Chrome Wheels.....Mother's PowerBall?

[1flyfisher]

Are these things any good for doing chrome wheels? I heard rumors they are good? Yay or Nay? They make a mini Powerball that seems like it could get in the cracks and crevices.



Anyone care to recommend a chrome wheel wax/polish/protectant?



Also what is a good product for washing chrome wheels? I mean like a spray on gunk cutter soap type of product that you spray on and then rinse off before you wax the wheels.



Let me know your tips and tricks, products for chrome wheels.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Accumulator]

Somebody here (forget who it was, but it was *NOT* some dummy...) really messed up some chrome wheels with a Powerball. I forget the details of how it went, but my take-away was that I'd never try one of those on my wheels.



If you use the KAIO/FK1000P on the wheels, they might clean up OK without anything special/aggressive (I just use strong shampoo mix).



Or, check out Griot's Garage for a wheel cleaner made specifically for chrome wheels. The regular Griot's Wheel Cleaner is good stuff too.

 

[1flyfisher]

Thanks I'll look into those Griot's products.



I'm after a spray to get all that brake dust and road grime off and then some kick-a$$ wax to shine them up.



I guess good old elbow grease is the way to go on chrome wheels.



These GMC Savana's come with UGLY wheels and crappy General Ameritrac tires.....I will run them from when I get the van(April delivery date) till next Fall. Then I am throwing on some new wheels and some All Terrain tires to get the most out of the AWD.

Those General Ameritrac's are real crap baloney skins from what I read on Tire Rack.com....they break traction in the rain.......not gonna work in 2 feet of Sierra Cement up at lake tahoe.....

 

[Bunky]

I have used the Power Cone on chrome wells without any issues. I have the mini-ball too and used it on some headlights but prefer the cone on my chrome wheels since it will walk a little bit less on certain surfaces.



It seems hard to mess up wheels with the ball or cone unless somehow you got the foam to separate from the shaft and that seems very hard to do but some determined person could do it. I would not polish an abrasive surface (something with sharp edges...just like you would not use a polishing pad on something sharp...)

 

[Accumulator]

..These GMC Savana's come with UGLY wheels and crappy General Ameritrac tires.....I will run them from when I get the van(April delivery date) till next Fall. Then I am throwing on some new wheels and .....

Good move, I'm a firm believer in running the correct tires for the conditions. I even run snowtires on AWD vehicles in the winter.

It seems hard to mess up wheels with the ball or cone unless somehow you got the foam to separate from the shaft and that seems very hard to do but some determined person could do it. I would not polish an abrasive surface (something with sharp edges...just like you would not use a polishing pad on something sharp...)

I dunno how he did it, but the member in question trashed his wheels but good (or at least one of 'em). Can't quite remember the details, but it might've been chromed wheels on an Impala SS :think:



He didn't sound like a dummy or like he'd been careless, or anything like that so I took it as a valid heads-up. Normally, yeah, chrome is tough stuff and people do all sorts of really aggressive things to it without any problems :nixweiss



But optimally, IMO, chrome plated stuff shouldn't be allowed to get so bad that you *need* to do anything aggressive. Once chrome gets messed up, it's usually forever.

 

[Accumulator]

1flyfisher- Additonal thoughts that occurred to me:



I'd choose aftemarket wheels that are gonna be easy to clean.



There's a "powerstick" gizmo (or some name like that...) at AutoGeek that you chuck into a cordless drill. Sorta a variation on the PowerBall theme, might be worth checking out. I've debated getting one myself for use on BBS-style wheels.

 

[Jim D.]

1flyfisher,



Knowing what you need might be useful for making a recommendation.



Your wheels should be clean before you polish -- whether you're polishing by hand or with a PowerBall or PowerCone. Use a spray-on, hose-off cleaner suitable for chrome if they are really dirty.



Having used the balls as well as the cone to polish, I can't imagine damaging the finish if you have half a brain. They work at low speeds and the fingers simulate hand work, but it's a fraction of the effort. I love these things. Apply polish with ball and remove by hand with a microfiber or quality terry towel.



