Tire Cleaners?

[All of 75]

Well, I had purchased some Bleche Wite tire cleaner made by Westleys and now Black Magic. It works great and is really cheap. But the problem is that it says not to use it on magnesium, aluminum, or painted rims. But I did and it came out just fine. I just made sure to follow it with soap and water and it turned out great. Is this safe?

Also, are there any alternatives that has a thick spray and doesn't run out quickly? I know that Meguiars has a gold class all-wheel cleaner, and my question is, does this meet my criteria? Does it work well on rims and tires?

Thanks

[roushstage2]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

Most wheels, unless neglected, come clean pretty easily with car soap and water. Aluminum has its own, mild cleaners usually available from each brand (Meguiar's has one). For the magnesium wheels, you'd want that specific cleaner (Can't recall a Meguiar's cleaner for these, besides soap). Painted wheels get treated like paint; wash with soap.

Something as strong as Westley's is, I won't use it period, and I most definitely wouldn't use it on something that it says not to.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

That is one of the reasons I like to use APC on wheels. Never had to worry about what type. Very effective.

[All of 75]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

Ok. But it seems like some of the meguiars stuff is too watery and with big wheels/tires, it would run out quickly. Is there anything that has a thicker consistency so I won't run out after doing my truck only once?

[roushstage2]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

I'm not following. The cleaners are too watery so they will run out after doing your truck once? You apply the cleaner, scrub and then rinse? Are you talking about tire dressings now perhaps?

[BarryK]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

I'm confused, the thread title asked about TIRE cleaners yet the post was mentioning rims.

for TIRES, the Bleche Wite tire cleaner made by Westleys works very well if you have to clean up white walls, raised white letters on tires, etc but you do want to try to avoid getting on the rims but on TIRES it's a very good product.
Having said that I rarely if ever use it anymore as I've tried to cut down on the sheer number of products I have to stock for detailing.

At this point on 99% of vehicles I do I usually use APC+ or Super Degreaser (depending on how dirty the tires and rims are) on both the tires and rims. Let it set and do it's job for a few minutes than use brushes to scrub the tires and to scrub off brake dust off the rims.
Unless the rims have been neglected badly it's all it usually needs.
Neglected rims with heavier, more stubborn deposits sometimes require more work and in the worst cases on compatiable rims I'll use Wheel Brightner although except in the very worst cases repeated applications of APC+ or Super Degreaser and extra elbow grease will clean up wheels just fine.

For dressing afterwards I have tried LOADS of dressing products but have come to find that Hyperdressing looks as good if not better than anything else out there and since it's a product I stock for a number of other uses also it's even better yet (again, I don't need a separate dedicated product just for tire dressing). I use a terrycloth application pad, spray the HD onto the pad and apply evenly to the tire's sidewalls. This application method prevents overspray onto the rims or bodypaint and also keeps waste to a minimum.

[BobbyG]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

For tires I usually use APC+ or Super Degreaser. Both these are strong but the Super Degreaser top out for strength and performance thus the reason for reduction.

• APC+ is reduced to 6-1
• Super Degreaser is reduced 10-1

[Deaner5]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

I agree with BobbyK, it depends what you are working on. I actually cut the BW 1 to 1 with water, to reduce some of it's strength and it still works great (my tires never really get dirty only sometime from excessive tire shine build-up, but I clean them every wash).

With a product like BW, you just want to be smart with what you are doing and how you are using it. When I wash my tires and rims I start with spraying my fenderwells, spray my rims with Megs All Wheel Cleaner and apply the BW to the black of the tire last. I then hit the rim with a open wheel face brush, then the tires with a tire brush and rinse. The BW doesn't stay on long, but it does its job and plus I dilute it so I feel better about using it.

I too like BW for it's clinging properties and it applied right it doesn't run. I have no experience with APC or any other pro-line cleaners. I've always found it easier to just get BW OTC and it has worked well for me for a while.

[akimel]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

It appears to me that this is actually a hole in Meguiar's consumer lineup. Meguiar's does not offer a consumer-line product to clean tires or to clean tires and wheels (comparable, for example, to the Eagle One Tire and Wheel Cleaner). Perhaps APC or APC+ serves this purpose just fine, but one can't find it at the local auto store.

I am presently using water-based tire dressings. The tires seem to come fairly clean with a brush and the Deep Crystal Wash (which you can get real cheap at Lowe's), the Deep Crystal Wash also seems to work pretty good on my wheels, too (though I still use APC on the barrels. If I need to give my tires a stronger cleaning, I turn to my bottle of Eimann Fabrik Tire Cleaner.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

It appears to me that this is actually a hole in Meguiar's consumer lineup. Meguiar's does not offer a consumer-line product to clean tires or to clean tires and wheels.

I personally think any product that is strong enough to clean your tires, shouldn't be put on your wheels on a regular basis. Perhaps this explains the "hole".

[akimel]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

I personally think any product that is strong enough to clean your tires, shouldn't be put on your wheels on a regular basis. Perhaps this explains the "hole".

You may be right, but there are companies out (Eagle One, Mothers) that do sell tire/wheel cleaners that they claim are safe for most rims.

But regardless, there remains a hole, because Meguiar's does not sell a tire cleaner in their consumer line.

My guess is that it is Meguiar's marketing judgment that they can't make enough money to justify filling the hole.

[Murr1525]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

Meguiars used to a tire cleaner, didnt really like it myself.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

Hot Shine Tire Foam G13919
Cleans, Shines and Protects in one easy step.

I assume this products is basically like No Touch tire foam.

[Calais]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

I use Westley's Bleche-Wite, I have to find anything better.

[akimel]

Re: Tire Cleaners?

I use Westley's Bleche-Wite, I have to find anything better.

Amazing Roll-Off worked very well for me, but given that I only have two vehicles and clean them regularly, I simply do not need a super-strong tire cleaner.

Bleche-Wite, I hear, is very strong and requires some care in application, yes?