Any recommendations on the best stuff to use to clean and shine up the aluminum wheels? The spokes are painted black and clean up well but around the rim is unpainted. The oxidation and discoloration is hard to polish out - at least with what I've tried.

 

I've used an SOS pad with good results. It gets all the crap off, and doesn't scratch the rims

 

mothers mag polish
the more elbow grease you use the more chrome looking they will become

or 000 steel wool

or both

 

Simi Chrome. It's been around since the wheel was invented, LOL. What's with all this SOS & steel wool $hit. It's freaking 'Abrasive'!!!!

 

I used the mothers stuff. Used it with the powerball mini. It works but with a forty eight itll still make you wanna kill yourself. You just cant reach everything. The first time I go for a tire replacement I'm powdercoating. Wire wheels are a pain in the ***.

 

Actually it's not abrasive because the soap in the pad works as a lubricant.

 

I use NevrDull. It is not abrasive.

 

kontiki:

Simi Chrome,been using it since the 60's.It also puts a coating on that helps keep oxidation to a minimum.

Glock Man

 

I think Harley changed their "Semi-Chrome" to "Harley Bright Chrome Cleaner". I've had this tube since about 2000, but I usually use Windex or a Quick Detaler for chrome. The Harley Bright will put a fine polish on aluminum.
Sometimes, I'll dip the Nevr-Dull wad into the Mother's Aluminum polish, then scrub away. I don't know if it makes any difference, but it makes me feel better. If I could only have one aluminum polishing product (excluding a polishing wheel), I think I'd go with the Mother's. You can coat a clothe with it and do a shoe-shine motion. That's difficult to do with the Nevr-Dull wad. I'm talking about polishing aluminum here, not cleaning chrome.

 

Nothing works like Mother's.

Willie