After a year, as expected, my truck still takes on a nice shine when washed. My tire's side walls, with a little spray of "shiney stuff" still look new. But I keep getting distracted by the wheel wells around my shiney tires.

Any body have any tips for cleaning and shining back up the wheel wells and the mechanics that are visable? I suppose I could take the tires off. Lot of extra work though. I may just try some Simple Green and a brush and reach in there, followed up with some 303 maybe. Don't know, any ideas from those of you as obsessed with a clean truck as I am? :D

After a year, as expected, my truck still takes on a nice shine when washed. My tire's side walls, with a little spray of "shiney stuff" still look new. But I keep getting distracted by the wheel wells around my shiney tires.

Any body have any tips for cleaning and shining back up the wheel wells and the mechanics that are visable? I suppose I could take the tires off. Lot of extra work though. I may just try some Simple Green and a brush and reach in there, followed up with some 303 maybe. Don't know, any ideas from those of you as obsessed with a clean truck as I am? :D

I'm not obsessed by a clean truck however I do wash it often. I have always (every truck I have owned) though washed the rear wheel well area. When washing, I do the tires, wheels and wheel wells last because these are the dirtiest parts and I don't want to get my rag all dirt and rock encrusted while still washing the paint on the truck. It is easy when washing the tires to just take a rag and wash the visible areas of the rear wheel well. Just my method.

I do the same, clean the tires and wheels last. I use a sponge or rag to clean the wheel wells, the when I spray on my tire shine product, I spray the wheels wells also with tire shine. It usually lasts as long as it does on the tires themselves. I think it gives a good finish, and makes the detail look complete.:cool:

then when I spray on my tire shine product, I spray the wheels wells also with tire shine.
Never thought of that, good idea Eroc40. I use a brush with medium stiff bristles for cleaning the wells, now I'll use the tire shine stuff as well.

a pressure washer works great at cleaning wheel wells. comes out like new, then spray with Tire Black ( shine ) and it gives you the showroom look...:D

My preferred method is a long-handled wheel brush. I have one from Black Magic I'm quite fond of. The sides of the handles and head are rubber coated so you don't have to worry about banging it into the paint. Dip it in your soapy water (absolute last part you wash), and brush away. Once they're dry, coat them with some cheap tire shine. I've always used No-Touch foam, but people are now having good results with No Touch Ultra Shine.

Black Magic Wheel Brush (http://www.amazon.com/Black-Magic-5051505-Pro-Clean-Wheel/dp/B000AMMN76)

I do the same, clean the tires and wheels last. I use a sponge or rag to clean the wheel wells, the when I spray on my tire shine product, I spray the wheels wells also with tire shine. It usually lasts as long as it does on the tires themselves. I think it gives a good finish, and makes the detail look complete.:cool:
Ditto for me. Works great with little fuss.

I clean my wheel wells with car wash solution..
Then I use 303 on them..
Like the clean wet look:)

I have to clean them when I get a couple of inches of mud built up. A small pressure washer does a good job. I've never used any protectant or tire shine stuff in there. I wonder if something like Armorall would keep the mud from sticking.

But I keep getting distracted by the wheel wells around my shiney tires.

Yeah, it does distract from a clean truck. Not too long ago I had a mess in my front wheel well from road kill I couldn't dodge. Got up into the coil and strut. I went to the DIY car wash and sprayed for a long time before most of it came out. The stuff stunk to high heaven. It must have been skunk or something. Anyway, most of it is gone, but I bet there's still some behind the rims. I might have to take the tire off.

As for the normal cleaning of the wheel well, I was thinking of (haven't done it yet) using the "Powerball" made by Mother's. Would have to use an extension bit on the drill, but it might do the trick.

http://www.autogeek.net/mo5140.html

I wonder if something like Armorall would keep the mud from sticking.
I currently use some Dupont rim cleaner with Tephlon that seems to work really well at preventing dirt from sticking to my rims. Most of the grim just rinses off. So maybe an armor all would help in the well... It would be the only place my truck would see armor all though... ;) Then again, some no stick Pam spray may also be worth trying. Hmmmm:eek:


You know, it's not all the good answers I'm seeing here that is impressing me. It's the number of owners who have the same clean truck compulsions as I. I no longer feel alone!!! :D

You know, it's not all the good answers I'm seeing here that is impressing me. It's the number of owners who have the same clean truck compulsions as I. I no longer feel alone!!! :D

What ever happened to spray on mud?

Coin Op. Car Wash, Self Help Pressure Wash
- presoak soap - light mist
- soap - pressure wash
- rinse - pressure wash
- spot free rinse - light mist
Yeah, I hit the wheel wells too. :)

I use Liquid Ice. It does a nice job and is reasonably long lasting.

Yeah, you gotta throw some tire shine in the wells. If people look at your wheels, they will see the unfinished wheel well. I use Turtle Wax Wet and Black.

I spray paint the wheel wells with mat-black primer every week...so far, 75 coats!
:p

I spray paint the wheel wells with mat-black primer every week...so far, 75 coats!
:p

I use fake mud on my tires and wheel wells for that "tough" look.:rolleyes:

I use fake mud on my tires and wheel wells for that "tough" look.:rolleyes:OH NO! :eek: Don't start that conversation again.

(for those who don't know what I am referring to, do a search on "Spray on Mud")

OH NO! :eek: Don't start that conversation again.

