HRE Performance Wheels

Caring for your car is truly a labor of love. In order to get the results you want, it’s important to understand not only what you have, but what you should do. Even though the basic approach to cleaning wheels is simple, not all wheels are the same and therefore require different types of chemicals. Be sure to consult with HRE to make sure the cleaner you choose for your wheels is not going to harm them.

Coated or Uncoated?
If you’re not sure whether your wheels are uncoated aluminum or not, do a spot test by rubbing a small amount in a low-visibility area with Mothers® Mag & Aluminum Polish, Billet Polish or PowerMetal®. If it doesn’t turn black, then stop immediately. There’s a coating of sorts on that wheel, and you must use a different product.

Painted, Anodized and Clear-Coated Wheels
Maintenance of painted, anodized and clear-coated aluminum wheels is not much different than cleaning body paint. First, wash off any deposits with soapy water. If the wheel is heavily soiled with super-sticky brake dust or road grime, some wheel cleaners can help remove them.

Mothers® Wheel Mist® All Wheel and Mothers FX® Wheel Cleaner are formulated for use on painted wheels and other coatings that need a gentle approach. However, when applying them do so with a hose nearby so you can rinse it off before the product dries on the wheel.

To remove stains and brake dust, a gentle polish such as Mothers® Plastic Polish is just the thing you need. Additionally, it will help to keep brake dust from sticking. Wheels that aren’t clear-coated can use an aluminum polish such as Mothers® Mag & Aluminum Polish.

Polished Aluminum and Magnesium Wheels
When cleaning polished aluminum wheels without a clear-coat, or open metals like magnesium, use Mothers® Mag & Aluminum Polish, a proven and popular product. Rub a thin layer of polish onto a portion of the wheel until a black residue appears. Add more polish as you go along, and don’t be in a hurry to remove the dark residue because it acts as a secondary polishing agent. Once the wheel is sufficiently clean, wipe it dry with a clean, soft microfiber towel so that you don’t let the polish dry on the wheel—make sure you turn the drying towel frequently.

Don’t let wheel polish dry on the wheel! Wipe it off immediately. If it does dry, just reapply the product and wipe it off before it dries again.

Chrome and Roughcast Metal Wheels
Some wheels need extra cleaning power such as chrome wheels and those made of roughcast metals. In this case, strong cleaners like Mothers® Wheel Mist® Chrome/Wire can be employed. Take extra care to prevent the cleaner from coming into contact with other parts of the car, and don’t let it sit too long before hosing off. Be sure your wheels are chrome or roughcast, because Wheel Mist® can damage clear-coated and painted wheels. When doing chrome wheels, you can chase the cleaner with Mothers® Chrome Polish to finish the job. Chrome Polish cleans and protects your chrome with advanced polymers, resisting smudges and fingerprints.

The New Shape of Shine
To get the job done in a fraction of the time, use Mothers® revolutionary PowerBall®, PowerBall Mini® or PowerCone® polishing tools with PowerMetal® polish to bring out the maximum shine in your wheels. Simply attach the polishing tool of your choice to any standard drill, apply the appropriate Mothers® polish right on the ball or cone’s surface and begin polishing.

For uncoated polished metals, Mothers® PowerMetal® liquid metal polish allows for even distribution and ease of use. Mothers® traditional paste polishes, such as Mag & Aluminum Polish or Billet Polish can also be used in place of PowerMetal® liquid polish. When using a paste, simply apply the product to the ball or cone’s surface with your fingers and spread it around. When using a paste, a slight spritz of water on the ball or cone will ensure even product application. Chrome Polish can also be used in conjunction with our polishing tools to streamline and simplify polishing your chrome parts.

Start drill on the “low” setting, then slowly increase the speed. The unique closed-cell foam allows it to compress tightly to get into those hard-to-reach places. After just a few minutes you’ll be able to use a clean terry cloth or microfiber towel to wipe the polish away revealing an amazing shine that used to require hours of polishing.

Any questions?
Not sure of the finish? Many wheels can be difficult to identify, and often have two or more types of finishes. Be sure to consult with HRE if you are unsure of your wheels finish.

Mothers® is known worldwide for its premium-grade polishes, waxes and cleaners. Go to www.mothers.com for information on all these products, along with lots of car-care tips in the online Mothers® Detail Guide at www.detailguide.com and the Wax Forum at www.waxforum.com.

Shane Christman
Marketing/Advertising

Mothers
Polish
5456 Industrial Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
(714) 891-3364 phone
(714) 893-1827 fax
www.mothers.com