About this deal
Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers. When it comes to cleaning wheels, one of the biggest questions is if it’s safe to use acid wheel cleaners. First off, let’s discuss what an acid wheel cleaner is. These are cleaners that are between pH 1-5, with alkaline cleaners being in the range of pH 9-13 and those in the middle (such as car shampoo) being classed as pH neutral.
Clean wheels are, in our opinion, the most important finisher to get your classic car looking smart and well looked after. No point cleaning it at all if you’re not going to get the wheels sparkling; it’s like cleaning the house and then not vacuuming the carpet. Polishing your car is a great way to fade small scratches and imperfections. Find out how with our handy guide. A bottle of G3 is one of the most expensive cleaners here by volume, but it’s still worth it if you really want the best results. Its pH-neutral formula is as safe as a wheel cleaner can possibly be, so even if you get some on adjacent paintwork, it’s no bother. As with the other pH-neutral cleaners, the Farecia product turns red when it’s ready to be rinsed for a ‘touch-free’ clean. The results are great, too, with serious cleaning power to leave a satisfying, streak-free and dirt-free finish after a simple spray-and-rinse process.It should also be pointed out that great care must be taken when used on alloys that have been kerbed. I found out the hard way that after using an acid wheel cleaner on a kerbed wheel that it actually managed to get under the paint layer and caused bubbling of it. This cause a significant degree of damage to the wheel and it had to be refurbished after that. a>