[ronanz]

Alright detail ninja's...just as the title states, what is/are your go to detail wheel brush(s)? .

.

[John in VA]

It takes a village!
https://www.autogeek.net/speed-maste...olies-kit.html
https://www.autogeek.net/daytona-mini-wheel-brush.html
https://www.autogeek.net/ezdebrfca.html
https://www.autogeek.net/boars-hair-...ing-brush.html
https://www.autogeek.net/low-profile-tire-brush.html

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by John in VA

It takes a village!
https://www.autogeek.net/speed-maste...olies-kit.html
https://www.autogeek.net/daytona-mini-wheel-brush.html
https://www.autogeek.net/ezdebrfca.html
https://www.autogeek.net/boars-hair-...ing-brush.html
https://www.autogeek.net/low-profile-tire-brush.html

Great recommendations. I agree on all these listed.

[Solidjake]

I use these two

https://www.amazon.com/EZ-Detail-Lit...7378486&sr=8-5

https://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Woolies.../dp/B00R3YEKSY

[eleven11]

https://www.detailedimage.com/Wheel-...iece-Kit-P651/

https://www.detailedimage.com/TUF-SH...re-Brush-P550/

[kern417]

Thanks for linking the Wheel Woolies. I always see people using them but never knew where to buy. Looks perfect for cleaning the barrel.

[Desertnate]

I use a Speedmaster brush like was already mentioned for the barrels and between spokes. I also have a soft wheel brush I picked up at WalMart for the faces of the wheels.

After using wheel brushes from several sources to include the ones offered by Mother's, I found the generic brush sold at big-box stores to be softer, more durable, and cheaper. Go figure....

[sean2648]

Use the same combo on my car and cars we get through the business, definitely takes an arsenal, 1 size brush does not fit all. And obviously the wheel design plays a large part in your choices.

https://www.autogeek.net/speed-maste...olies-kit.html : for getting in between spokes, nice kit for different sized brushes

https://www.autogeek.net/mothers-tir...brush-kit.html : the long brush is for the wheel wells, medium size brush for the wheel faces, shorter brush for the tires

https://www.autogeek.net/tuf-shine-tire-brush.html : my go to and favorite for just tires

https://www.autogeek.net/daytona-spe...r-brushes.html : to get the barrels and in between spokes the woolies dont get to

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Detail...9047413&sr=8-6 : to clean sensitive areas, tighter areas like bolt holes


and if you like using your hands and not tools, or you are able to fit your hands in there, you can just use an old wash mitt that you don't care if it necessarily gets dirty, or microfiber towel. some people don't like messing around with all the tools if they can just use a towel instead.

[Skyhigh]

Generally speaking, "detailing" and "brush" rarely belong in the same sentence!
With the exception of soft brushes for detailing engine covers, air inlets/outlets, grills, etc, you don't use brushes! They DO scratch.

I use a MF cloth for the wheels. It has a slightly rougher backside. You should not be scraping the dirt off - if it does not come off with a MF, you need chemical products, not a brush.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by Skyhigh

Generally speaking, "detailing" and "brush" rarely belong in the same sentence!
With the exception of soft brushes for detailing engine covers, air inlets/outlets, grills, etc, you don't use brushes! They DO scratch.

I use a MF cloth for the wheels. It has a slightly rougher backside. You should not be scraping the dirt off - if it does not come off with a MF, you need chemical products, not a brush.

For one, wheels finishes are a lot harder than your paint. You can use soft brushes without causing scratches. When you have baked on brake dust, agitation may be needed. I still have gunk on my barrel that I haven't been able to completely remove.

Secondly, most of the wands that are being posted have microfiber bristles. They are just better suited to reach and clean between wheel spokes than a rag.

[Desertnate]

The brushes I use on my wheels are very soft.

The Speedmaster, despite having nylon bristles, are long and very soft. I've been using it for years and never experienced any issues with the finish on my wheels. Also, the wheel brush I use on the wheel faces is also very soft. The bristles ends are split to make them easier on any wheel finish.

One thing I found interesting was the really cheap wheel brush I use on facing surfaces comes from WalMart and has much softer bristles and is more gentle on wheel faces than those found from auto detailing stores

[jdg54]

Late here but below is my arsenal:

Long Handle Tire/Well Brush: https://www.amazon.com/Carrand-94039.../dp/B002G29KLK

Dressing Applicator: https://adamspolishes.com/products/a...BoC2KUQAvD_BwE

Wheel Brush: https://www.autogeek.net/ezdebrfca.h...BoC21UQAvD_BwE

Wheel Woolie: https://www.carpro-us.com/brushes-bo...hoC9uwQAvD_BwE

Lug Nut Brush: https://www.autogeek.net/lug-nut-bru...RoC2KsQAvD_BwE

Sorry for the long links.

