How to Care For Your Alloy Wheels

Alloy wheels are one of the most prized components of a motor. Like shoes to an outfit, your wheels’ design and condition define the look of your vehicle and can be a dazzling showpiece that wows passers-by.

However, after many miles on the road, your alloys are bound to collect road debris, tar, and dirt that even a car wash can’t remove. Whether they are stock alloys fresh off the production line or a pair of aftermarkets, as a proud car or van owner, you want them to stay as fresh as possible, requiring aftercare. At LK Performance, we are experts in all things alloy-based and want to share with you our aftercare routine that will remove any road grime and make your rims more hard-wearing against potential damage in the future.

Here is the LK Performance-certified process towards providing your alloy wheels with a caring clean that will leave them looking pristine once again.

What Do I Need to Clean My Alloy Wheels?

The critical tool you will need to have with you to replenish your wheels’ condition is a strong wheel cleaner. Here at LK Performance, we recommend the highly-rated Stjarnagloss Hjul Colour Change wheel cleaner. These wheel cleaning experts create the best consumer cleaning products on the market, and we opt for the Colour Change edition specifically because it changes colour as it works harder on the wheel to remove road debris such as tar spots, so you can really notice its cleaning effect. Plus, its PH-neutral formula means that it can be used with even more sensitive wheel finishes, and generally is more gentle than alkaline-heavy cleaning formulas that can corrode the wheel finish over time.

Additionally, you will need water to clean off the wheel-cleaning soap. It can be a simple bucket full of water, or if you have a pressure washer, this is its time to shine. To dry off after it's cleaned, microfibre is the ideal material. We heartily endorse Stjarnagloss’ Gravling microfibre wheel brush as the perfect companion for the job. This handy and effective rim tickler makes it a breeze to get in between the spokes of your wheel without having to get your entire hand in there.

How Do I Care For My Alloy Wheels?

With the Stjarnagloss Hjul cleaning spray, the process is as simple as making your bed. Spray around the wheel area (about ten sprays should be more than enough). Try not to get it on the brakes. Naturally, some foam will get on there, but you shouldn’t spray directly on your brakes.

After this, wait for 30 seconds (or up to a couple of minutes in very dirty cases, just make sure it doesn’t stay on for too long!) and water it off with your method of choice. Then, use your microfibre to dry the wheel off as best as you can. You’ll start to notice the difference it has made immediately.

We hope that this guide will aid you in your quest to restore your alloys to look like new. LK Performance is the UK’s most trusted name in alloy wheels, and we have a comprehensive range of cat detailing kits and car care products that will cover the cleaning of all areas of your vehicle.