Keeping Your Car Clean

Keeping Your Car Clean

Caring For Your Aftermarket Rims

Patrick Fuller

If you have new  wheels, like Moto metal wheels, they will surely give your car a stunning appearance, but if you to preserve that appearance, you'll need to take good care of them. Here are some tips and pieces of sage advice to help you properly care for your high-end aftermarket rims.

Clean them regularly.

Whether you pull through a professional car wash or wash the rims yourself, make sure you are washing them on a regular basis. They're sure to get dirty, but that is not the problem. The problem is that if the dirt lingers, it will trap moisture against the rim and lead to deterioration or corrosion. 

Make sure you use a dedicated wheel wash when cleaning your rims. All-purpose household cleaners are too harsh for regular use. And try to clean your rims when they are cool, as this will prevent the cleaner from reacting quite as harshly with the metal. (If you're stopping by a professional wash, do it on your way out of town, not on your way home, as your rims will be cooler at the start of the trip.)

Apply a clear-coat.

After you wash and dry the rims, make sure you apply a cleat coat sealer specifically made for car rims. This will help prevent dirt, bugs, and other road grime from really adhering to the metal when they hit your rims. You'll find that you need to clean the rims less often with a good clear-coat in place.

The best clear coat for your needs will depend on the material your rims are made from. If you have polished aluminum rims, you can use a cream wax. For chrome-plated steel (which is becoming more common), you will want to use wheel seal, as it does a better job of protecting the delicate chrome finish.

Address damage immediately.

In a perfect world, you would never ding or bend a rim. However, in real life, this sometimes happens. Do not ignore minor damage, as corrosion may just set in and make the problem worse. Take the rim into the manufacturer or your auto parts shop, and have them assess the damage. They may recommend replacing the rim if they can't fix the ding themselves.

Aftermarket wheels can add so much beauty to your car. Whether you have a set made from aluminum, chrome, or some other metal, take good care of them, and they will continue to take good care of you.


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About Me
Keeping Your Car Clean

My name is Amelia, and I have been a mom for about 20 years now. One thing I can tell you about kids is how difficult they can be on cars, which is why I made this blog. One day, I just got tired of driving around a car that smelled like the inside of a garbage bin, so I decided to make some changes. I implemented some rules in our family cars that really helped, and I worked hard to detail the interior, getting professional automotive cleaning and maintenance help as well. Check out this blog is you want to drive a car that looks just as good as it smells.

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