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Alloy Wheel Winter Protection
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17-11-2009 4:01am#1Coming in to the winter season, the wheels you've had to sell a limb to buy are going to be abused and potentially physically damaged by the cold/wet weather. There are steps which you can take to protect your investment - which, given the right products, you will only have to repeat once or twice between now and the end of January.
The process is fairly simple to follow;
Wash the wheels, preferably using a non-acidic wheel cleaner. It's probably best to completely remove the wheels and get into every nook and cranny. Get them as clean as you possibly can. Tar remover / clay can be used on wheels too (with caution) - so feel free to give them a good going over.
Once you're happy they're as clean as can be, dry them off using an old drying towel. This is important, as 9 times out of 10, protection products wont properly bond to a wet surface.
For the wheel protection, I personally use Poorboys World Wheel Sealant, but you can use whatever wax you use on the main body of the car. Obviously some waxes stand up to the punishment better then others. Colinite 845 or 476s would be a good choice, both quite durable with the winter weather - as is Finish Kare 1000p.
Apply as many layers as you can, with 2 being the bare minimum. I apply to every part of the wheel, including the insides. This not only adds protection all the way round, but it also makes the wheels 10 times easier to clean.
Be sure to let the wax/sealant properly cure on to the surface of the wheel. Most carnauba based waxes, and even the synthetic sealants need time to cure and properly bond to the wheel. If the curing time is not specified on the tub/bottle - a general rule of thumb is to allow the liquid/paste to dry to a haze and then remove.
Not only will the wheel be properly protected against the elements; it should have an added nuance of gloss too.
The wax/sealant on the wheel will act as a barrier to dirt, grime & brake dust. It will repel them from the surface, so they will not bond to the wheel. This makes cleaning much easier - and you should not have to use a chemical wheel cleaner for 6 - 8 washes. Normal car shampoo, or even just a quick spray of the powerhose should suffice in the meantime. Using a chemical wheel cleaner may remove - or weaken the sealant/wax protection.
[EDIT] - Meant to post this in the 'Modified' motors...0
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