TIRE Cleaner (not dressing, and not WHEEL)?

Don't get me wrong..both are great. The purple is stronger and a little more expensive. I would trust the citrus on any surface...the purple I just use for tires and anything that is not responding to the citrus.

 

I've got some pretty disgusting caked on brake dust on my dad's car, what dilution ratio do you usually use the Zep Purple for caked on brake dust on wheels?

I've also been experiencing a bit of an "issue" with the Zep Citrus degreaser at 4:1 dilution. The degreaser would sort of evaporate and begin to dry as I am working the wheels and leaves nasty streams of brake dusts that requires me to go back and spray more solution onto it. It also seems to not dwell very well as it tends to dry pretty fast, it'll almost be dried by the time I finished spray the forth wheel when I return back to the first one.

 

Wheels should be cleaned one at a time. Spray onto the wheel, let it dwell for a minute and then start brushing and rinse. You shouldn't be letting a high-alkaline cleaner dry on the wheels, it is hard on the finish.

Overall, you shouldn't be using Zep Citrus to clean the wheels. Why not invest in some Poorboy's Spray & Rinse? You will still have to brush manually but it's actually a wheel cleaner designed for breaking up sticky brake dust, and it works really well.

 

To answer the OP, the Eagle One A2Z Wheel & Tire Cleaner works great...sometimes needs a second application to strip durable tire dressings, but should be able to get the job done. It just may not be cost effective in the long run.

If you want to go cheap, you can use Meguiar's APC or APC+ at 4:1 or Meguiar's Super Degreaser at 4:1. Those products are really cheap at around ~$15 a gallon and provide high dilution ratios and very effective cleaning power.

 

Me too. I can see the brown "stuff" run down the sides of the tire while Super Green Stuff does its thing. I love that SGS!

 

iv been using SGS 3:1 in a pump sprayer and when i apply it to the tires and scrub i am not getting any type of foaming action. what about you guys?

 

Meguiar's Super Degreaser @ 4:1 for really dirty tires, and ARO for moderately dirty ones.

I also use Tarminator if the tires look like they've traveled to hell and back (You can thank Bob Willis for this tip.)

 

It foams a little, but mostly I end up with brown, thick liquid. Which I suppose may imply that it's got tiny bubbles in it. Maybe try a stiffer brush?

It darn sure works. For $12/gallon, you can't beat it.

 

$12/gallon is good but $17 shipping is not so good. :sorry:

 

MS SGS has been my tire cleaner as well, I use it with a foaming spray trigger bottle and have no issues. It foams up nice when used in that manner, also use a stiff Mothers wheel brush to clean the gunk off the tires.

 

I had a chance to use Adams APC 1:4 ratio and it worked good. My only issue is over spray.

how are you guys dealing with the over spray not getting on the paint i'm using the grey chem resistant sprayers from USPlastics. I guess i'm just worried abotu the APC / De-greaser pulling off my LSP.

thanks again i'm going to try MS SGS and Meguiar's Super Degreaser next.

 

I have used Zep Citrus on my tires and I'm not a fan (4:1 ratio) ...

I tried bleche white last night and it works pretty good, but just like A2Z Wheel Cleaner is not cost effective at all.

 

I feel just like you,just got some zep this weekend,not really liking it on tires lol. Might swing by the automagic distributor like .2 miles from my job and try some 777 degreaser

 

this may be late but i think i'm switching over to meg's super degreaser forever

http://www.detailingbliss.com/forum/f47/e46m3-jet-black-vintage-12348.html

pictures of dirt being lifted/drawn out in thread

 

I've debated many times on using any cleaner on tires. And I will scrub with a brush and some apc or citrus cleaner just to get the topical/superficial gunk off to apply dressing.

I do agree a clean tire will take dressing better.

However, my concern is the leeching or accelerated leeching of whatever is in the tire....The blooming is there for a reason. YMMV but I don't go ball to walls cleaning on tires

 

my primary reason for using the apc is because a majority of my customers cars tires are browned very badly when i first wash/detail their car

 

I use Meguiars Super Degreaser and after everything is dried I wipe the tires with tar and glue remover. This pulls everthing off the tire and leaves a perfectly clean slate for tire dressing.

 

so, how would I use tarminator to clean tires? whats the process?

 

I usually clean with a regular cleaner first, like Eagle one, then, if necessary, you spray Tarminator on a clean crappy rag and just wipe down the tire until you wipe and the rag stays clean. Don't spray it directly on the tire. Pretty easy.

 

thanks Bobby!