8 Best Wheel Cleaners

One of the most important parts of your vehicle is its wheels. They are what give your car that sleek look, and without them, your ride would be nothing but an eyesore. With all of these factors in mind, it’s very important to keep your wheels clean!

The best way to do this is by using the best wheel cleaners. In case you’re not sure what cleaner to use, check out our list.

1. Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner

Sonax full-effect tire cleaner is a great product to use. It is easy to spray on and doesn’t take a long time to clean the wheels. It is best suited for all types of wheels – including clear-coated ones!

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Pros

• Deeply cleans the layers of grime.
• Safe to use for powder-coated wheels.
• Acid-free and pH-balanced product to provide the best protection.

Cons

• Not so good for custom-made wheels.

2. Armor All Extreme Wheel and Tire Cleaner

Armor All extreme tire cleaner is a great product to use. It can be used on different kinds of wheels, even chrome ones!

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Pros

• Fast and Easy to use.
• Doesn’t leave behind any residue.
• Makes your wheels more glossy.

Cons

• Can cause damage to the wheel if not used properly.
• The spray nozzle can be problematic.

3. Meguiar’s G7516 Endurance Tire Gel

Meguiar’s endurance tire gel is great for cleaning your tires. It can be used on all types of wheels (including chrome ones), and it has an amazing fresh candy apple scent!

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Pros

• Cleans up road grime, dirt, brake dust, and more.
• Leaves the tires with a matte black look which helps protect them.

Cons

• Not so great for use on the rims of the wheels.
• Can damage clear coated wheels if not used properly.

List of Top 8 Best Wheel Cleaners

Sonax wheel cleaner is the top one on our list as it is an amazing product that works well for almost all types of wheels. It cleans the wheel’s surface very quickly, and it also gives your wheels a nice shine, making your car look more appealing.

Besides that, the Sonax wheel cleaner does an ideal job of removing brake dust. It is safe for different wheel types like chrome, aluminum, painted wheels, clear coated wheels, and even powder-coated wheels. The best thing about Sonax is its balanced pH that ensures the wheel’s safety.

The other reason for choosing Sonax wheel cleaner as the best product is its color-changing feature. It means that wherever it gets in contact with dirt, it will change color, so you’ll know where to apply more product. However, we won’t recommend it for the custom-made wheels as it affects their quality.

Armor All extreme wheel cleaner is another great product to use. It can be used on different kinds of wheels, even chrome ones!

Besides the fact that it’s one of the best in terms of its cleaning ability, we chose Armor all as our second recommendation due to its fast and easy use. You don’t need any hard scrubbing to make your wheels shine with this cleaner.

It can also be used on different surfaces like rubber, plastic, and vinyl, making it the most versatile wheel cleaner you’ll find. However, besides its amazing features, remember that Armor All tire gel might damage clear coated wheels if not applied properly (and by carefully following the instructions).

Another downside is that it doesn’t remove all kinds of dirt, so you might need to use another product along with Armor All.

Meguiar’s G7516 is a great product to use. It can be used on all types of wheels (including chrome ones), and it has an amazing fresh candy apple scent. The best thing about this tire gel is that it protects your tires against browning and harmful UV rays.

Besides that, Meguiar’s endurance tire gel cleans up the road grime, dirt, brake dust, and more quickly. The best thing about it is that it leaves the tires with a matte black look, which helps protect them from any damage. Moreover, you need a waxing sponge or a spray to apply it because it’s a gel, not a spray, so a wheel brush won’t do a job.

However, we don’t recommend using this product on the rims of your wheels as it might cause some damage if not used properly. Another downside for Meguiar’s G7516 tire gel is its nozzle which can be problematic.

The Diablo spray wheel cleaner by Chemical Guys is another great product to use. It can be used on different types of wheels, including chrome ones. In addition, Diablo comes with an acid formula that works well at dissolving the brake dust and road grime off your rims. The best thing about it is its safety, so you don’t have to worry about the damage it might cause to your wheels.

Besides that, the Diablo spray wheel and rim cleaner contain a foaming action that helps loosen up the dirt for an easier clean-up process. It also has very strong cleaning power, so you don’t have to worry about any kinds of stains left on your tires or rims.

However, keep in mind that this product is not suitable for the custom-made or clear coated wheels as it might cause some damage. Another downside of Diablo spray wheel cleaner is its strong smell, so you’ll need to use it with proper ventilation.

The next product in our list of the wheel cleaners is Eagle One A20. In addition to its amazing cleaning ability, we chose it as the fifth recommendation due to its unique formula. It removes any kinds of stains from your wheels and tires without damaging their surface or paint job.

It also contains a foaming action that helps when removing dirt and stains. The best thing about Eagle one A20 is that it’s very versatile as you can use it on different surfaces like chrome, plastic, rubber, and others without causing any damage or problems.

Eagle one is a complete tire and wheel cleaning solution. It cleans your wheels as well as restores them while also protecting them from dust and water. The package includes a simple hose spray for a no-scrub application. You can also use a wheel brush to apply this product. 

