[Westside Guy]

If you put ceramic on your wheels how do you wash them?

What products are you using?

Do you use brushes, sponges, mitts?

[///MPhatic]

I think a better question is what not to use. Try not to use chemicals on them after the ceramic coating, there usually isn't any need anyway. Still, simple soap and water will get them clean because the entire goal of ceramic coating is to be everything-phobic, not just hydrophobic.

[Burrcold]

I use all my regular wheel/tire cleaners and even iron fallout for brake dust, and the hydrophobic properties are still there. Obviously not on the rubber, but the wheel face and barrels still bead up nicely and are super easy to clean.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

I use all my regular wheel/tire cleaners and even iron fallout for brake dust, and the hydrophobic properties are still there. Obviously not on the rubber, but the wheel face and barrels still bead up nicely and are super easy to clean.

You can do this, but it causes your ceramic coating to degrade much faster. That's why they say it lasts 2-5 years, which is a huge delta.

Also, if the ceramic coating isn't 100% complete, meaning any part was missed during application, it won't last as long either.

For this reason you see people saying their CC didn't last long at all, it's a combination of not getting every little bit coated, and using chemicals on it.

Applied properly with no chemicals used on it, CC should last 5+ years.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

You can do this, but it causes your ceramic coating to degrade much faster. That's why they say it lasts 2-5 years, which is a huge delta.

Also, if the ceramic coating isn't 100% complete, meaning any part was missed during application, it won't last as long either.

For this reason you see people saying their CC didn't last long at all, it's a combination of not getting every little bit coated, and using chemicals on it.

Applied properly with no chemicals used on it, CC should last 5+ years.

I only need it to last 2-5 years. I don't keep cars longer than 3 years at the most. But yes, your car care routine will definitely effect the longevity of the coating, whether on painted panels or wheels. As will the maintenance of the actual ceramic coating over those years.

[shimmy23]

i use brake buster and a variety of brushes and that mini wool mitt from OG.

[Westside Guy]

Are the brushes too abrasive and should you simply use a sponge?

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Are the brushes too abrasive and should you simply use a sponge?

I use a brush like this from Chemical Guys. Very soft bristles. Usually that with a clean microfiber towel (sponges lock in too much debris for my liking).

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Are the brushes too abrasive and should you simply use a sponge?

I've seen some very aggressive brushes that will easily scratch the clear.

I use these soft woolies (when I use them, which is rare), but I'm a freak about my wheels/tires/brakes.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Not a bad way to spend thirty thousand dollars... by Andrew Thompson, on Flickr

[chris719]

Ceramic coatings are very chemical resistant but not very abrasion resistant. Use of a bristled brush will eventually degrade it.

Strong alkaline or acidic wheel cleaners will also degrade it. Neutral cleaners with iron remover and slightly acidic cleaners are fine and will actually help prolong the life of the coating. A wheel cleaner like TW Rapid Decon, Koch Chemie MWC, Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus, etc. are safe for the coating and can bring back beading when it's "clogged". A strong alkaline cleaner like Adam's Wheel and Tire is also "safe" but repeated use will weaken the coating.

[colo3Kid]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

I've seen some very aggressive brushes that will easily scratch the clear.

I use these soft woolies (when I use them, which is rare), but I'm a freak about my wheels/tires/brakes.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Not a bad way to spend thirty thousand dollars... by Andrew Thompson, on Flickr

love your wheels

[TboneS54]

I use Meg's ultimate wheel cleaner and Griot's HD wheel cleaners because they have iron removing elements (for the brake dust). They're powerful, but pH blanced (ceramic coating can handle a fairly wide range of pH anyway) so they dont harm the ceramic coating (coating maintenance actually includes using iron removers). I don't even need a brush most times, they come out perfectly clean usually.

[malvern_man]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

If you put ceramic on your wheels how do you wash them?

What products are you using?

Do you use brushes, sponges, mitts?

My gloss black 22's are Gyeon ceramic coated, faces and barrels, I use Garage Therapy One wheel shampoo, wheel woolies, ultra soft detailing brushes and a dedicated wheel mitt. Every few washes I give them a few spritzes of Gyeon Wet Coat before the final rinse, then I dry them with my BigBoi blower.

[allinon72]

Brake Buster at full strength. It's mild enough not to hurt the coating. You still have to use soft brushes. There's no spray on spray off product that I would use, ceramic coated or not.

[M5Rick]

If you have your mini pressure washer out its done in seconds then the oft forgotten inner rims but quickly don't prolong it then while you're at it give the under arches a blast if the car is not too lowered.

[amrazM]

just wipe them out with a microfiber and car soap. nothing special

https://youtube.com/shorts/s4gP43qx3...Aw76mJMQwIEtGl

[Brophy92]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

If you put ceramic on your wheels how do you wash them?

What products are you using?

Do you use brushes, sponges, mitts?

Pressure wash first. Good quality wheel/alloy soap with warm water and a microfiber barrel brush. Then wipe down with microfiber cloths.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

You already have a bunch of replies but adding my 2 cents.

I coated my wheels first time this year and most of my washes I will only use car soap from the wheel bucket or if I do a rinseless, my wheel bucket has rinseless. Sometimes I like to spray a little bit of optimum power clean 1:3 especially in the barrel since my powder coat job is not 100% smooth so dirt/dust seems to stick better inside.

As for tools I like to use a microfiber wheel mitt for the face and spokes, along with a detailing brush that looks like boar's hair for the face and other intricate areas. And I also have a EZ detail barrel brush for the inside.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by allinon72

Brake Buster at full strength. It's mild enough not to hurt the coating. You still have to use soft brushes. There's no spray on spray off product that I would use, ceramic coated or not.

Brake Buster will slowly (eventually) degrade a coating, despite whatever the manufacturer and YouTubers say. The safest wheel cleaning product for a ceramic coating is a pH neutral iron remover based product. The thioglycolate is not harmful at all to the coating. Brake Buster is also weak as hell against brake dust and you're overall almost better off just using soap. I would recommend TW Rapid Decon, Koch Chemie MWC, Tuga AluDevil Green, etc. all nearly the same product. They are far more effective and actually safer for any coating or sealant.

[spazzz]

Hyper wash and some sort of Wheel Woolie for the drums.
Otherwise my Costco yellows get used for the faces, behind the spokes and another pass in the drums feeding the rag.
Hell no on chemicals and speed master type brushes.
Nothing more than soap is necessary otherwise it is time to recoat.