MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring

chilimac · #1 04-08-2008, 07:11 AM

I am getting a white set of TDRs for the MINI. Is there a product to apply on the wheel prior to install which would help with future cleanings and grime build up?

cheers

Aluvendale · #2 04-08-2008, 07:59 AM

I've heard that waxing your wheels will make them easier to clean, and possibly keep them looking cleaner a little longer. I'm not sure about PRIOR to install though.

Jughead · #3 04-08-2008, 10:22 AM

I recommend using Wheel Armour from DP.

misslindsey · #4 04-08-2008, 10:54 AM

Oh! I just put on my white wheels last weekend. I put Wheel Armour on them first. Got to a club meet and got several "wow, they're still white!" comments. Brake dust was also super easy to wipe off when I washed him.

Anything is better than nothing, though. Treat the wheels like the rest of the car - wash and wax.

kenchan · #5 04-08-2008, 12:06 PM

... i also heard Hydro works great on wheels...

**OctaneGuy** · #6 04-08-2008, 09:20 PM

Ohhh Nooo!! It's Ken's Super Duper "Almost" Invisible Ink Post again!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

... i also heard Hydro works great on wheels...

mini44 · #7 04-09-2008, 08:32 AM

I'd be tempted to change my brake pads. I just know how much brake dust I get. Wax them and clean often.

ofioliti · #8 06-03-2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

... i also heard Hydro works great on wheels...

I second that.

I have applied Zaino, Wheel Wax, and Maguiars NXT to my white wheels and all have worked OK, but still require DAILY wipping with a quick detailing spray to remove the obvious brake dust.

I recently just started using Hydro and have noticed that the amount of accumulated brake dust is much lower that I have not been compelled to pull out the QD spray and wipe them down.

Plus Hydro is so easy to use. Wash the wheels as normal. Spray on hydro (a couple of squirts is enough). Wipe dry with towel.

The only caveat is that if you are not going to wash your car (and wheels) every week or so, the Hydro will not last long enough.

zzMini · #9 06-03-2008, 09:11 PM

Excellent advice - thanks very much!
OG - considering a gallon of Griot's is about $40, I think my strategy will be this: (based on copious study on this site)
Remove wheels. Wash with simple green to remove the brake dust that has accumulated despite my earlier efforts.
Use Hydro.
Try to rinse them weekly, wash them monthly. (I don't put tons of miles on my baby.)

Thanks very much! I will try to post my results after a coupla months of field testing.

zzMini · #10 06-04-2008, 07:12 PM

Update - washed wheels with Simple Green - I'm convinced - $8/gal vs $40...it seemed to do as well, if not bettr job!!

Also claybar, which worked about 80-90%.

I didn't have time to pull the wheels and do a really proper job, so I am afraid to use a sealer like Hydro...

Am I right that if I seal them when they still have a little bit of embedded brake dust, that it will then become near impossible to get rid of it in the future?

I clayed the worst of it, but it would take probably 1 hr per wheel to clean them up right (including pulling them and reinstalling them.)

greengobln · #11 04-09-2008, 08:30 AM

here i thought Ken was just happy for someone else's success. turns out he just wants to plug Hydro like he has stock in it.

amorican · #12 04-09-2008, 11:47 AM

I switched to Hawk ceramics last Fall and see cleaner wheels longer, that are much easier to clean when needed, with no staining or baking of dust.

chilimac · #13 04-16-2008, 01:45 PM

juist received my ceramic hawks. I will clean, wax and install the new wheels when I do the brakes. THanks for the suggestions.

**OctaneGuy** · #14 04-16-2008, 03:00 PM

The best way to keep white wheels WHITE is to maintain them regularly. These are what my white wheels looked like after 65,000 miles. I changed from the OEM pads to Mintex Red Box and I pretty much used a quick detailer to clean up the brake dust if not daily or twice a day--then atleast once every couple of days.

zzMini · #15 06-03-2008, 05:33 PM

I am salivating over those wheels!!!!!
OctaneGuy - I am more and more amazed with your knowledge in this department.

Here is a specific question about white wheels to the group...
I have used Griot's wheel cleaner and like it very much, especially that it is environmentally friendly and not harmful to people.

