Cleaning Alloy Wheels

[regbrusan]

Does anyone have any tips on cleaning alloy wheels. The wheels on my 93 Miata are showing signs of their age, 90,000 miles. I have tried all types of "Wheel Cleaners" with not a lot of luck. Short of repolishing and coating the wheels, what else can I do.

[Grant@Tirerack]

The problem with most wheel cleaners is that they are acid based. They will actually etch the clearcoat and damage the wheel finish. You don't want to use any product on your wheels that you wouldn't use on the painted finish of your car. If they are hazy now and are clear coated. You may want to try using a very soft cotton cloth and some fine scratch remover or clear-coat safe rubbing compound. You can find both in the automotive paint section of your local auto store. Test a spot on the back side of the wheel first and gently rub the finish to buff it. If the clearcoat is still intact it should help to bring back the shine a little. Then use a good quality automotive wax to seal them. We sell a very specific wax just for wheels on our website:
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=DY6&url=/accessories/index.jsp

[94GreenBeast]

Well if you have alloy rims like mine that don't have any type of clear coat, I would highly recommend using a polishing compound and a buffing wheel. I used it on my American Racing alloy wheels that looked horrible from Michigan winter driving. I went to Lowe's and found some polishing compound in a hard stick like form that was recommended to me, and a drill size soft polishing buffing wheel. And they almost looked like chrome. Try it!

This is what I started with…well probably a little worse.

[pennypicher]

Mother's Gold wheel polish works good too