Skip to content

How To Clean Tire Rims And Wheels

Dirty rims and wheels can take the joy out of any ride. Thankfully, Dawn® cleans everything from baked-on to braked on messes. So take a quick pit stop to clean your brake dust and make those tire rims and wheels shine like new.

1. Play It Cool.

Before we start cleaning, make sure your vehicle is completely off and the rims are cool to the touch.

2. Hose ’em Down.

Hose down any large pieces of grit or dirt on the wheels and rims. This will save you some time scrubbing later.

Hand holding hose spraying wheel and rim and hand scrubbing rim with soapy sponge

3. High-Performance Cleaning.

To create your cleaning solution, fill up a gallon bucket of hot water and add 1 teaspoon of a concentrated dish liquid like Dawn.

4. Start Your Scrubbing.

Use a rag or sponge to clean the outside edge of the rim. Scrub until all the grease has been removed from the metal surface. Next, clean the interior of the rim. Try using an old toothbrush to reach those tough-to-reach spots.

5. Rinse Down.

Rinse out the wheel wells starting from the top to the bottom. This ensures that all the soap is removed. Excess residue may lead to etching on certain materials.

Rinsing tire clean with hose and drying rim with towel

6. Dry Time.

Immediately dry with a soft, clean towel. Now hit the road with your clean rims and wheels.