Winter and De-Icer Wheel Damage Repair
Northwest winters can be murder on your high performance wheels. One particularly nasty element is the de-icer that our department of transportation puts on the road during icy weather. De-icer chemicals can cause significant damage to your tires and rims; luckily WheelKraftNW is here to help!
A significant wheel problem de-icer creates is chrome peeling. The de-icer causes corrosion between the chrome and aluminum resulting in a peeling chrome finish. De-icer can also cause pitting, fading and can even make your aluminum wheels look white and chalky. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to prevent the de-icer from being on the road but there is something you can do to resolve the damage.
WheelKraftNW’s wheel repair services here in Portland are extensive. Not only can we refinish any pitted, faded or chalky white wheel, we can also handle peeling chrome through our partnership. Although it can take some time to accomplish there is nothing in wheel repair we can’t handle.
Don’t let your money go to waste on new wheels! Restore yours and save with WheelKraftNW! Simply call or fill out our contact form and our team of experts will be happy to give you a free estimate.
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.
Watch Out for Winter
Protecting Your Wheel’s Finish
Virtually all alloy wheels are painted and/or clear coated. When you add wheel-balancing weights that clip on and scratch the paint, it can let corrosive moisture and other substances get to the underlining aluminum. The same goes for any scratch marks made from careless handling during tire rotation or damage caused by road debris or curbside parking.
Once pitting has gotten in, you will need to protect your wheels and eventually have those wheels refinished. Don’t take the chance of causing further damage to your wheels bring it to a professional to ensure proper installation.
To protect your wheels during the winter months, apply a generous layer of wax to the wheel which will help repel water and other corrosive materials. Also check with the car wash attendant before you take your car through a car wash as some use acid cleaners before or during the wash to remove dirt and grime. Others may use stiff brushes for cleaning wheels and tires. Both of these processes can harm your wheel finish.
