Zilicium Detailing
Wheels and Tyres
Cleaning and decontamination
Depending on the stage selected for your car, more or less time is allocated to the wheels. To some, the wheels and windows are what set a car apart from others on the road. After some time brake dust and road debris becomes difficult to move without the right solutions and techniques leaving your wheels with a brown coat of brake dust which can lead to pitting and damage to the wheel itself.
Before any detail, time is taken with you to specify which areas are focused on. With a stage 1 detail (unless more time is specified) the wheels remain on the car and are cleaned with a solution which reacts with brake dust and fallout leading to easier removal with a hog-hair brush for wheel nuts and wash mitt for the face, spokes and inner barrel of the rim. (This process is repeated for stubborn contaminants)
For a car receiving a longer detail, the wheels are removed (can be done for the above if specified) and cleaned in the same way, paying more attention to more intricate areas such as behind the spokes and special attention is placed on brake callipers (polished by machine and coated if coloured) and wheel wells, frame and suspension. Wheels are then clayed ready for polishing and coating.
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Polishing
For some wheels, namely painted, the best results are achieved with a machine polish for the whole wheel to match the shine from the detailed paintwork. This is a great way to rejuvenate otherwise tired looking black wheels in particular.
Coating/ Protection
After the wheels are cleaned and degreased using the same process as the paintwork, they are coated with the same coating as the paintwork too. The first layer gives the wheel greater scratch resistance and protection from heat and pitting as a result of brake dust sticking to the surface. The second layer is a hydrophobic protective layer, adding also to the ease of cleaning and dust removal.
Tyres
The cleanest wheels in the world can be let down by dirty and perished looking tyres.
In order to improve the overall look of the wheels, the tyres are given a semi-gloss dressing around the side wall of the tyre. The aim is to avoid the cheap 'super wet' look you may find from a budget clean and product, whilst giving you a more natural look from a new tyre.
