Best Wheel Cleaners

Buying Guide: Top Wheel Cleaners

There are several types of wheel cleaners available depending on the type of formulation and application that you prefer. Most of the wheel cleaners are available as spray bottles so that you can easily coat each wheel in the formula. Since these are not gentle formulas, take care when applying them to your tires and when rinsing them off.

Spray Bottle Application

Most of the top wheel cleaners have a spray bottle included so that you can easily clean each wheel. Just take time spraying to be sure that you coat the wheel in the cleaning product so that the active ingredients can work on stains.

Foam or Gel

The wheel cleaners are usually applied as a gel or a foam. Since wheels are a vertical surface the best cleaners are high viscosity and stick to the side of the tire instead of falling right off. It takes time to treat oil and grease stains so you want a formula that stays where you spray it.

Harsh Chemicals or Safe

The wheels and tires of your vehicle attract the worst mix of oil, grease, tar, and dirt. These heavy stains require strong active ingredients to break them down, loosen them off, and rinse them off. Sometimes the trade off is between a harsh chemical that does the job and a safer less astringent formula that requires additional elbow grease on your part to get the job done.

Best Wheel Cleaners

Each of the wheel cleaners below does a good job of removing dirt and dust from your tires. Read on for our specific reviews and recommendations for each one.

1. CarsGuys Wheel Cleaner

This product from CarGuys is a versatile and easy to use cleaner that is safe on all types of wheel finishes and tires. It has a strong formula that attacks brake dust and makes it easy to remove. This wheel cleaner is a highly concentrated gel so it adheres to the wheel instead of running right off. The product is a pH neutral formula so it won’t harm alloy, chrome, or aluminum on your wheels or rims.

Car Guys sells this wheel cleaner by the gallon, so vehicle owners will probably want to also purchase a spray bottle to use when applying it. The concentrated formula is strong enough that it can be diluted with water in the spray bottle to extend the life of the product. This wheel cleaner has a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee and it is made in the USA.

 

2. Meguiar’s G9524 Hot Rims Wheel Cleaner

This is an affordable product suitable for car rims and other surfaces. It creates a nice foam when sprayed that clings on surfaces and attacks stains. Just spray it and leave it and let it do its job. It will dissolve grease and grime stains and make them easy to clean off.

The spray bottle application is easy to use and the formulation foams up nicely when it hits the tire surface. This is more of a mild formula that will require a bit of elbow grease alongside it to completely do the job. Still, that makes it a bit safer and easier to use than some of the other cleaners on this list.

 

3. Mothers 05924 Foaming Wheel & Tire Cleaner

This wheel cleaner from Mothers is cheap and effective. It has a foaming, non-acidic spray that can remove dirt without any hard scrubbing. This wheel cleaner is designed to be sprayed on and then hosed off. It works well on brake dust, grease, dirt and grime.

Note that this cleaner is a bit harsher and it is best not to use it on anodized wheels or polished aluminum. It is perfectly safe to use on tires and rims including painted, coated, steel, chrome and factory coated wheels.

 

4. TriNova Wheel Cleaner/Rim Cleaner Spray

The wheel cleaner from TriNova is a spray gel that works to remove dirt and grime that accumulates from oil and brake dust. The formulation is completely acid free so users do not have to worry that it will damage their vehicle during cleaning. Perfectly safe to use on chrome as well as alloy wheels and tires.

Applying this gel is easy. Use the spray bottle to apply an even coat of the gel to your wheel by holding it about 6 – 8 inches away and spraying. Coat the entire wheel and let sit for two minutes so that the formula can cut the grease and oil residue away. As necessary agitate the gel with a soft bristle brush or a sponge to remove caked on stains. Then rinse the wheel completely clean with water and dry to bring that sparkle back to those dirty wheels.

 

5. Turtle Wax 50814 Wheel and Tire Cleaner

Turtle Wax is a well-known producer of automotive cleaning products and they produce a safe, reliable, and easy to use wheel and tire cleaner. Turtle Wax uses a versatile formula that sprays on tires and then foams up nicely. The deep cleaning foam eliminates brake dust and leaves the tires and rims looking clean. It is also excellent for clearing tire browning and removing road dirt stains.

The active ingredients in this formula do a good job cutting into grease and grime. It is best not to allow this formula to remain on your wheels for more than half a minute. Also, don’t apply it on non-factory painted wheels or wheels that are warm from recent driving.

 

6. Black Magic Wheel Cleaner

The black magic wheel cleaner is an affordable and powerful formula that offers a no scrub solution. It can polish your wheels and get rid of dust, mud, and grime. There is no need for concerns over discoloration and any negative after-effects with this polish as it is suitable for a wide range of surfaces like mag wheels, ABS plastic, anodized and polished metal areas.

This wheel cleaner is exceptionally easy to use. No scrubbing is needed and vehicle owners just need to apply, hose off, and wipe clean to have great looking wheels.

 

7. Griot’s Garage 10970 Wheel Cleaner

Griot’s Garage is a popular manufacturer of automotive cleaning accessories and is known for its reputable and high-quality products. Their wheel cleaner delivers a lot of cleaning power and gives you a finished and polished look on your wheels. The formulation is pH balanced so safe to use on all wheel finishes but is still powerful enough to remove brake dust, tar, dirt, and road grime.

This wheel cleaner should be sprayed onto a cool, damp wheel and allowed to sit for a minute. A brush can be used to agitate any stubborn stains and then wheels should be rinsed off.

 

Conclusion

The best wheel cleaners spray on easily and attack dirt, tar, oil and road grime without damaging your vehicle. Wheel cleaners have active ingredients to break down stains and they reach tight corners and seams on your rims where dirt hides. Make cleaning your car easier by using one of these tire specific wheel sprays the next time you wash your vehicle. You will definitely not regret it.