How Do I Keep My Wheels Clean?
The Secrets to Removing Wheel Grit and Grime
Alloy Wheels are Automobile, Truck and Hot Rod wheels made up of aluminum or magnesium. Alloy wheels are different from the steel wheels because of their lighter weight and greater performance characteristics. They are better heat conductors than steel wheels, they are lighter in weight and they provide a great look to a car. Often neglected, alloy wheels require greater care because they receive more wear than any other parts of a car. The wheels are closest to the road, grit and grime. After few months of use, these wheels will lose the sparkle and brightness they had when they were new. The minor scratches and tar spots can give them a bad look. Before you fit alloy wheels to your car, you need to give them several coats of a good polish or wax.
The Right Wheel Cleaning Products
There have been many products in the market that are specifically formulated to clean and protect your painted alloy, stainless steel wheels. Some of the most commonly used products include the following. At WheelKraft NW we use the Eagle One line of Cleaning Products. Our Favorites are Eagle One A-2-Z or the Eagle one All Wheel Cleaner. You can pick this up at your local Auto Parts Store.
More Car and Wheel Cleaning Tips
The following Cleaning tips can provide the best protection to your car. Let your wheels cool before cleaning them! Hot Wheels Can discolor when hit with cold wash water. Use wet sponge and fresh water to clean your car. Use good car polish or wax, use surface protector Never use abrasive cleansers or abrasive pads to clean your wheels. Before you mount your wheels give them several coats of good quality car polish. Frequent washing with mildly soapy warm water is the best way to keep your alloy wheels clean. If you take the time to care for them properly they will last a long time and you will not have to get them repaired or replaced. Remember, if you damage a wheel beyond what simple cleaning can handle, we are here to help. Repair, Refinish or Repaint.
Check Your Tires with a Quarter
Want an Easy Way to Measure Tread Life on Your Tires?
“Quarters are safer than pennies when it comes to checking your tires”, according to new tests conducted by Tire Rack, the country’s largest independent tire tester. With much of the winter driving season remaining and change of season ahead now is especially important for drivers to be aware of their tires condition.
For decades the tire industry had taught drivers to use the so-called Penny Test as a simple way to tell when tires were worn out. But experts at Tire Rack say that popular lesson is outdated, compromises safety, and should give way to the Quarter Test.
In the old Penny Test, seeing the top of Lincoln’s head while holding a penny upside sown in a tire tread grove indicated a tread depth of 2/32-inch (1.6mm) or less, and that the tire needed replacing (to learn how to properly get directions on this go to www.tirerack.com/treaddepth).
In driving tests, a late-model pickup truck on tires that passed the Penny Test, (legal in most states) averages 499.5 feet to stop from 70 miles per hour on wet pavement. That is equal to about 12.5 school buses or nearly a tenth of a mile.
The same vehicle riding on tires that passed Tire Rack’s proposed Quarter Test stopped almost 122 feet (24%) shorter. These tires had treads measuring 4/32-inch (3.2mm) deep, as measured from the edge of a quarter to the top of Washington’s Head. Not only were braking distances reduced, overall grip noticeably improved!
