Automotive Wheel Cleaners?

[GH85Carrera]

Ok, I have another question for the brain trust.

I started driving in the early 1970s. In all the miles I have never used a wheel cleaning product. Just the same wash mitt with soapy water I use to wash the car. On my El Camino the wheels are super easy to clean, wipe the beauty ring and the center part, done in 30 seconds. The Fuchs on the 911 are a little trickier and take a minute to clean up. Still pretty quick and easy.

We ordered and bought a brand new 2017 Macan for the wife's daily driver recently and had to wash it for the first time this weekend. That thing is huge compared to anything I have ever owned. It is our first SUV. It has the standard 18 inch wheels.

I have to assume the dealer or the factory put some coating on the tires and wheels for shipping or just to make it look nice in the showroom. It was greasy and my hands were coated in black oily stuff when done with the wheels. I spent 10 minutes on each wheel. It was a total pain in the back and knees. The barrel of the wheel is easily seen through the spokes so the barrel really needs to be cleaned as well.






The top photo is the Macan on the show room floor where they put it for us to pick it up. You can see the 911 in the background. Might as well drive an old Porsche to pick up a new Porsche.

Ok, back to the question. What wheel cleaner do you guys recommend. I have heard good things about P-21S. What product cleans the wheels the easiest and does not hurt the wheel at all?

[javadog]

P21S is really the only one you need to use. It's safe, effective and, if you clean the wheels before they get too dirty, it's a spray on-hose off proposition with no scrubbing needed.

Use it on the 911, too.

JR

[Tobra]

If you spray PAM, the stuff you use for cooking, on the wheels, it keeps the brake dust from sticking as bad.

[Don Ro]

I recently had to clean some nasty gunk off my RAV4 wheels.
Good old S100...rinse, rinse, and rinse again.
Then Mother's polishing wheel w/any polish.
Then, by hand wiping.
Then...
.
https://www.amazon.com/Armor-All-78482-Wheel-Protectant/dp/B0035XGPNA

[Don Ro]

[quattrorunner]

Consequently I just got a cleaning brush advertised on the facebook and I love it! It's called "brush hero" Check it out. It works with you're choice of cleaner and I realize you're question was which cleaner (I use simple green). but just wanted to throw this out there.
https://www.brushhero.com/?gclid=Cj0KEQjw5YfHBRDzjNnioYq3_swBEiQArj4pdC0iDQv u1jihAEOk-n73DzpszRvWrWqafKyh9lsF9IsaAhUo8P8HAQ

[NY65912]

Big fan of SONAX. My Q5 has the dustiest brakes ever and this stuff muscles through that baked on crap.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by javadog

P21S is really the only one you need to use. It's safe, effective and, if you clean the wheels before they get too dirty, it's a spray on-hose off proposition with no scrubbing needed.

Use it on the 911, too.

JR

another vote for P21S been using it for a very long time.

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Ok, I have another question for the brain trust.

I started driving in the early 1970s. In all the miles I have never used a wheel cleaning product. Just the same wash mitt with soapy water I use to wash the car. On my El Camino the wheels are super easy to clean, wipe the beauty ring and the center part, done in 30 seconds. The Fuchs on the 911 are a little trickier and take a minute to clean up. Still pretty quick and easy.

We ordered and bought a brand new 2017 Macan for the wife's daily driver recently and had to wash it for the first time this weekend. That thing is huge compared to anything I have ever owned. It is our first SUV. It has the standard 18 inch wheels.

I have to assume the dealer or the factory put some coating on the tires and wheels for shipping or just to make it look nice in the showroom. It was greasy and my hands were coated in black oily stuff when done with the wheels. I spent 10 minutes on each wheel. It was a total pain in the back and knees. The barrel of the wheel is easily seen through the spokes so the barrel really needs to be cleaned as well.






The top photo is the Macan on the show room floor where they put it for us to pick it up. You can see the 911 in the background. Might as well drive an old Porsche to pick up a new Porsche.

Ok, back to the question. What wheel cleaner do you guys recommend. I have heard good things about P-21S. What product cleans the wheels the easiest and does not hurt the wheel at all?

Congrats on the new purchase - I think they look especially in white. As other members have suggested the P21 is quite a popular choice as a wheel cleaner. I've also attached a link to a few others that work well. Let us know if you have any other questions.

P21S Wheel Cleaners

Wheel Cleaner - PelicanParts.com

ColourTec Wheel Cleaner - PelicanParts.com


-Dmitry