Wheel Whitening?

pHr34kY · Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:02 am

I'm not sure if this has happened to many, but my rims are starting to look like smoker's teeth (and they hardly ever smoke!). Has anyone else managed to combat the yellowing of the wheels?

Here's an artist's impression of the product I'm looking for:

: wheelwhiten.png (76.27 KiB) Viewed 8223 times

I've discovered that the yellow gunk can be removed with a clay bar, but it would take several hours to do (probably an hour per rim). I'm a bit scared to use anything too harsh as I don't want to damage the rubber.

[YLD80Y] · Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:21 pm

Try prepsol and a rag/toothbrush.

markymark · Wed Mar 23, 2011 7:13 pm

A light cutting compoun/polish, but again that will take time.

pHr34kY · Sun Apr 03, 2011 1:47 pm

Cut & Polish did the trick. It took about 90 minutes to do all four.

Here's a pic of a half-polished wheel. I polished 180 degrees clockwise of the valve, and the rest had only been washed (quite thoroughly). The results are pretty evident in the photo.

[YLD80Y] · Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:18 pm

Might want to check the air pressure while you're at it chief!

pHr34kY · Tue Apr 05, 2011 7:49 am

Good idea.

I haven't driven it in weeks (as the discs will tell you), I probably won't drive it for another few weeks. I'm just detailing it here and there while I'm off work.

Vuka1 · Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:42 am

I was going to recommend WD40
but looks like you've done a good job

Mark3 · Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:33 am

This is the best stuff I've come across: http://www.dirt-off.ie/bike-cleaner

Spray on......work it in with a toothbrush and wash off.

My rims were nearly gun-metal grey after getting new pads and 30mins later...like they were new again!

davo43 · Thu Oct 17, 2013 1:03 pm

I washed mine thoroughly and then polished them with Meguiars Ultimate Compound followed by Meguiars Ultimate Liquid Wax - took a long time but I only did one wheel per night after work (I took them off the car) and they look brand new! Mine were worse than yours when I started too!

igsport · Tue Oct 22, 2013 1:07 pm

I used Gumption (multipurpose cleaning paste), the wheels now look near new, just have to be careful as I think it does have some abrasives in it, eventually the original white paintwork will have to be refurbished. A lot of the guys in the UK have trouble with corrosion eating away at the original finish, with most requiring a refurbish.