Tip: What to watch out for when sealing the rim!

Thomas Wachsmuth 24 November 2020 Tips, products, information & Co.

Reading time 11 Min.

Recently updated on March 1, 2022 at 07:53 am

The rims are usually a real eye-catcher on a tuned car. Because they almost always give the vehicle a significant visual upgrade. However, the rims are soiled with unsightly things from brake dust, mud, dirt and other external environmental influences. This can of course have a negative effect on the rounds. Only regular cleaning and a high quality and correctly applied one helps sealing the rims. Why the rims are to be sealed, how this works and what products can be recommended, is explained in the following article.

the rim sealing

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Why sealing makes sense!

Everyone who values the external appearance of their car will sooner or later start thinking to the right rims. Not only do they add value to the vehicle considerably, they also create a positive overall impression and increase the vehicle's value at the same time. Regardless of the season, well-kept rims are important for every vehicle owner. Last but not least, the rims are available at various Show & Shine events especially popular in the tuning scene. "Back to overview

Tar, brake dust, mud, dirt, salt

But the rims are quickly impaired in their shiny or matt function every day when driving due to tar, brake dust, mud, dirt, salt and all other weather influences. On the once so sparkling rims there is not only an annoying deposit, due to the heat generated by the braking system, brake dust or tar can literally burn into the surface. As a result, the rims not only look unattractive, but also wear out prematurely. A rim seal counteracts this. It simply lets external influences roll off. A correctly applied rim sealant is always water and dirt repellent. "Back to overview

Advantages of rim sealing

To prevent deposits and burnt-in particles and thus rain, mud and dirt from beading off, we recommend sealing the rims. And that's not difficult at all. Every layperson has the opportunity to easily do this on their own in front of their front door or in their garage. You benefit from the following numerous advantages when sealing the rims:

You get more resilience and shine.

Anyone can easily seal rims themselves because no specialist knowledge is required.
The products for sealing the rims are considered easy to handle. Some of them are even available for spraying on, so that a rim can be sealed easily and particularly quickly.
In general, the rims can then be cleaned more easily. (A simple rim cleaner or a high-pressure cleaner is sufficient)

The rims stay clean for a long time because tar, brake dust, dirt and other deposits do not even stick.
The rim surface does not wear out prematurely, they retain their value and shine longer.
At any point in time, the rims with the seal look better, as hardly any dirt settles. "Back to overview

How to correctly seal the rims

Before starting with the rim sealing, it is advisable to choose a product that fully meets your own expectations / requirements. There are many products available on the market for sealing rims from a wide variety of manufacturers. Some can be applied manually while others are suitable for quick spraying. Everyone should choose the right sealant for themselves. "Back to overview

Dismantling the rims is better!

It is advantageous if the wheel is removed from the vehicle before the rim is sealed. This makes it possible to reach all parts of the rim with ease. However, it is not necessary to pull it off the tire. When sealing with a dismantled wheel, you do not accidentally touch surrounding parts and components of the car. After dismantling, the tire must be put down safely before sealing. A tire or rim stand should be used for this, or alternatively a large table. This ensures that all parts of the rim can be treated with the sealing without any problems. Every corner remains visible during care. Before the actual sealing begins, the rim should of course be cleaned properly. It is best to use a good wheel rim cleaner with a visible action indicator. As soon as you spray the rim, it changes color. This guarantees that the rims will be particularly clean. Applying a rim brush is also beneficial to help keep everyone Studs and angle reached with the seal. "Back to overview

No grease should remain on the rim!

In addition, it must be ensured that before sealing there is no grease on the rims. A suitable degreaser is used to remove all oils, fats, waxes and silicones. It is then possible to apply the rim seal according to the instructions. Depending on the product, this is simply sprayed on or applied manually with a cloth. While the spray can take effect immediately, it is advisable to polish off the manually applied sealant. Very similar to a conventional vehicle wax. Ultimately, it is still important that the car is left standing for at least an hour after the sealing so that the complete curing takes place. "Back to overview

How often should the rims be sealed!

