Alcoa wheels in Winter

[Deezal Man]

Anyone running Alcoa wheels in a cold climate where snow equals road salt??



I kept my stock rims for winter use, but snow came earlier this year than normal and the alcoa's saw "1" snowfall.



I polished them the best I could but a close inspection reveiles pitting... from road salt. Then I got to thinking. How do the big trucks keep their wheels looking good. I can't imagine scrubbing them each time I use the truck. What is the secret?



Also, anyone know how to really clean up the rims, possibly removing the slight pitting I have?



Thanks,

 

[Dkevdog]

I know that the Big Alcoas (22. 5 and 24) can be had with a clear coat type finish. These wheels don't require polishing (you can't) and they are supposed to hold real well and make them easy to clean. I have a friend who has the 24's on his 4 axel wrecker and he swears by them. I believe you can have the wheels professionally polished and then have this clearcoat applied, maybe check with a local wheel shop.



Kev

 

[Forrest]

Lots of cleaning, by hand, once per week. I just use soap & water.

 

[mimprevento]

Wheels

I have the Eagle aluminum which are of lesser quality I think. I bypassed the regular car wash places and went to the truck wash. The high pressure and warm water did a good job of knocking the salt off and they look a lot better. I think some spotting is inevitable though.

 

[nbr1trucker]

alcoa wheels

Hello, I have alcoa's on my 379 peterbilt,and i polish them by hand ,in the spring and in the fall, a polish should last 6 months,just keep the acid off them, if you go to a truck wash, never get brightner, it is acid. if your wheels are discolored then get them britened and polish them. other than that once there polished wash with soap and water, ps you can get good aluminum polish at any truckstop. stay away from never dull and the eagle polish in a can. alcoa has their own polish, and works good. good luck Ian

 

[Hohn]

You need to put a clear coat on them. POR-15 makes a product called GlistenPC which is perfect for that. It dries clear as water, and is all but indestructible. It's easy to put on (you can brush it) and it glosses out very nicely.



If you haven't heard of them, POR-15 makes specialty paints and coatings.



Check them out at www.por-15.com





Rustproofing is their middle name... .





HOHN

 

[markdixon]

I have Alcoa wheels called them up found there # on the net. I asked what I could use on them and they said mothers polish was good and to wax the wheels after that should hold the shine for about 4-6 months also they do not have a clear coat on them. And if you look on there site they sell their own cleaner

 

[BMinett]

On the subject of wheels, has anyone ever had factory 6. 5" rims widened to 8 or 8. 5'' at Stockton Wheel or somewhere similiar? Maybe this would be ridiculously expensive but I do like my factory steel, rings and centers.

 

[Cooker]

Why not use the products made by Alcoa?



You can purchase them here:

http://www.southwestwheel.com/wheels/alcoa/alcoacleaningkit.htm



Just a thought.

 

[Deezal Man]

Thank you everyone for you help.



Hohn, I think you have the answer. I don't mind polishing, but I don't have time to do it weekly. For that matter, its difficult to clean the truck weekly. Especially since our daily temps have been hovering in the teens and 20's.



As for the slight damage that exists, Would machine polishing bring them back to factory new?

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Zoop Seal

I wonder how this stuff is? Saw it on Trucks! today.



http://www.zoops.com/home.asp

 

[Cooker]

Hemi,

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

There is not much info on Zoopseal anywhere on the net. It must be pretty new. Kinda pricy too.



I might bite-the-bullet and try it since my M/T Challengers are still new and have not been mounted yet.