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Car Washing & Drying beginner 4 min read

Keeping Your Wheels and Tyres Mint

Most car owners make this harder than it needs to be. Here's the straightforward approach that actually works—no fluff, no upselling.

A quick checklist to get your wheels and tyres sorted. Stop the Australian sun and red dust from ruining your finish and keep your rubber healthy.

B"W
Barry "Bazza" Williams Product Reviewer
| Updated: 4 March 2026
What You'll Learn
Keeping Your Wheels and Tyres Mint

Aussie Conditions

Australian conditions are tougher than most—intense UV, red dust, coastal salt, and 40°C summers. European car care advice often doesn't cut it here.
Quick Summary

Look, most people treat wheels as an afterthought, but in our climate, that's a recipe for disaster. Between the salt spray if you're near the coast and that brutal UV, your alloys and rubber take a beating. This is my personal rundown for getting a professional result without spendng all day on it. I've been doing this 15 years and honestly, a bit of regular maintenance here saves you a fortune in refurb costs later.

01

The Daily Grind

I've seen so many sets of expensive rims ruined by people letting brake dust sit on them for months. It cooks on in the Aussie heat and eventually pits the surface. This checklist is exactly what I do for my mobile clients to keep things looking showroom fresh.
02

The Gear You'll Need

What You'll Need

0/9
Dedicated wheel bucket — Don't use your paint bucket, unless you want swirl marks everywhere.
PH-neutral wheel cleaner — I reckon Bowden's Own Wheely Clean is a cracker for most jobs.
Soft wheel brush — Something like a Barrel Brush to get the inner rim.
Tyre scrub brush — Stiff bristles. You want to get the old brown 'blooming' off the rubber.
Microfibre wash mitt — An old one is fine, just for the face of the wheels.
Pressure washer or hose — Good pressure is key for getting into the lug nuts.
Tyre dressing — Meguiar's Endurance Gel is my go-to for that long-lasting finish.
Applicator pad — A dedicated foam one keeps things tidy.
Iron remover — Optional, but great if you haven't cleaned them in months.

While you're here...

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03

Before You Wet Anything

What You'll Need

0/4
Are the wheels cool to the touch? — Never spray chemicals on hot wheels. I learned this the hard way on a black Commodore, it'll streak the finish instantly.
Are you in the shade? — The sun will dry your cleaner too fast, leaving nasty spots.
Do you have fresh water? — Dirty water just moves the grime around.
Have you checked for curb rash? — Good to know what's dirt and what's actual damage before you start scrubbing.
04

The Process

Tap each step to mark complete
01

Dry Rinse First

Blast the loose grit and red dust off. If you're coming back from a trip out west, spend extra time behind the spokes.

02

Apply Cleaner

Spray your cleaner evenly. Let it dwell for 2-3 minutes. If it turns purple, that's just the chemical reaction with the brake dust.

03

Scrub the Tyres

While the wheel cleaner sits, hit the tyre walls with your stiff brush. You'll see brown gunk coming off, that's exactly what you want.

04

Agitate the Rims

Use your barrel brush for the inside and the mitt for the face. Don't forget the lug nut holes, dirt loves to hide there.

05

Final Rinse

Rinse thoroughly. And I mean thoroughly. Any leftover chemical can cause corrosion over time, especially in coastal salt air.

06

Dry the Wheels

Don't skip this. Use an old microfibre. If you leave them to air dry in Australia, you'll get water spots thanks to our hard water.

07

Apply Protection

Wipe on your tyre shine. I prefer a satin finish, looks more professional than that overly greasy 'wet' look, but each to their own.

05

Final Check

What You'll Need

0/4
No 'sling' on the paintwork — Wipe off any excess tyre shine so it doesn't spray down the side of the car when you drive off.
Inner barrels are clean — Check with a torch. Dirty barrels behind clean spokes looks amateur.
Valve caps are back on — Easy to knock off during scrubbing.
Tyre walls are black, not brown — If they still look brown, they need another scrub.
06

A Few Thoughts

Truth be told, I don't bother with those 'all-in-one' tyre foams from the servo. They usually last about five minutes and attract dust like crazy. Also, a mate of mine once tried using dish soap on his wheels... don't do that. It's too harsh and can actually strip the clear coat over time. Stick to the proper stuff and your wheels will stay looking new for years.

Watch Out

Always wear eye protection when using iron removers or wheel acids. One stray splash from a brush can ruin your arvo. Also, never apply tyre shine to the tread of the tyre, only the sidewall, unless you fancy a slide into the nearest gutter.

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