The rim sealing depends on your own driving style. It also depends on how much and how often the car is driven. For show & shine meetings, the rims of the car should require less intensive care than vehicles that are used every day or even used for outdoor tours or races. Roughly speaking, a normal rim seal is enough for around 13.000 to 35.000 kilometers or one season. Occasionally you can use a water spray bottle to test whether the rim surface is still beading. If this is no longer the case, the rims should be sealed again. The same applies if the rims become increasingly dirty again. If the dirt becomes more difficult to remove when it is sloughed off, then the seal needs to be renewed. "Back to overview

Which costs arise?

There are different prices depending on the processor and services. For professionals, however, a high-quality seal for their set of rims should be a flat rate of a maximum of 180 to 350 euros. However, this depends on the rim size, the structure of the rim, the means used and the working method carried out. The best thing is to simply ask a processor on site and have a cost estimate drawn up. "Back to overview

Rim sealing in the coldest season

Sealing the rims is advisable, especially in the darkest time of the year. A large amount of dirt is thrown up due to mud, snow, road salt and grit. This can then stick to the rims and soil them. In winter, the rims are put under stress every day because of the low temperatures and the large amount of precipitation. In particular, road salt, dirt particles and other daily environmental influences cause problems for the bike. In addition, there are the different temperatures caused by the brake system of the vehicle. Especially in the coldest time of the year, it is advisable to work with an appropriate seal so that the rims are protected from tar, burned-in brake dust and premature wear. "Back to overview

Rim sealing for spraying on

A rim seal can also be simply sprayed onto the rim. With this variant, there is then the possibility of reaching all angles and places quickly and easily. A proper and comprehensive rim sealing is thus guaranteed. A 500 milliliter bottle is sufficient for 3 to 4 sets of rims, i.e. 12 to 16 rims. However, one should consider that a rim sealant for spraying on often has a shorter durability compared to a classic variant for polishing up. Although there are differences from manufacturer to manufacturer here too, the majority of the spray-on products are less effective. "Back to overview

Which accessories for rim sealing?

So that the sealing of the rims can be done properly, you should also get the appropriate accessories. For this purpose, as already mentioned above, a rim cleaner with an action indicator, a microfiber cloth and a rim brush are used. At best, you still have a high-pressure cleaner at home with which you can completely remove any dirt. In any case, attention should be paid to whether and to what extent cleaning of the vehicle or the rims on your own property is legally permitted at all. Information on this can be found in the relevant statutes of the place of residence. "Back to overview

Why not a normal paint seal?

This is due to the temperatures around the brake system, the tires and the rims. Depending on the driving style, the components can heat up to a few hundred degrees Celsius. A commercially available seal would then melt or simply burn away. A special rim seal, on the other hand, explicitly withstands the high temperatures. When used correctly, it protects the rims from wear and dirt for a long time. A so-called one is particularly worth mentioning here ceramic finish. This hardens on the rim even at high temperatures. It thus provides ideal protection. "Back to overview

Ceramic sealing vs. Nano sealing

With nano sealing, only plastic molecule compounds are put together on the rim. However, these do not connect directly to the rim, but only form a kind of optical protective layer. However, this type of sealing does not last long. Therefore you have to apply it more often, maybe even after every wheel cleaning / vehicle wash. The ceramic seal, however, can be considered useful Personal developments the ordinary seal. It settles directly on the rim and stays there. At the high temperatures that prevail on the rim due to braking and tire effects, the ceramic seal is even strengthened and your protective layer is improved. So the heat development on a rim with ceramic sealing is even an advantage for the coating. "Back to overview

When a rim seal is recommended!

