jeffreycowart
Active Member
- Joined
- October 6, 2008
- Messages
- 54
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Chattanooga, TN
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2013 Explorer Limited 4WD
Hello all. My factory 20" polished aluminum rims are stained with what I thought was just a heavy duty tire dressing. I bought this 2013 Ex Limited from Carmax used with about 4,800 miles on it. I know the original owner was from Washington D.C.
When I looked at the car the polished rims looked as though the tire dressing, had just been applied very sloppily up onto both front rims. 4 weeks later and I am just now getting around to giving it a good detail. I tried to clean the tire dressing off the rims and it will NOT budge! I tried 3 different "gentle" tire cleaners made for all factory clear coated rims.
I assume the dressing has attacked the clear coat and embedded itself down into the clear coat and then brake dust got baked into the tire dressing.
It appears the clear coat is compromised and is starting to come off. If I use any pressure with a wash sponge or use my fingernail the clear coat appears to be coming off revealing a very shiny aluminum.
Should the clear coat come off that easy? Or did the previous owner attempt to spray some type of protective film on?
This ONLY seems to affect the outer 1/3" of the rim. The middle of the rim is brighter and shiny-er. So either something was sprayed on the outer part of the rim, or the tire dressing has reacted with the clear coat dulling it and causing it to peel very easily.
The rear rims are not affected, they look great!
Here are some pictures. Any suggestions on what to do. Should I get something more aggressive and remove the clear coat now that is is dull and compromised?
Here is the rim after using 3 different rim cleaners with a brush and sponge:
Close up of where the tire dressing sat and ran into the rim. This is after aggressively scrubbing. You can see the shiny aluminum coming through:
Another view of same shot:
Here is what happens if you use your fingernail with mild pressure:
Let me know if these pictures dont show up.
Any suggestions, are these rims ruined? Or can they be fixed and re-clear coated?
Your help is greatly appreciated!
Jeff
When I looked at the car the polished rims looked as though the tire dressing, had just been applied very sloppily up onto both front rims. 4 weeks later and I am just now getting around to giving it a good detail. I tried to clean the tire dressing off the rims and it will NOT budge! I tried 3 different "gentle" tire cleaners made for all factory clear coated rims.
I assume the dressing has attacked the clear coat and embedded itself down into the clear coat and then brake dust got baked into the tire dressing.
It appears the clear coat is compromised and is starting to come off. If I use any pressure with a wash sponge or use my fingernail the clear coat appears to be coming off revealing a very shiny aluminum.
Should the clear coat come off that easy? Or did the previous owner attempt to spray some type of protective film on?
This ONLY seems to affect the outer 1/3" of the rim. The middle of the rim is brighter and shiny-er. So either something was sprayed on the outer part of the rim, or the tire dressing has reacted with the clear coat dulling it and causing it to peel very easily.
The rear rims are not affected, they look great!
Here are some pictures. Any suggestions on what to do. Should I get something more aggressive and remove the clear coat now that is is dull and compromised?
Here is the rim after using 3 different rim cleaners with a brush and sponge:
Close up of where the tire dressing sat and ran into the rim. This is after aggressively scrubbing. You can see the shiny aluminum coming through:
Another view of same shot:
Here is what happens if you use your fingernail with mild pressure:
Let me know if these pictures dont show up.
Any suggestions, are these rims ruined? Or can they be fixed and re-clear coated?
Your help is greatly appreciated!
Jeff