Mothers makes a liquid chrome polish that is so mild it won't even scratch glass, and it has "advanced polymer protection" according to its label. I've used it for years without a complaint. Do not use a metal polish for chrome.



If your wheels are in reasonable shape, these recommendations should serve you very well.



Searching here, I found these threads that may be helpful:



http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/119775-chrome-polishing.html



http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/106645-mothers-powerball-question.html



http://www.autopia.org/forum/profes...02190-polishing-chrome-need-advice-pro-s.html



There are many other discussions if you do a search.



You can use virtually any brand of polish with these balls or the cone, but be sure to wash it afterwards with dish soap, rinse thoroughly and let dry.

 

[1flyfisher]

I am talking about maintaining and protecting BRAND NEW chrome wheels. So I don't need any type of aggressive chrome cleaning product.

I am looking for something to spray on, scrub a bit and rinse off that is good for NEW chrome. Something to remove crud and prep the chrome before I apply some chrome polish.



From my research Griot's Wheel Cleaner seems like a good cleaner for new wheels. They make a regular and a version for chrome Griot's Garage Wheel Cleaner, Griots Garage Wheel Cleaner, wheel cleaning

Griot's Garage Chrome Wheel Cleaner, Griots wheel cleaners, all wheel cleaner, clean chrome wheels One is green and one is blue? I wonder IF there is any REAL difference between the two.



Then I want a protective CHROME POLISH/WAX for protectant and shine purposes. Mother's Chrome Wheel WAX or something like it that may be better.



This is the WHEEL I am getting Image Close Up it has lots of nooks and crannies so I figured a PowerBall Mini or Cone would get them waxed quicker.

 

[Leadfootluke]

Does anyone know how aggressive the foam on the powercone is?

 

[Accumulator]

..

From my research Griot's Wheel Cleaner seems like a good cleaner for new wheels. They make a regular and a version for chrome Griot's Garage Wheel Cleaner, Griots Garage Wheel Cleaner, wheel cleaning

Griot's Garage Chrome Wheel Cleaner, Griots wheel cleaners, all wheel cleaner, clean chrome wheels One is green and one is blue? I wonder IF there is any REAL difference between the two...

I suspect that the stuff for chrome wheels is more aggressive. I'd be astounded if there were no functional diff between them.

Then I want a protective CHROME POLISH/WAX for protectant and shine purposes. Mother's Chrome Wheel WAX or something like it that may be better.

I just use regular wax/sealant instead of something supposedly formulated just for chrome.



Note that wheel cleaners clean waxes/sealants off along with the dirt. The FK1000P holds up somewhat better than most when Griot's (regular) Wheel Cleaner is used, and that Wheel Cleaner can be diluted and it'll still outperform regular shampoo while being a bit more gentle on the wax/sealant.

This is the WHEEL I am getting Image Close Up it has lots of nooks and crannies so I figured a PowerBall Mini or Cone would get them waxed quicker.

The pic isn't working for me at present. If I were in your situation, I think I'd probably just wash them with the Griot's for Chrome Wheels and not bother with any sort of waxing. But if you want to try KAIO/FK1000Ping them along with the rest of the vehicle, far be it from me to dissuade you.

 

[1flyfisher]

I suspect that the stuff for chrome wheels is more aggressive. I'd be astounded if there were no functional diff between them.

I'd think that the chrome cleaner might be less aggressive than the all purpose Griot's as the All purpose is also for aluminum wheels which can get dirty quick and can be difficult to clean and get shiny......but that is purely a guess on my part.

Most likely they are both the exact same thing, one with blue coloring the other with green.

The pic isn't working for me at present.

Wheelsforless - Product Catalog - Search Result Page

 

[Accumulator]

I'd think that the chrome cleaner might be less aggressive than the all purpose Griot's ..

Hey, you could be right! Hmmm :think: I was thinking how chrome is less sensitive to acids than aluminum is. Somebody oughta call Griot's and find out.

Most likely they are both the exact same thing, one with blue coloring the other with green.

