Recommend Article: Introduction to Tire And Wheel Detailing
The secret to a top performing vehicle is regular tires and wheels detailing. You need to provide attention to both front and back wheels, along with the wheel well to ensure thorough cleaning and protection. But how do you get this job started and what are the benefits you can enjoy? More on this below.
Benefits of Detailing Your Wheels
A lot of car owners might think that taking off your car's wheels for detailing might seem to be going a bit overboard or fanatical, such that it is ideal only for show or racing cars. However, it does serve its own purpose.
Unless you take out your tires and wheels for detailing, you cannot inspect it for damage or signs of wear that need fixing. Inspecting the tires and wheels are also important to check the brakes and suspension, which are important safety features of your vehicle.
Components of Detailing
You will find out later that you can also get a step further by performing some undercarriage detailing. Doing this will enable you to test and examine some critical components of your vehicle to ensure that it remains in top shape and running condition.
There are three basic areas that are focused on when detailing your vehicle tires and wheels:
*You need to start detailing the front and back wheels. You can enhance the appearance of your wheels, especially if you get yourself some expensive ones wherein the inner rims are exposed. Make sure you have fully inspected it to ensure that there are no tire wear problems that were undetected.
*Look into safety components of your vehicle associated with the tires and wheels' performance, such as brake calipers, wheel wells, and suspension. Use a plastic liner protectant to coat them as it will also add finer details into your vehicle.
*Do not neglect the side, front, and rear ends of your vehicle wheels. Make sure there are no loose or broken parts.
Undercarriage Detailing
Now that you understand the basics of detailing your tires and wheels, it is important to move onto caring for your vehicle's undercarriage. This is much better than working on the engine compartment since you are not dealing with sensitive components. However, be warned about using petroleum-based cleaners since it will reduce the life span of some key areas in your vehicle, such as hoses, rubber brushings, and seals, among other things.
Since this part of your vehicle could get extremely filthy, it is important to make several applications of the cleaner and extensive brushing to effectively remove signs of damage and dirt. You can even start using a few types of brushes to begin with and see which ones are most effective in cleaning your undercarriage.
When using a degreaser to remove any oil residue from your undercarriage, let it sit for a while to enable the solution to soak into the surface. After 3 or 5 minutes, spray with water onto the surface to reduce any stubborn dirt or grime. Once you have removed the first layer of dirt, examine it to see if there are any left. If there are, begin with the second application of degreaser and follow the same procedure as above.
Undercarriage and Wheel Protection
Indeed, there is no better maintenance procedure than to protect your vehicle's wheels and undercarriage. When you do this, you can save thousands of dollars in the end since you no longer have to do major fixing for your vehicle.
You must spray the undercarriage with heavy protective wax coating to prevent premature deterioration of rubber and plastic components. This is possible when your vehicle is exposed to various elements with constant running. When shopping for a protective coating, pick one created specifically for your wheels and undercarriage.
