on the surface that can only be partly removed when they are rubbed hard with a finger (wear gloves). The metal stays dirty and cannot be easily seen.
- Rinse rims with plain water to remove all the loose dirt and soil. Work from rim to rim. Apply rim cleaner generously to each rim, remove dirt thoroughly with the rim brush and rinse off carefully with plenty of water.
Stubborn dirt that cannot be removed with the brush can be worked on with the hard side of the cleaning sponge.
Do not allow more than five minutes for working on the rim. The rim must be kept completely wet during cleaning to avoid marking. - Seriously / extremely dirty:
- Serious / extreme soiling cannot be removed even if you rub the surface hard. The layer of brake dust cannot be penetrated or rinsed off visibly. The surface of the wheel rim looks rough. In most cases, the varnish has already started to deteriorate. This is due to the impact of tiny stones which damage the upper layer of clear varnish during driving. The surface of the rim is therefore very difficult to clean, and cleaning is very time-consuming. With spoked rims, treatment with the compressed air finishing machine and additional painting may be required.
After a thorough evaluation of the rim quality, the rim cleaning product must be considerably diluted before being applied. This must be done extremely carefully. Any lack of attention could cause serious corrosion of the rim, which generally cannot be rectified. - All the rims must be rinsed with plain water to remove and layers of dirt which have stuck to the surface.
Using the rim cleaner and the rim brush, clean each rim thoroughly, one after the other, and carefully rinse off the rim you have just cleaned immediately. If the dirt cannot be removed satisfactorily, repeat the cleaning with a household sponge (or with steel wool if this is also unsuccessful). Keep rinsing the rim down so that the soaking time for the highly concentrated cleaning product is no longer than two minutes. After rinsing, continue with the cleaning process until the rim is clean.
Attention
- Rims with a shiny or matt surface (chrome effect) should not be cleaned with rim cleaning products containing acids, unless the braking dust is extremely burnt in. However, the product should not be left to soak in for longer than a minute, and it must be rinsed off immediately with plain water.
- Do not apply rim cleaner to hot wheel rims! Even these cleaning products can cause streaking, discoloration or marks. You should cool the rims with cold water before cleaning.
- Always wear gloves and protective goggles.
- Steel wool must never be used dry on the rim. There must always be enough rim cleaner on the rim. Turn rims through 180° (push vehicle backwards or forwards) so that concealed areas can also be cleaned.
Never fill rim cleaner into a spray bottle; it should always be kept in a suitable plastic container. - Always keep rims wet! Never allow rim cleaner to dry on!





