How to Protect Alloy Wheels From Kerbs, Brake Dust and Road Salt

Brake dust: what it does

Brake dust is a mix of tiny particles from the pads and discs. It is hot and often corrosive, and if left on the wheel it can bake onto the finish and eventually etch the lacquer. That is why wheels look dull and pitted when they are neglected for long periods.

Regular cleaning is the simplest defence. Washing every week or two, more often if you drive a lot, stops the dust from bonding.

The inside of the wheel gets the worst of it, because that is where the dust is thrown. It is worth reaching behind the spokes when you clean, not just wiping the face you can see.

Cleaning without causing harm

Use a wheel cleaner designed for your type of finish, and avoid harsh acid-based products unless the manufacturer says they are suitable. Let the wheels cool before cleaning, because hot metal can cause cleaners to dry too fast and stain.

Use a soft brush and plenty of rinse water. Stiff brushes and abrasive pads leave fine scratches in the lacquer, which then hold more dirt.

• Wheels cool before cleaning
• A cleaner suited to your wheel finish
• Soft brushes, not abrasive pads
• Rinse thoroughly, including behind the spokes
• Dry or let them dry fully before sealing

Sealants and coatings

A wheel sealant or wax adds a thin protective layer that makes brake dust and grime easier to rinse off. It does not make the wheels immune to damage, and it needs re-applying from time to time, but it makes regular cleaning quicker and kinder to the finish.

Apply it to clean, dry wheels, following the product instructions. Check that it is suitable for your wheel finish, particularly if the wheels are matt or satin.

Kerbs: habits that help

Most kerb damage comes from tight parking. Take your time when parallel parking, use the mirrors and, if your car has a camera or a mirror tilt function, use it to see the kerb. Leave a little more room than you think you need and approach at an angle that lets you stop before contact.

Narrow streets, busy town-centre parking and tight car parks all raise the odds. Slow and patient is nearly always cheaper than quick and scraped.

Avoid mounting the kerb to pass oncoming traffic, and take speed bumps and potholes slowly, since a bent rim is a more expensive lesson than a scuff.

Winter road salt

When roads are gritted, salt gets thrown on to the wheels and sits in any damaged areas. On bare aluminium, salt can cause white powdery corrosion, and it can creep beneath the paint at damaged edges.

Rinse your wheels regularly in winter, paying attention to the inner barrel and around the nuts or bolts, where salt gathers. A hose or pressure rinse after a salty drive helps more than you might expect. Coastal air has a similar effect over time.

Fix chips and scuffs early

A small chip or scuff that exposes bare metal is an invitation for corrosion. Moisture and salt get under the paint around the damage and lift it, and what started as a pinprick turns into a bubbling patch. Dealing with it early, through alloy wheel repairs and refinishing, is far simpler than waiting until the paint is peeling.

At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn we carry out alloy wheel repairs and refurbishment. If your wheels are showing damage, bring them in and we will tell you what they need, which may be less than you fear.

When you check the wheels, look at the inner edge of the rim as well as the face. Damage on the inside is easy to miss and just as capable of letting salt in.

Frequently asked questions