I want to wax my wheels to make cleaning the brake dust easier. Does that mean I should never use wheel cleaner, as it will strip the wax?

If I use a synthetic wax, like those I've seen mentioned in other posts, then can I use the wheel cleaner without fear of removing the wax that I have spent so much time putting on?

Thanks again, all ye Experts in Detailing!

**OctaneGuy** · #16 06-03-2008, 05:44 PM

The purpose of using a wheel wax in the first place is to make it so you don't need to use a wheel cleaner. If you have to use a wheel cleaner to get off stubborn brake dust, then the wax you're using isn't doing it's job, right?

Most wheel cleaners, unless they are just water, will remove pretty much any protection you've applied.

I just Hydro my wheels instead of using a Quick Detailer to both protect and clean the wheels of brake dust.

It's pretty easy to tell if you have protection--why not try a test. Wax the wheels, then use the Griots cleaner and see if the wheels are still slick. I don't use much of Griots car care products, so I don't know for sure.

Richard

Quote:

Originally Posted by zzMini

I am salivating over those wheels!!!!!
OctaneGuy - I am more and more amazed with your knowledge in this department.

Here is a specific question about white wheels to the group...
I have used Griot's wheel cleaner and like it very much, especially that it is environmentally friendly and not harmful to people.

I want to wax my wheels to make cleaning the brake dust easier. Does that mean I should never use wheel cleaner, as it will strip the wax?

If I use a synthetic wax, like those I've seen mentioned in other posts, then can I use the wheel cleaner without fear of removing the wax that I have spent so much time putting on?

Thanks again, all ye Experts in Detailing!

Arthuralda · #17 06-03-2008, 05:52 PM

I'm a bit of a sucker for car care products and have tried a few wheel care products. What I have found out after all the time and money is that if it's easy to do I'm more likely to consistently do the work. Anyway - What I am currently doing on all our wheels is using a wet an wipe type wax. If any of the waxes I've tried repelled the brake dust it wasn't dramatic.

I clean the wheels with wheel cleaner if needed but usually a waxed wheel cleans up pretty easily and doesn't require anything more than soap. While the wheel is still wet - spray on the wax and wipe it off - Easy and Nice.

Going to be trying a nano product form Denmark next.

misslindsey · #18 06-05-2008, 07:35 AM

Wheel Armour cleans as well as protects. And no, you can still seal it in and come back at it later - you can strip off protectant.

Spearsy · #19 06-05-2008, 08:18 AM

+1 on the Wheel Armour. I've had it on there for about 6 weeks and it's been easy wheel clean-up with my weekly wash ...

greengobln · #20 06-05-2008, 09:18 AM

the hydro will break down with some alcohol. then you can use Meg's all wheel cleaner and a stiff bristle brush to remove a ton of it. after that go to the simple green and clay bar. you can bring those rims back you just have to work at it.

good luck

zzMini · #21 06-05-2008, 01:09 PM

Thanks everybody!! Yikes! they oughta make you sign a waiver when you order white wheels...AND, they ought to give you an instruction sheet that says if you just use these products regularly, you will LOVE your white wheels without being enslaved by them...!
I still do love my wheels, but I sure wish I had known all this before hand.

I don't mind some work to keep 'em looking sharp, but I admit that my own ignorance in this department is now causing a lot of work that coulda been avoided

I think I will make some time over the course of the next week to clay and hydro one wheel at a time.

This has been great advice - thank y'all! If yer ever in western CT, stop by for some homemade cookies!

ofioliti · #22 06-05-2008, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zzMini

Thanks everybody!! Yikes! they oughta make you sign a waiver when you order white wheels...AND, they ought to give you an instruction sheet that says if you just use these products regularly, you will LOVE your white wheels without being enslaved by them...!
I still do love my wheels, but I sure wish I had known all this before hand.

I don't mind some work to keep 'em looking sharp, but I admit that my own ignorance in this department is now causing a lot of work that coulda been avoided

I think I will make some time over the course of the next week to clay and hydro one wheel at a time.

This has been great advice - thank y'all! If yer ever in western CT, stop by for some homemade cookies!

White wheels look great on your MINI!

Just a little tender loving care and they'll look sharp.