Nah, Griot's usually doesn't play those kind of games IME, and I've been doing business with them since the days when Richard answered the phone himself in his kitchen.

..[link that works]...

OK, thanks. Those don't look all that bad, I just wouldn't want to let 'em get too nasty between cleanups.



From a real-life perspective, I think there's a lot to be said for just finding a good cleaner (effective and safe) and only using that (no wax/etc.).

 

[1flyfisher]

Hey, you could be right! Hmmm :think: I was thinking how chrome is less sensitive to acids than aluminum is. Somebody oughta call Griot's and find out.

Chrome cleans very easy. That's one of the reasons I want it. Polished Aluminum wheels can be a lot of work to get shiny. I'd figure the chrome cleaner is a little milder.

OK, thanks. Those don't look all that bad, I just wouldn't want to let 'em get too nasty between cleanups.



From a real-life perspective, I think there's a lot to be said for just finding a good cleaner (effective and safe) and only using that (no wax/etc.).

I'll put some All terrains on those Chrome American Racing Assaults, 3 tires I am considering>>>BFG AT's or maybe Toyo Open Country's AT, Goodyear Silent Armour's. Which ever is cheapest next fall will go on those wheels.



Yeah I am just looking for a cleaner that is good for NEW chrome. The Mother's CLEANER stuff seems to be for highly soiled wheels that are in bad shape. So I figure that is pretty harsh cleaner which scares me. A good car wash soap and a brush will do fine but a mild cleaner to get in the nooks and crannies to bust up the break dust would be nice. That Griot's Chrome cleaner sounds good. I'll try that. I'd like to put some sort of wax on as to help protect and to help shed dust and dirt. That Mother's chrome polish is pretty good. I have used it in the past. Just like protecting paint with wax I think it is a good idea to put something on chrome.



Right now I am research all products to figure out what to go with and what I want to do.

 

[Accumulator]

... Just like protecting paint with wax I think it is a good idea to put something on chrome..

Just remember that wheel cleaners take off waxes/etc. along with the dirt.



FWIW, I use Boar's Hair Brushes ("BHB"s) more than anything else when it comes to wheels. The bristles get into tight spots pretty well and *nothing* IME beats BHBs for rinsing clean no matter what gets on them.

 

[Jim D.]

Spray-on, hose-off wheel cleaners for chrome actually tend to be more acidic (and are a stronger type of acid) than those for clearcoated or polished wheels. The chrome actually can handle the strong acid, and it actually helps the chrome pop. If you're talking Wheel Mist Chrome/Wire, yes, that is a very acidic cleaner, and should be used on nothing but real chrome. But if you can get by with soap and water and a mitt -- and sometimes the design of the wheel can dictate how much effort that is -- all the better. For those that may have PITA chrome wire wheels or chrome wheels of an intricate design, these types of wheel cleaners are a godsend. But if a milder low-acid or alkaline (non-acidic) "all wheel" cleaner works, then great.



As others have suggested, if you don't need a cleaner, don't use it. But every once in a while a cleaner helps remove the inherent buildup you get on most anything over time.





A very mild chrome polish like the Mothers will shine and protect. Turtle Wax also has a new Premium Chrome & Metal POlish product out which claims to be mild and to shine and protect chrome, though I haven't used it -- again, it does claim to be milder than their old standard Chrome Polish and Rust Remover.



It doesn't hurt to put something on chrome to prevent brake dust and dirt from sticking -- whether that be a function of the polish, a spray wax, or a pure carnauba wax.



A soft bristled-brush, like a split end wheel brush, can be helpful. I haven't tried the boar's hair, but as Accumulator stated, they evidently are fabulous.

 

[1flyfisher]

As others have suggested, if you don't need a cleaner, don't use it. But every once in a while a cleaner helps remove the inherent buildup you get on most anything over time.

Yeah that is what I am talking about at some point I will need to hits these new chrome wheels with something more substantial than soap and a brush. Sooner or later brake dust is going to accumulate. That may be a while but the wheels will still be new and not needing a heavy duty cleaner. Griot's sounds perfect.