The sealing of the rims is suitable for every car that has high-quality rims that should have a low degree of soiling and a long service life. Rim sealing is always a sensible and long-term investment, especially if a lot of value is placed on the vehicle's external appearance. You should consider them regularly. Rim seals are increasingly found in the tuning scene. However, they are intended for all vehicle owners who always want to have a good-looking car. So there is nothing wrong with trying to protect a steel rim from the weather with a seal. Everyone has to decide for themselves to what extent this makes sense in terms of effort or financial costs. "Back to overview

Procedure for sealing the rims:

Clean aluminum rims from dirt and brake dust.
Then degrease aluminum rims with special products or with isopropanol alcohol in a spray bottle (50:50 ratio with water) and dry with a new, clean microfiber cloth.
Then seal the rims with rim wax (use either the variant for spraying on or for application) – the rim wax must have a high heat resistance in order to avoid liquefying or sticking to dirt.

After applying or spraying, evenly with a small sponge polish in.
Then with a cloth polish up.
A second coat can help treat previously overlooked areas and it also increases the duration of the seal. "Back to overview

Which mistakes have to be avoided?

Not all wheel wax is created equal. Better not a pure one carnauba (Latin Cera Carnaubae) use. It is not heat resistant and combines with the brake dust and dirt. However, special products that contain Brazilian wax can be excellent for rim care. So inform yourself beforehand. "Back to overview

Summary information on the use of rim cleaner and subsequent sealing:

with conventional cleaners, garden hose, brush can already be a acceptable result be achieved
special cleaners as well as most Household cleaners are suitable
Rim cleaner delivers a better Result (it should be intended for the care of aluminum rims)

Work with the rim cleaner less expensive
Active ingredients should be based on the different materials Voted be and fast and intensive Act (Cleaner must protect the material)
Dirt on the rims mostly consists of road dirt, grease, abrasion from rubber, metal, brake dust

Wheel cleaner should no acids and Alkalis include (or only in a compatible mixture to protect light metal rims, paintwork, rubber mixtures, polycarbonates)
Wheel cleaner should pH above seven to have (normal conditions of use)
Spray bottle should have one safety lock have

Information about exposure and how to achieve a perfect cleaning result printed his (at best with active indicator - its ingredients react with the metal-containing dirt components and change the color)
Stubborn dirt such as grease and rust can also be removed Oven spray removed (oven cleaners dissolve oil, rust, water and mineral stains and other hard-to-remove substances)
Vinegar and lemon juice are other cleaning options
– Put distilled water in a spray bottle
– Add white vinegar or lemon juice
– Spray the mixture on the rims like a commercial product and let it take effect
– Remove extremely dirty rims and soak them in a household cleaner for 10 to 20 minutes

Rough process of rim cleaning
– wash the bike with a hose (ideally with a high-pressure attachment or adjustable nozzle, alternatively thumb over the hose opening)
– Remove wheel hubs with plastic covers better
– then spray all rims with the cleaning product
– Allow the cleaning agent to take effect for one to two minutes
– Scrub and rinse them off one at a time (with a soft bristle brush or rim brush (or old toothbrush) in small circles on the rim surface, paying attention to recessed areas such as spokes and rim bolts)
– Clean the brush in a bucket of warm water every few minutes
– Rinse the wheels thoroughly
– Wipe the wheels dry with a microfiber cloth (from top to bottom)
protect clean rims with a seal
– Buy sealing product for aluminum rims (rim sealers are available as a spray or as a wax)
– ideally use a high-gloss finish
– Apply sealing compound to the entire rim surface with a car polishing pad (apply a cent-sized portion of sealing compound and rub in, with small, gentle circular movements)
– When spray sealing, hold the can about 15 centimeters from the rim and spray on an even layer from top to bottom and from left to right
– alternatively use a soft car sponge or microfiber cloth (instead of the polishing pad)
– Let the sealing compound harden for 30 minutes (if possible, do not touch it while it is drying)
– Polish the rims with a microfiber cloth, using small circular movements
Clean aluminum rims every week or two (or as often as needed).

Warnings
– do not use brushes with hard bristles or steel wool
– Avoid inhaling the fumes from cleaning and sealing products
Keywords on the topic: effect indicator, rim gel, rim gel, wheel cleaner, rim cleaner, iron indicator, rim cleaner, wheel cleaner) "Back to overview

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