Wheels/tires first? Or last?

I usually work on the wheels, tires, and wheel wells first because I like to take my time and really give them a good clean. But after looking at some details on this site, it seems that some people do the wheels last. When do you clean the wheels and tires?

 

I use to always do wheel last. I now do them first and am much happier.

My reason for this is that I can just get the wheels, tires and wells wet, leaving the rest of the car dry. I can spend time on the wheels now with out worrying about water drying on the rest of the car.

When I did wheels last, I always ended up spraying the car down after every wheel to keep it wet. Seemed like a waste.

 

Always best to do the wheels first. You use your most aggressive cleaners/chemicals on the tires, wheels and wells. If you do them last and get any overspray on the paint you have no process to get it off and its worse if you don't realize you got it on the paint and don't remove it. Therefore if you do the wheels and such first then if you get any on the paint you will be washing it right off very shortly when you wash the car, so no harm no foul. Always do the wheels and such first unless you are doing an ONR type wash.

 

Good points being brought up here. I personaly always do them first, but I can understand Wolf's comment about using aggresive chemicals/cleaners on the wheels.

Look forward to more feed back on this topic as well :thumb:

 

Huh?
:shead:

 

I like to wash my wheels first. I have a seperate bucket I use just for doing wheels, wheel wells and brake calipers. Since the wheels are always the dirtiest part, by doing them first you don't have to worry about getting dirt on the paint from the wheels after you have already wash the car.

 

I always do the wheels, wells, and tires first. Like Gary I use a seperate bucket for this. I find that this is the most time consuming portion of the wash.

 

Sorry about that I meant first and edited my post to say as much. Bet that was confusing huh:crasy:.

 

Just the answers I was looking for. Thanks!

 

If I use wheel cleaner - I clean them first...If I use just soap and water, I use the remaining wash solution...

 

Another vote for wheels first here.

 

+1 I always do wheels/tires/wheel wells first, then wash my car. It's just become habbit.

 

Another vote here for wheels first EXCEPT when I'm going to be removing the wheels for extra detailing, then I do them last.
G

 

Exactly what I do.

 

I really don't need to chime in here too, but WTF, I agree with all of the points about doing them 1st: keeps paint dry, cleans unintended chemical from paint, finish all wet stuff 1st, etc.

 

Very true, as it should be. The wheels are probably the dirtiest part of the car.

 

1st degrease wells, tires, wheels, rockers, bumpers..

foam entire car and then work from the top down..

works for me.

 

I always like to do the real dirty work first which is mostly the wheels.