People often ask us at the workshop, “How do I keep my mag wheels clean, especially here in Hamilton with all this road muck?” Honestly, it’s a good question. Between the potholes on Peachgrove Road, the stop-start traffic on Te Rapa straight, and those endless speed bumps around Chartwell and Rototuna, your wheels really cop it. Doesn’t matter if you’re driving an old Suzuki Swift, a newer Kia Sportage, or one of those tidy Peugeot 308s we see floating in from Ngāruawāhia or Cambridge – mag wheels always seem to pick up dust and grit.
Most folks think it’s just about keeping things looking flash for your next WOF Hamilton check, but it’s not just cosmetic. Brake dust is nasty stuff, corrosive as anything, and if you leave it on too long, it’ll start wrecking those alloys. Especially with the way winter fog and summer dust roll in here – one of our techs just sorted out a Mazda Atenza covered in grime after a few trips down to Raglan Beach. So here’s a solid, simple guide to get your mags tidy and keep them that way, straight from what we do in our service bays at Grimmer Motors.
How to Clean Your Mag Wheels (Kiwi-style)
These are the steps we walk customers through when they pop in – whether you’re cruising in from Tamahere or Hamilton Central, or you just got a wheel off a Subaru Outback that’s seen a bit too much action down Gordonton Road.
1. Rinse off the loose stuff
Before you grab any cleaner, hose down the wheels well. We use an adjustable nozzle on a hose or a water blaster set pretty low (careful – no need to go nuts or you’ll damage the finish). You’re just getting that top layer of dust and Waikato mud off. Makes the other steps easier.
2. Soak the wheels
Spray a decent specialty wheel cleaner all over – don’t be scared to get into the tricky bits, especially if you’ve been through some construction zones on Wairere Drive. Let it sit for a few minutes so it can break down the grime. If you drive something with fancy European wheels (we get quite a few Audi Q3s and Skoda Octavias these days) make sure the cleaner is safe for your type of finish.
3. Scrub the mags
Pick a soft, bendy brush that’ll get behind the spokes and between the rim screws. Start with the cleanest wheel – that way the others can soak a bit longer. Be gentle, but thorough. You want all the brake dust gone, especially after some hard braking coming off those Cambridge hills in an older Toyota Estima. Might need a bit more elbow grease if you’ve got an old Honda Odyssey with years of city grime built up!
4. Rinse and dry
Give another thorough rinse to get rid of all that cleaner and gunk. Dry the wheels off with a soft microfibre cloth. It helps prevent water spots, especially on those hot Hamilton summer days when the sun’s baking down over Spring Hill or Hillcrest.
5. Wax for protection
A quick layer of wheel wax keeps them gleaming and actually helps stop that dust from sticking again next time you cruise through Dinsdale after a rain. We use a detailing pad, but a soft cloth does the trick. Rub until they’re streak-free and shiny as.
6. Tyre shine to finish
If you want the full effect, slap on some tyre shine. Makes those tyres pop, and gives a nice contrast against the mags. Looks especially good if you’re headed to a family thing in Morrinsville or showing off outside The Base shopping centre!
Leave It to Us?
Look, sometimes you just want to drop the keys and let someone else handle it. Cleaning mags properly takes a bit of effort and the right gear. If you want that showroom shine, book in at Grimmer Motors. We’ll sort your car out, and if you leave it with us from 8:30am to 2:30pm and spend over $100, you get a free basic car vacuum, tyre shine, and a bit of dash polish as well. Depending how busy things are, we might be able to offer a deeper mag wheel cleaning service (just ask at reception). Your pride and joy – whether it’s a Nissan Tiida or a Mercedes GLA – will be in good hands with our crew.