3-way wheel cleaner comparison (with pics)

[Evenflow]

The last thread sparked my interested in comparing three wheel cleaners: Sorry for the blurry pics.

Eagle one w/ spray trigger

20 seconds later:

Eagle one w/ aersol can:

20 seconds later:

Meguiars APC 4:1:

On my tires, the better cleaner was no doubt the E1 A2Z trigger spray. It pulled a lot more dirt off of the tire than either the APC, or the E1 foam.



Tested it out on my fathers truck tires as well.



Eagle one w/ spray trigger

Meguiars APC 4:1

 

[sixty7mustang22]

That is a huge difference. How does it compare to Bleche-Wite?

 

[blownvert]

your my bro!! i used bleche-wite but i also got the Eagle One wheel and tire cleaner. It must be the older model because it doesnt say A2Z.

 

[yrebel7tpx]

Nice work but I have to say one thing about your test I would be careful using some of the tire cleaner that you get from auto stores most of them have an acid base that over time will eat through the clear coat of your rims. I had a car with aluminum rims and I used Meguiars wheel cleaner all the time and it messed them up bad so now the only thing I use is a product like simple green it is a degreaser not an acid hope this helps.

 

[blownvert]

Nice work but I have to say one thing about your test I would be careful using some of the tire cleaner that you get from auto stores most of them have an acid base that over time will eat through the clear coat of your rims. I had a car with aluminum rims and I used Meguiars wheel cleaner all the time and it messed them up bad so now the only thing I use is a product like simple green it is a degreaser not an acid hope this helps.

are you talking about it will effect all rims or just chrome? I have had no problems so far for OEM wheels, but then again I never had a problem with chrome either.

 

[audiguy69]

Wow... I bet those tires looked like new when you were done! :drool:



It's just really hard to believe that something that gets as much brown stuff out of your tires is safe for ALL wheels - including ALLOY, aluminum and clear coated....



:think2

 

[Alfisti]

I find most wheel cleaners are alkaline-based rather than acid-based these days.



E1 are all alkaline based AFAIK. A2Z certainly is.

 

[Evenflow]

Nice work but I have to say one thing about your test I would be careful using some of the tire cleaner that you get from auto stores most of them have an acid base that over time will eat through the clear coat of your rims. I had a car with aluminum rims and I used Meguiars wheel cleaner all the time and it messed them up bad so now the only thing I use is a product like simple green it is a degreaser not an acid hope this helps.

I've been using E1 A2Z for a few years now and have never had this problem on aluminum, alloy, or chrome rims.

 

[evo77]

EO A2Z tire cleaner is my absolute favorite. I have found no other OTC tire cleaner that works better.



I usually spray the tire and let it dwell for a few minutes. Then agitate with a wet tire brush and scrub away. Usually after the rinse I have removed 90% of dirt. One more light soaking of the tire and a scrub will get any remaining dirt residue. Very little brown that gets pulled off 2nd time around, mostly the white foam remains.



I will say this though, I don't ever use this cleaner for wheels. Soap and water is all that is ever really needed.

 

[heyyo302]

Great photos. Thanks for the comparison

 

[Wolf-Strong]

You should try Meguiar's Super Degreaser undilluted. It surprised me to no end on how much crap that took off!



Same here for the most part on my own car; soap and water do a fine job.

 

[Eisen Hulk]

Thanks for the experiment, Flow. While out on lunch today, I stopped by Wal-Mart and pick up spray bottle of A2Z. Fairly decent price for 26oz ($4.44), especially if you were in a pinch.

 

[Evenflow]

I forgot to mention, as far as deep cleaning the tires I do NOT think it does a great job. I forgot to add a few more pictures.



To see just how much dirt it took off the tires, I went back with a bucket, grit guard, and GS. Sprayed more A2Z on my tires, and agitated with a GS. This is before and after.



These pictures are after spraying my tires TWICE with A2Z. There was still much dirt left.