[jdg54]

Ah, almost forgot my most important wheel cleaning tool. The "Green Monster" towel from Klin Korea. Yes, it really is THAT good. https://detail-division.com/products/kl-n-green-monster

[Skyhigh]

Originally Posted by kern417

For one, wheels finishes are a lot harder than your paint. You can use soft brushes without causing scratches. When you have baked on brake dust, agitation may be needed. I still have gunk on my barrel that I haven't been able to completely remove.

Secondly, most of the wands that are being posted have microfiber bristles. They are just better suited to reach and clean between wheel spokes than a rag.

I disagree with most.
The clearcoat on your rims is just as easy to scratch as on your car. It is not a "special" type. It is just more difficult to see given its nature and shape. The easiest way to scratch them is to use a brush. Not only through the brush itself but by unintentionally rubbing the plastic (or even worse - metal) structural parts of the brush.

This said - there are of course brushes and brushes.

My point however is that there is absolutely no need for a brush. Chemistry + a suitable MF is all a Detailer needs to maintain clean wheels! I consider myself into detailing and I have never needed a brush for neither of my 4 sets of wheels. There are small, suitably-shaped MF rags specifically for wheels. With a rougher textile on the back side, should you need to apply some pressure.

Furthermore - if you really want to maintain your wheels as clean as possible for as long as possible and facilitate washing them - there are waxes and ceramic coatings on the market. Again - no brush required. Ever. Same way you never use a sponge to wash your car, even if your grandpa did.

Here some food for thought:

Fine, small brush only used for the bolt cavities and/or inner side.

[jdg54]

Skyhigh I kind of agree and kind of disagree. Alloy wheels are clear coated and it is typically much thicker/harder than paint. Much like you would use a boar's hair/ synthetic (ie Detail Factory) brush to clean your badges and emblems without fear of scratching the paint, you can do the same with your wheels. The underlying silver/alloy color is also much harder to see scratches/swirls in than, say, black sapphire metallic. Not saying it's impossible. With proper lubrication, one should not fear a wheel woolie/speedmaster. Heck, even a microfiber wheel towel will scratch the wheels if you rub it dry.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by Skyhigh

My point however is that there is absolutely no need for a brush. Chemistry + a suitable MF is all a Detailer needs to maintain clean wheels! I consider myself into detailing and I have never needed a brush for neither of my 4 sets of wheels. There are small, suitably-shaped MF rags specifically for wheels. With a rougher textile on the back side, should you need to apply some pressure.

Trust me. It is very easy to get baked on brake dust that doesn't come off with chemical cleaners and gentle agitation. Especially if you have upgraded brake pads. I took my wheels off the car to ceramic coat them and ran into that issue, as well as on previous cars. Any one who drives their car hard will tell you the same thing.

And a lot of wheels don't have clear coats. The powdercoating on most wheels will withstand a lot of abuse.

[Skyhigh]

Why did you assume I don't drive hard?
M Sport brakes on one (known for lots of dust), ATE Powerdisc + EBC on the other. 4 very different sets of wheels ranging from 17" to 19".
Never had any problem with removing dust, as long as you don't wait a year to wash them! IronX, Tuga, etc. - chemistry made specifically for you to not wash like our grandparents used to - with sponge and brush.

Not trying to convince anyone, but my advice - drop the brush, buy proper chemistry and a suitable MF.
Example: https://www.chemicalguys.com/microfi...r/MIC_403.html

P.s. And I am a lazy "detailer" - I wash on demand, by far not every week! When I do it though, I do it properly.

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by kern417

Trust me. It is very easy to get baked on brake dust that doesn't come off with chemical cleaners and gentle agitation. Especially if you have upgraded brake pads.

Agree. I'm dealing with that very issue on my front wheels because the prior owner must not have/rarely washed his wheels. There are some baked on spots I'm still trying to remove.

Even on my winter wheels which are new and ceramic coated, they still get spots which are hard to remove simply because the weather doesn't allow me to clean them often and the stuff builds up. I have to work at them pretty good to get it off.

There may be some strong wheel cleaners which might eat though the heavier grime without much mechanical effort being needed, but I've seen that stuff cloud or haze the clear coat on wheels. I'd much rather use a milder cleaner and a quality brush or two.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by Desertnate

Agree. I'm dealing with that very issue on my front wheels because the prior owner must not have never/rarely washed his wheels. There are some baked on spots I'm still trying to remove.

Even on my winter wheels which are new and ceramic coated, they still get spots which are hard to remove simply because the weather doesn't allow me to clean them often and the stuff builds up. I have to work at them pretty good to get it off.

There may be some strong wheel cleaners which might eat though the heavier grime without much mechanical effort being needed, but I've seen that stuff cloud or haze the clear coat on wheels. I'd much rather use a milder cleaner and a quality brush or two.

After a track day i have brake dust and tire chunks stuck to my wheels, paint everything. and If you don't take your wheels off for cleaning and can't reach the barrel, it's going to get baked on. i did the ceramic coating specifically to help, but some damage was already done.