As a beginner in the world of car detailing, there's a ton of products and techniques to explore. One particularly potent chemical tool in your arsenal is wheel acid – a specialized cleaner designed to remove the most stubborn brake dust, and embedded road contaminants from your vehicle's wheels. However, using wheel acid requires precision and caution, it is an acid after all. In this blog we keep it short and simple describing how to use wheel acid in 3 short steps.
Step 1: PPE [Don't Skip It!]
Before you begin, prioritize safety. Wheel acids can be corrosive and potentially harmful to your skin and eyes. Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, safety goggles, and even a mask if possible. Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling fumes.
Step 2: Selecting The Right Acid
Wheel acid, also known as wheel cleaner or rim cleaner, is a strong cleaning solution formulated to tackle the toughest dirt and deposits on wheels. It often contains acidic components, such as hydrofluoric acid or phosphoric acid, which break down and dissolve contaminants, including brake dust, grease, tar, and rust.
Choose a wheel acid that is specifically formulated for your wheel type. There are various types of wheel finishes, such as alloy, chrome, painted, and coated wheels. Ensure that the wheel acid you select is safe for your specific type of wheels. We currently offer two options,
Stinger Chemical 755 Chrome Wire and Wheel Cleaner
Stinger Chemical 756 Mag Wheel Cleaner
Step 3: How to Use the Wheel Acid
PREP THE AREA: Cool the wheels, always ensure that your wheels are cool to the touch before applying wheel acid. Applying it to hot wheels can lead to uneven and potentially damaging reactions. Also, Give your wheels a thorough rinse with water to remove loose dirt and debris. This prevents particles from scratching the surface during the cleaning process.
APPLY THE PRODUCT: Check to make sure you are using the product at its recommended dilution. Spray the wheel acid from the bottom of the tire up - this is extremely important to avoid "runs" or streaks that can form on the tire rim due to the acid running down over the surface. Agitate the area using a soft-bristle wheel brush or detailing brush to agitate the solution, focusing on areas with heavy deposits. Gently scrubbing helps to break down contaminants and maximize cleaning effectiveness. Allow the wheel acid to dwell on the surface for the recommended duration. Avoid letting the solution dry, as this can lead to staining or etching. Then Rinse off the product. It's crucial to neutralize any remaining acidic residue by applying a pH-neutral car soap or degreaser, this helps prevent long-term damage to the wheel's finish.
Congratulations you now know how to effectively clean car tires using a wheel acid. While wheel acid can be highly effective, do not resort to acid wheel cleaners to use every time you clean your car tires. Acid cleaning should only be done to heavily soiled car tires, after that regular maintenance can take over with more light duty cleaners such as Iron Removers or Brake Dust Buster.