 

[blownvert]

good job man with that HD GS!

 

[evo77]

What constitutes "deep cleaning"? I think its safe to say that there are a number of variables that come into play when determining if a tire cleaner is effective enough during the first pass.



- different tire composites react differently

- just how long has the tire gone without a cleaning?

- was rubber protectant used after previous cleaning? as some may attract more dirt





As I stated earlier, the EO is able to clean 90% of dirt/grime during the first pass with a good scrubbing. The second pass yields very little left over dirt as the majority of the foam is still very white with only little brown melting off.



At least this is my experience on Falken tires (my car) and Goodyear tires (wifes van).

 

[imported_Denzil]

Nice work but I have to say one thing about your test I would be careful using some of the tire cleaner that you get from auto stores most of them have an acid base that over time will eat through the clear coat of your rims. I had a car with aluminum rims and I used Meguiars wheel cleaner all the time and it messed them up bad so now the only thing I use is a product like simple green it is a degreaser not an acid hope this helps.

Simple Green can be just as bad, if not worse, than EO A2Z. Both are just as capable as staining rims if left to sit long enough which is probably what you experienced.

 

[kenleekenlee]

Uhhm, there were a few threads about tire/wheel cleaners a few months back re: the brown gunk that comes off of your tires when sprayed with wheel cleaner. I think the consensus there was that you are actually stripping your wheels of the protectant that the manufacturer puts into the tire itself. The reason you get less brown the second time is that you've washed off the protectant on/near the surface of your tire, which would be bad (since the surface of the tire is the part getting oxidized). Tire manufacturers do, in fact, caution people from using chemicals on the tires for this very reason.

 

[Evenflow]

What constitutes "deep cleaning"? I think its safe to say that there are a number of variables that come into play when determining if a tire cleaner is effective enough during the first pass.



- different tire composites react differently

- just how long has the tire gone without a cleaning?

- was rubber protectant used after previous cleaning? as some may attract more dirt





As I stated earlier, the EO is able to clean 90% of dirt/grime during the first pass with a good scrubbing. The second pass yields very little left over dirt as the majority of the foam is still very white with only little brown melting off.



At least this is my experience on Falken tires (my car) and Goodyear tires (wifes van).

Well judging by my pics, the first time I applied A2Z most of the dirt came off. The second time I applied, the dirt that didn't come off with the first application came off.



In my case, the last time I deep cleaned my tires was a few months back. So I think its safe to say one should deep clean every few months.

 

[Gemini13]

Nice work but I have to say one thing about your test I would be careful using some of the tire cleaner that you get from auto stores most of them have an acid base that over time will eat through the clear coat of your rims. I had a car with aluminum rims and I used Meguiars wheel cleaner all the time and it messed them up bad so now the only thing I use is a product like simple green it is a degreaser not an acid hope this helps.

I wouldn't trust regular simple green on my rims. It will mess up clear as well.



This version works well though:



Extreme Simple Green Precision Equipment Degreaser

 

[evo77]

Uhhm, there were a few threads about tire/wheel cleaners a few months back re: the brown gunk that comes off of your tires when sprayed with wheel cleaner. I think the consensus there was that you are actually stripping your wheels of the protectant that the manufacturer puts into the tire itself. The reason you get less brown the second time is that you've washed off the protectant on/near the surface of your tire, which would be bad (since the surface of the tire is the part getting oxidized). Tire manufacturers do, in fact, caution people from using chemicals on the tires for this very reason.

That doesn't make much sense. Considering this...



1. I clean tire - removing brown gunk until tire is clean



2. I dress tire



3. tire stays dry and free from rain for a few days



4. it rains



5. tires get dirty



6. i clean tires again - removing brown gunk



*cycle repeats*





Are you saying that each time I clean my tires I'm NOT removing DIRT/GRIME but rather some rubber protectant that my tire manufacturer has built into the rubber???