(for those who don't know what I am referring to, do a search on "Spray on Mud")

I prefer "stick on water" for my long lasting wet look :D

Outfitter, how do you get the mud stickers to stay on the tread :confused: :D

My tip is to be careful if wiping the inside of the wheel wells with a rag. The inside ridge is very sharp and will cut your fingers. Safer to use a brush or power washer, or just be careful.

I wash my wheels/tires/wheel wells first because I don't want the rest of the car to water spot while I'm doing them. I just use a different rag/brush to prevent scratching the rest of the truck. Afterwards, I squirt a little Tire Wet or Armor All and the plastic to make it black again.

I thoroughly wash my wheel wells every spring by blasting through standing water in a downpour. Works great.

Sounds like you are speaking from experience RidgeOwner3!

I prefer "stick on water" for my long lasting wet look :D

Outfitter, how do you get the mud stickers to stay on the tread :confused: :D

303 all purpose mud sticker adhesive, of course. :o

I clean whatever the touchless car wash manages to get clean!:)

After a year, as expected, my truck still takes on a nice shine when washed. My tire's side walls, with a little spray of "shiney stuff" still look new. But I keep getting distracted by the wheel wells around my shiney tires.

Any body have any tips for cleaning and shining back up the wheel wells and the mechanics that are visable? I suppose I could take the tires off. Lot of extra work though. I may just try some Simple Green and a brush and reach in there, followed up with some 303 maybe. Don't know, any ideas from those of you as obsessed with a clean truck as I am? :D

I will address this area I as clean and will not allow for any build up of any kind...:cool:

I use a toilet brush, the one with a full head. It gets in there good, the longer handle helps.

As an example of my obsessive/compulsive behavior, I not only powerwash the wheel wells, but I powerspray the entire underside of the truck with every cleanup!:D
Roy

I gotta tell the wife that I'm not the only one!!!!!!:p

I gotta tell the wife that I'm not the only one!!!!!!:p

Oh Mike, far from it. But the ladies, they still don't get it... :D

Oh Mike, far from it. But the ladies, they still don't get it... :D

Somebody said,'the ladies don't get it" ???!!

Everybody back up slowly...

Somebody said,'the ladies don't get it" ???!!

Everybody back up slowly...

and no sudden movements!!!

I'm Rolling on the floor:D

Back on track (GRIN) - I use Griot's Undercarriage Spray. Works awesome. Lasting longer than TireWet was lasting on the tires (for me, anyway).

pressure washer and the same wheel dressing for me.

I spray on Mequires NTX Speed Detailer and the clean them with a terry cloth towel. Works great. The gook gomes right off even in the hard to reach places.

I'll be cleaning them today after they caught some jackass pissing on my back tire at work.

I'll be cleaning them today after they caught some jackass pissing on my back tire at work.

That's just a joke, right????

If you ever find that @#$%@#$%, you're gonna........:eek:

Meguiar's Endurance low gloss tire shine works great. No splatter on the just cleaned car, as from some of those tire shine sprays.

Ok, now to add something to the mix...
I just got back from a road trip to northern New York state and came home to find that manure doesn't come off as easily as one would expect.... :eek: Not only do I need to to use Bug and Tar remover all over the front of the truck for the bugs ( yes I hit every bug in the state of New York) but now I have to use Bug and Tar to remove manure from the sides of my truck. Not sure what to do yet about my wheel wells. :o

That's just a joke, right????

If you ever find that @#$%@#$%, you're gonna........:eek:

I wish it were a joke. Thankfully security caught him before he could piss on the rest. I spent more then a few hours detailing her this weekend and besides that, well doing something like that to someone else's property is just plain wrong! People have no respect for anything these days:(

My employer just moved our department to an area that is considered the worst in the city. To their credit they have done altot with security (that's the only way jack pissser was caught), but I still hate parking my brand new RidgeLine there. I shudder to think of parking her outside the caged in lots when all the spots are taken. I am thinking about buying a taeser. It is really scary there.

Guilty as charged. What can I say OCD
http://members.cox.net/ridgeline06/Ridgeline clean wheelwells-1.jpg
http://members.cox.net/ridgeline06/Ridgeline clean wheelwells.jpg

Guilty as charged. What can I say OCD
http://members.cox.net/ridgeline06/Ridgeline clean wheelwells-1.jpg
http://members.cox.net/ridgeline06/Ridgeline clean wheelwells.jpg

Tony,
I think you missed a spot:D I kid...but I think OCD just just about the exact definition of this:D

Guilty as charged. What can I say OCDYou need help! :eek: :D I do the lazy mans cleaning on that... hose it off and spray it with tire shine.

Tony, Do I detect that you have painted the lip of your wheel wells black also? (Might just be the lighting in the photo...)

You need help! :eek: :D I do the lazy mans cleaning on that... hose it off and spray it with tire shine.
Same here. Looks showroom fresh!!!;)

Same here. Looks showroom fresh!!!;)ok fine. I'll try to force myself to clean it next wash. I better do it in St. Louis as well... people will look :cool:

ok fine. I'll try to force myself to clean it next wash. I better do it in St. Louis as well... people will look :cool:

Why don't you see if this company (http://www.bare-metal.com/) can provide large enough sheets for you to "chrome plate" your wheel wells? :D:D

I would like to take credit however the black line was on the fender flairs that I installed. Tony, Do I detect that you have painted the lip of your wheel wells black also? (Might just be the lighting in the photo...)