Is this necessary? Everytime I get my car washed, i put tire gel on them.. but that only keeps them shiny for a couple days before brake dust takes over does polish keep them shiny longer or protect them better or something?

also.. can you use the same sand paper process that's used to shine valve covers and intake manifolds to get rid of curb rash?

 

Well they are clearcoated, so you can treat it like regular paint. I'd be careful sanding curb rash out b/c you don't want to take the clearcoat off. You can definately take some rubbing compound to the curb rash to try and clean it up some.

Polish + a nice thick coat of wax not only makes them very shiny, but will help alot with brake dust. I keep mine waxed and normally go a week between cleaning the wheels, and I can normally just spray them off if I'm using a high pressure spray gun in a public car wash.

 

hold on...you apply tire gel to your wheels? dont do that. IMO do as i did, buy some ceramic pads you will not have to worry about brake dust getting on your wheels, just normal dust/dirt that would form on your car is it.

as far as the sanding, yes you can do that, but you will also have to repaint those wheels and reclear them...so...take it with a grain of salt as they say

 

ok... yeah, i don't think i'll be sanding them then.. lol... tire gel is bad for your wheels? why is that?

 

cool.. note taken.. how often do you polish yours?

 

I'm not sure why you would want to put tire dressing on your rims. If anything, its probably going to attract dust and dirt. Waxing your rims wont prevent brake dust, but it will make it easier to clean the dust off.

 

you need this:

http://www.autobarn.net/meguiars-qui...-detailer.html

I think autozone doesnt carry it anymore but my God it is THE best wheel cleaner/detailer for out TE rims. Apply them on a dirty wheel, doesnt have to be clean, and wipe and they will SHINE. And 1 bottle will last you a very very long time since it comes out as a mist, not a spray. I ordered 2 bottles from the link and Im hoping it doesnt get d/c anything soon

During the winter it was hard to wash my car but believe me, my TE's got cleaned all the time no matter how dirty the rest of the car was lol. When they shine at night aint nothing like it.

but since we're on the topic...I have some curb rash on one the rims and the others have these black marks (not much at all). It sucks Nissan doesnt have a touch-up paint for the TE rims. So I used a bit of sheer silver body touch-up paint on the rims and it looks pretty damn even. Just an FYI for everyone...

 

^^^ Good info man.I'll have to try that touch up paint and that rim cleaner.I use all Meguiars products anyways but never tried that stuff yet.

 

definitely order that Meguirs wheel detailer...its amazing

 

i think i'll try that wheel detailer... and that touchup paint for the TE rims, cause i do have some curb rash... not that i suck at parking or anything, but you know... lol

 

^^^^^Yeah,I know...our previous owners..lol.....Chris if you get to doing this before me let me know how it turns out.