Rims and tires are definitely the most purchased car accessories and they are also likely to be the most expensive parts on the exterior of a car. A set of rims with tires can easily range from $1000-$3000 or more depending on the size, brand, and quality of the rims and tires. Since rims and tires are expensive items, it's always in the benefits of the owner to keep them in good and clean conditions. Like everything on a car, rims do require care to maintain their beautiful appearance.
In order to protect your investment on the set of rims, the first suggestion is regular cleaning. During regular driving, road dirt can often attach to your rims, and therefore, trapping moisture that can in turn cause corrosion to over time. Other than road dirt, other substances such as brake dust created by friction of the brake pads and rotors, are also corrosive and can cause damage to your rims' finish. The best way to protect your rims is to clean them on a regular basis. Brushes and cleaning agents for washing rims are specifically available in many auto stores.
Using the correct cleaning agents is another important way to maintain your rims. Typically, a mild dishwashing soap and water can be used to clean your rims. Since most household cleaning products are too harsh for your rims' finish, they should be avoided as you should treat the finish on the rims just as carefully as treating the paint on the car. Even when using cleaning products specifically made for rims, we need to be very carefully as many of them are acid or lye based and should be avoided when cleaning your rims.
Cleaning rims at the right time is also an important thing to look out for. Drivers should never clean their rims immediately after driving it. The reason being the friction between the tires and the road caused during driving can heat up the rims to an extremely hot temperature. Although this is normal, it's always best to avoid contact with cold water with very heated rims, as this can ultimately cause permanent spotting. With that said, one should be very careful to avoid puddles when possible, and also allow plenty of time for your rims to cool off before washing them with water.
Finally, since the finish on most rims are fairly sensitive, it's important to note not to use scouring pads or dense metal polishes to clean rims. Using cotton based cloth or brushes to clean rims are probably the best method. When going through an automatic car wash, be sure to avoid the use of steam cleaners or chemicals to clean your rims. Otherwise, permanent staining or corrosion can occur. When cleaning tires with steel wool, bristle brush or other abrasive materials, proceed with caution as these materials can cause damage to the appearance of the rims.
The tips provided above should provide you with the basic understandings on how to maintain your rims. With just a little time and work, the beautiful rims you invested in can remain in good condition for a much longer period of time.