6. Black Magic Tire Wet Spray

Black Magic is a great tire wet spray that can be used for many purposes, including cleaning the wheels of your car, restoring them to bring back their shine and color, and protecting them from water damage due to its hydrophobic properties.

Black magic tire wet spray gives you a bold shine on your car’s wheels while also bringing back their color. It has a strong cleaning power that can remove even the toughest stains from your tires and rims without leaving any damage or scratches behind. They also claim that their product is more concentrated as compared to other brands. So, you need less liquid to get the best results.

The chemical liquid includes a novel blend of polymers and high molecular weight silicones that adhere better and shine longer. Most consumers are pleased with this spray, which they claim provides excellent value for money given the low price and extra quantity of solution in the container.

7. Jay Leno’s Garage Wheel Cleaner

Another great product for cleaning your dirty wheels safely is Jay Leno’s. This product comes in two different packages, including a spray bottle and a foam cleanser. One of the benefits of using Jay Leno’s wheel cleaner is that it contains no harsh chemicals or toxins, so you can use it without worrying about any damage to your car parts, paint job, or the environment.

In addition, it is very easy to use as you have to spray and rinse off your wheels for a clean surface that shines like new again. Jay Leno’s wheel cleaner contains an advanced polymer formula that cleans all surfaces, including chrome, painted wheels, aluminum, and alloy, without any problems or damages. One thing to note is that you don’t have to use a lot of cleaner for good results.

Jay Leno’s wheel cleaner also contains active cleansing polymers that help break down dirt and grime to make it easier to wipe off with a towel or cloth without scrubbing too hard. Moreover, it is the best alloy wheel cleaner.

8. Griot’s Garage Heavy-Duty Wheel Cleaner

Griot’s Garage Heavy-Duty Wheel Cleaner is the best solution for dirty wheels. It contains a deep cleaning formula that can remove dirt, grease, or brake dust from your wheels. It also reduces corrosion and cleans up after using other products on your rims, such as dressings or waxes.

Griot’s heavy-duty wheel cleaner is compatible with all wheels, including chrome, aluminum alloy, and steel. It comes in a 32 oz bottle that can last for multiple uses on your rims or tires. We also like that it contains no ammonia, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your car parts when using this product.

However, some customers have complained that Griot’s wheel cleaner is not as powerful. It requires a lot of scrubbing to remove tough stains from the wheels. In addition, it also has a strong chemical smell, so make sure you use it in a well-ventilated area or wear gloves while applying it on your rims.

Types of Wheel Cleaners

There are two main types of wheel cleaners. The first is a pre-rinse, which you apply to your car and then rinse off once the dirt has been lifted from your wheels. The second type of cleaner requires no rinsing after application. But, you must use safety precautions while applying because this kind of product could damage the paint on your vehicle.

Top Wheel Cleaning Brands

1. Sonax

Sonax is one of the most used and well-reputed wheel cleaners. It’s a pre-rinse cleaner and is designed to remove road grime, brake dust, dirt, and other contaminants from your wheels without damaging any paint on your vehicle.

2. Armor

Armor All is another common wheel cleaner. This product works by breaking down road grime and dirt to be easily wiped away with a rag, towel, or sponge.

3. Meguiar’s

This company has been around since 1901. Meguiar manufactures many different products for cleaning your cars, such as waxes and polishes, but they also have great wheel cleaners.

4. Chemical Guys

Another well-known car care company is Chemical Guys. They create products to clean your vehicle in a way that won’t damage the paint or wheels of your ride. Make sure you consider what kind of product works best for you before spraying any chemicals on your car.

Features you should consider before buying Best Wheel Cleaner

There are several different factors you should pay attention to before buying any best wheel cleaner. Here are a few of the features to keep in mind:

1. Ease of use

The best wheel cleaner should be easy to use and require minimal time, water, and effort. You should always choose spray bottles as they are quite easy to use.

2. Wheel Finish

Always remember that all-wheel cleaners are not suitable for all types of wheels. So, always check for compatibility before buying to make sure that your wheels won’t get damaged.

3. Chemical Composition

To understand the best wheel cleaner, you should pay attention to its chemical composition. Some of these cleaners contain bleach and alcohol, which can be harmful to your wheels if they are not compatible.

Benefits of Using Wheel Cleaner

There are several benefits associated with using any one of the best wheel cleaners. Here are the top three:

• It makes your car look new and shiny.
• You can avoid scratches or damages to your wheels since it doesn’t use any harsh chemicals that could damage them.
• The best wheel cleaners will not leave behind a white powdery residue like other products do, making it easy for you to dry your wheels after cleaning.

FAQs

Conclusion

Washing the wheels and tires of your car is a very important step to keep your vehicle fresh. Finding the right and best wheel cleaner can be a bit challenging. However, you can use our list to figure out which wheel cleaner will work best for you.

We recommend Armor All Extreme Wheel and Tire Cleaner if you are looking for some budget-friendly options. However, for a spotless shine, our top recommendation is Sonax wheel cleaner.