Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

[gmitch23]

Ok first off my I hope these questions don't sound dumb. I think my main problem is that I'm don't all the differences between different wheel types. I am wanting to find a polish for my rims. I have two different cars and I don't know if I need two separate polishes or if there is an all in one. First I have a set of chrome clad rims (shiny, polished) that have very light scratches on them. Then I have a set of alloy rims (not shiny) that I would like to clean up. They are not as bright as they used to be. Both sets of wheels are factory from gm. I dont know if they are alluminum, metal, mag etc. Please help, the more info the better.

[gmitch23]

Re: Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

Not one suggestion?? Did I stump the entire forum?

[Detailing by M]

Ultamate Compound for both. You wont get the scratches out if the chrome but you will make the look nicer. You other rims have a Clear Coat on them.
Also get Hot Rims to clean them thoroughly.

[gmitch23]

Re: Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

Tried it, paint cleaners aren't strong enough. Thanks though.

[detailing man]

Re: Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

Just buy some MEGS all metal polish in the paste form.awesome stuff!
they also came out with some new metal polish for 2013 you can look it up on the internet...
hope this helps.........

[Murr1525]

Re: Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

First I have a set of chrome clad rims (shiny, polished) that have very light scratches on them. Then I have a set of alloy rims (not shiny) that I would like to clean up. They are not as bright as they used to be. Both sets of wheels are factory from gm. I dont know if they are alluminum, metal, mag etc.

Any pics might help... also if you can call your dealer to ask about them. That would help a lot also.

When you used the paint cleaner on both sets of rims, did your applicators ever turn jet black, or just a dirty gray?

[Detailing by M]

Re: Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

ok, metal polish and a Dyna Cone will work wonders on both rims.
And the Aluminum rims, are the bare aluminum?
If there stock then most likely they have a Clear Coat of paint on them and 105 will clean them up. Also 105 is a compound not a paint cleaner. If you don't have 105 then you don't know what it can do.
And are you referring to Cleaner Wax?
What exactly have you tried?
And pics would help us out diagnosing your problem.

[gmitch23]

Re: Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

Any pics might help... also if you can call your dealer to ask about them. That would help a lot also.

When you used the paint cleaner on both sets of rims, did your applicators ever turn jet black, or just a dirty gray?

i tried swirl x and uc on the polished. I think it turned the pad dirty gray. Sorry no close ups on the first but certain spots are dull/stained.

[gmitch23]

Re: Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

Just buy some MEGS all metal polish in the paste form.awesome stuff!
they also came out with some new metal polish for 2013 you can look it up on the internet...
hope this helps.........

That's what I was thinking about trying but wanted to make sure it was safe to use.

[Murr1525]

Re: Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

Well, the first ones look painted and clear coated... so UC/#105 would be the products you want to look at.

I cant say I have worked on ones like the second pic... But if it is a plated coating that is scratched, not sure how fixable it will be.

[gmitch23]

Re: Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

Well, the first ones look painted and clear coated... so UC/#105 would be the products you want to look at.

I cant say I have worked on ones like the second pic... But if it is a plated coating that is scratched, not sure how fixable it will be.

So stay away from metal polish?

[Murr1525]

Re: Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

On the painted ones, yes.. you want to treat them like you would the car paint.

[gmitch23]

Re: Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

Too bad I havent been able to find the stand alone dyna-cone polisher anywhere. Not even online. Time to get the elbow grease out.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

You mention that both sets of wheels are factory original, and that tells us a lot.

This first set looks to be the very typical painted and clear coated factory finish found on everything from Mercedes to Hyundai these days. For regular cleaning you can safely use our Hot Rims All Wheel & Tire Cleaner; follow directions though, cleaning one wheel at a time from start to finish - never spray all 4 wheels and then start working on the first one. If need be you can clay these wheels, use a paint cleaner like Ultimate Compound or ScratchX on them, and even apply a wax or sealant if you like. Our Hot Rims Brake Dust Barrier works great on this type of finish. But since these wheels are coated you should not use a metal polish on them. Metal polishes are for metal, and you're not working on metal any more here than you are on when working on the steel body panels of the car. The top surface, in this case a clear coat of paint, is what you're working on.


These wheels appear to be what's commonly referred to as "chrome clad" wheels, where a chromed, plastic cover is bonded to an underlying steel wheel. It is a chrome finish so it's quite hard, meaning even fine scratches can be very difficult, if not impossible, to remove. Both our Medium Cut Metal Polish and Finishing Metal Polish are perfectly safe on these wheels, but stay away from the Heavy Cut Metal Polish as it can create very fine scratches or hazing in the surface that will then be nearly impossible to correct. Routine wheel cleaning with Hot Rims All Wheel & Tire Cleaner is fine here too, but we'd recommend staying away from the Hot Rims Chrome Wheel Cleaner if these are, in fact, "chrome clad". Why? Because things can get to be a bid delicate around the edges of the cladding as the wheels age, and with Chrome Wheel Cleaner being so powerful it could lead to issues down the line.


Let's get back to the wheels on the Pontiac for a moment, though. In my personal experience with GM factory wheels (my wife has had a couple of GM cars and many members of family have and still do) the clear coat is easily stained or otherwise compromised and can look splotchy and dull in spots over time. I have never found a way to fully correct this, other than to have the wheels refinished. It seems to be more noticeable on GM polished aluminum wheels, which seem to more readily show the staining in the clear than silver painted and cleared wheels do, but it's still there.

[gmitch23]

Re: Need help choosing the correct wheel polish.

Let's get back to the wheels on the Pontiac for a moment, though. In my personal experience with GM factory wheels (my wife has had a couple of GM cars and many members of family have and still do) the clear coat is easily stained or otherwise compromised and can look splotchy and dull in spots over time. I have never found a way to fully correct this, other than to have the wheels refinished. It seems to be more noticeable on GM polished aluminum wheels, which seem to more readily show the staining in the clear than silver painted and cleared wheels do, but it's still there.

Thank Mike for all your information it will help.

You say havent found a way to "fully" correct but UC and Dynacone should atleast make improvments? And you are right on about the second wheels, they are chrome clad. Now the All Metal Cleaner that comes with the Dynacone, do you recommend that or specifically i should try the medium cut/or finishing polish?

I used to use Hot Wheels All Wheel Cleaner but stopped because and experience i had with my wife's Mitsubishi Eclipse. The center cap of the Mitsubishi's wheels were made of plastic. After a few times using All Wheel Cleaner, the paint on the center cap edges started to peel. I had to replace 3 of the caps. So I have been sticking to a soap and water regime.