A very mild chrome polish like the Mothers will shine and protect.



It doesn't hurt to put something on chrome to prevent brake dust and dirt from sticking -- whether that be a function of the polish, a spray wax, or a pure carnauba wax.

Yeah that's my thinking. After a few months of driving on them I will wash them with soap and a brush and put on some chrome polish. After 8-12 months I may have to do something more substantial than just soap and water. I have kept chrome bumpers and wheels from pitting and such with the Mother's.



I was wondering what other products people use to do their wheels?

Any tips or products?

I guess I am good with soap and water and a brush, Griot's down the road and some Mother's. There probably isn't any miracle chrome polish out there besides the Mother's?????

 

[Leadfootluke]

To hijack and add to the thread, lol...



The Griots looks nice and also, have you looked at P21S? Both seem mild and look to be effective for the safe cleaning you are looking for. I have only used an APC, but would like to find an actually wheel cleaner, and this thread has some great information.



The KAIO seems like a great polish due to how mild it is and the protection it offers too.



Also, I have Mothers Powermetal and Blue Magic, but I picked up some Collinite #850... even though I have yet to read a review on it. It seems mild as it is a metal wax, but I believe it has some polishing properties. I am looking forward to testing any and everything I can.



And to add to the OP. My buddy has been scouting out prices on tires, and the Pro-Comp A/T's [ A cooper company ] were much cheaper than the BFG A/T and the Goodyears. The siping on them is crazy too, so just something to keep in mind when you are looking for tires!

 

[1flyfisher]

Chrome handles any decent wax very well. I am kinda looking for something designed specifically for chrome. If a product is specifically for chrome like Mother's I wonder if they are any better than a KAIO or P21S or a Collinite 845 on chrome.

But I am exploring and trying to find something better than Mother's.

I will likely be using KAIO and/or FK1-1000 on my paint so at some point I may try them out on chrome. I wouldn't be surprised if they do as good or better than a chrome polish.





I thought you Autopians would be crazy about your wheels and have a bazillion different products and recommendations that you use?:chuckle::chuckle:



That is a nice looking tire. I will check those out on tirerack.

 

[Bunky]

I use Mothers too and just top with a wax but I do not let them get bad. I did start working on a wheel on my dad's car but I could not finish it. Mothers did work (no power cone) but took some effort.



I had been looking for some metal polish comparisons but people do not compare them like paint polishes (cut). I have read good things about Optimum's Metal Polish.

 

[Accumulator]

..The Griots looks nice and also, have you looked at P21S? Both seem mild and look to be effective for the safe cleaning you are looking for. I have only used an APC, but would like to find an actually wheel cleaner, and this thread has some great information...

I used P21S before the Griot's stuff came out. IIRC (this was a while ago) the P21S was slightly stronger. I diluted it a little more than I do the Griot's.



Both are good stuff, I'd cross-shop them by price.

The KAIO seems like a great polish due to how mild it is and the protection it offers too.

That protection is quite minimal IMO. KSG, OTOH, heavily layered of course works quite well on both "real" chrome and the "chromed plastic" stuff.

I picked up some Collinite #850... even though I have yet to read a review on it..

That oughta work fine, though I might think twice about trying it on irreplaceable "show" chrome.

I thought you Autopians would be crazy about your wheels and have a bazillion different products and recommendations that you use?

Heh heh, yeah...in my case, the closest I come to chrome wheels are the chrome-like wheels on my YukonXLD. I have FK1000P on those at present, but I've also just left 'em un-LSPed and used Griot's Wheel Cleaner with a spritz of FK425 afterwards, very little diff IMO.



For the rather minimal chrome on my vehicles (primarily the Jag), I'm pretty much all about protecting it and not subjecting it to any abrasion (it's worn through in places and I'm a fanatic about originality so I won't have it redone). And most any LSP works fine for that IME.



When I *do* need a chrome polish, I choose between stuff from English, Griot's, and my jar of Meguiar's NXT Metal Polish (IIRC they spell it in some goofy way like "metyl" or somesuch ).