Wheels: Service Precautions

A protective clearcoat and/or base color is applied to the surface of the original equipment cast aluminum wheels. Surface degradation can begin to develop if uncoated balance weights are used, or if frequent, repeated automatic car wash cleaning wears off the factory applied protective clearcoat and/or base color. This can happen at some automatic car wash facilities that use aggressive silicone carbide tipped tire brushes to clean the whitewalls and the tires. Exposure to caustic cleaners and/or to road salt causes further surface degradation once the protective clearcoat is damaged.

The refinishing of aluminum wheels requires that the wheel surface be plastic media blasted to remove old clearcoat or paint. The remachining or the use of chemical strippers is not recommended due to the concerns for repair durability. The service procedure details how to strip, how to clean, and how to recoat the aluminum wheels that are affected by the above condition.