How to Clean & Detail Car Wheels

Car wheels and tires are often overlooked in routine detailing, yet they’re one of the first areas to show wear. Brake dust, road grime, and oxidation not only dull their look but can also lead to long-term damage if ignored. 

Cleaning your wheels can be a frustrating task, especially if you are not using the right products. Here are some tips for cleaning and detailing your car wheels to keep them looking and performing their best.

Gather the Supplies

Before getting started, you’ll need the right tools. The correct brush, cleaner, and dressing make a huge difference in both results and safety

Rinse Wheel Wells, Wheels, and Tires

Begin with a high-pressure rinse to knock off loose dirt and brake dust. Don’t forget the wheel wells, which trap road grime and salt.

Wheel Wells

Spray Special Force or Citrus Cleaner into the wheel well and let sit for 30-60 seconds. Use the Medium Duty Wheel Well Brush to scrub the wheel well.

Clean Wheels & Rims

Now it’s time to remove all the baked-on brake dust, grease, and grime from your wheel faces and hub caps. For standard alloy and chrome wheels, Detail King’s Citrus Cleaner is a great all-purpose choice – use with a Large Cone Brush or Wheel Woolie to safely scrub deep inside the wheel barrel.

If you’re working on heavily soiled barrels or aftermarket wheels, we recommend using Chameleon Wheel Cleaner. This pH-balanced formula breaks down brake dust and road grime while staying safe for clear-coated, painted, chrome, powder-coated, and anodized aluminum finishes.

Spray the wheel cleaner directly onto the wheel and let it dwell for 30–60 seconds. If your wheels are especially dirty, you’ll see a visible color change as the formula breaks down the contamination. Agitate the surface using the appropriate brush to clean car wheels, focusing on all surfaces including the spokes, lug nut pockets, and around the valve stem.

For wheels that have been neglected and need more extensive cleaning, try Brake Up Wheel Brightener. This stronger acid-based wheel cleaner is highly effective but should be used with great caution and only on factory clear-coated wheels.

Don’t forget the lug nuts! Clean around each one thoroughly using a Lug Nut Brush for safe, precise scrubbing in tight spots.

Tires & Whitewalls

You’ll want to deeply clean the rubber portion of the tire after cleaning the wheels. Properly cleaning tires so they do not “brown” can sometimes be a challenge. Our Tire & Whitewall Cleaner is a super concentrated, caustic, heavy-duty cleaning product designed just for rubber that will aggressively and easily clean the dirtiest tires, white walls, and raised white-lettered tires. Use our Medium Duty Tire Brush or Low Profile Nylon Whitewall Brush, depending on the size of the tire.

If your tires have whitewalls or white letters, you will want to scrub those last, using a Nylon or Brass Whitewall Brush. 

Watch this to see how to properly clean tires, whitewalls, and white-lettered tires:

How to Polish Metal & Chrome Wheels

Restore the shine on chrome, aluminum, or stainless steel wheels with Medallion High Gloss Metal Polish. Use a microfiber applicator or drill-mounted cone, and buff thoroughly to reveal a clean, reflective finish.

What Is Tire Dressing & Why Does It Matter?

Tire dressing is a protective product applied to rubber sidewalls to restore color, repel contaminants, and protect against cracking and UV damage. It also enhances the visual contrast between your freshly detailed wheels and deep black tires.

Silicone-free formulas like Black Out are body-shop safe, while water-based dressings like Acrylic Gloss provide a durable, dry-to-the-touch finish ideal for high-traffic cars.

How to Apply Tire Dressing Properly

Once your wheels and tires are clean and completely dry, it’s time to apply tire dressing for that deep black, like-new finish. Here are the most effective ways to do it:

1. Use a Tire Dressing Applicator

   Pour or spray a small amount of your chosen tire dressing onto a foam applicator. Spread the product evenly across the tire’s sidewall. Avoid getting dressing on the tread or oversaturating the surface, which can lead to sling. Let it dry completely before driving. Apply a second coat if you prefer a glossier finish. Dressings like Super Blue and Black Out offer long-lasting shine and protection.

2. Spray It On and Wipe

   Spray your tire dressing directly onto the tire surface and immediately wipe it into the sidewall with an applicator. This method works well for tires with raised lettering or more texture. It’s fast and convenient, especially for mobile detailers or high-volume shops.

3. Use a Tire Dressing Tank

   For commercial settings, tools like the Swabby and Tire Shine Applicator Tank can make application faster and more uniform. These systems help control product usage and create consistent, even results across all four tires.

No matter which method you choose, the key is applying the dressing evenly and allowing it to cure fully for the best appearance and durability.

Watch these DK TV videos to learn more about each tank:

• Swabby Tire Dressing Applicator Tank
• Tire Shine Applicator Tank

How to Protect Tires with Detail King’s Acrylic Gloss

Acrylic Gloss is a water-based, silicone-free tire dressing that, when applied, will form a durable coating that will not only be dry to the touch but will also last for weeks to months at a time! This is a coating meant just for tires that remains flexible and helps shed dirt, water, and other contaminants much more than a traditional dressing. Watch this DKTV video to learn how to apply Acrylic Gloss Tire Dressing (formerly Complete Acrylic Tire Coating).

Final Thoughts

By following these simple steps, you can keep your customers’ wheels looking clean and shiny. Not only will they look better, but they will also be safer to drive on.

Dressing car tires is an easy way to improve the appearance of your vehicle and make it look like new. It’s also an easy way to maintain and protect your tires from the elements.