Hi Fellow Fitfreaks,
I bought a Sport last spring and am getting ready to take off the wheels/tires and put on snows (already mounted on their own wheels). I was wondering about the best way to maintain alloy wheels. I've read in some places that the wheels have a clear coat finish, and that I should just wax them. So... Should I wax the wheels that my snow tires are mounted on (got them from Tire Rack) before putting them on the car, and should I clean and then wax my Honda wheels before putting them away for the winter? I'd appreciate any advice.
The sport alloy wheels are clear coated like your car paint. When I rotate my tires before an oil change (5K) I diligently use wheel cleaner to clean of the brake dust and reapply my polymer coating as part of regular maintenance. Treat them as you would your other clear coated paint surfaces. If cleaning the backsides of the wheel is too much trouble then I can respect that as it's quite a pain in the A&s!
__________________
08 BBP MT absolutely stock!
Getting 38MPG with "moderate" hypermiling. Going for 40!
Hi Fellow Fitfreaks,
I bought a Sport last spring and am getting ready to take off the wheels/tires and put on snows (already mounted on their own wheels). I was wondering about the best way to maintain alloy wheels. I've read in some places that the wheels have a clear coat finish, and that I should just wax them. So... Should I wax the wheels that my snow tires are mounted on (got them from Tire Rack) before putting them on the car, and should I clean and then wax my Honda wheels before putting them away for the winter? I'd appreciate any advice.
Yeah the other follow-up posts were also correct, but check out this article for some other tips on caring for your wheels.
The sport alloy wheels are clear coated like your car paint. When I rotate my tires before an oil change (5K) I diligently use wheel cleaner to clean of the brake dust and reapply my polymer coating as part of regular maintenance. Treat them as you would your other clear coated paint surfaces. If cleaning the backsides of the wheel is too much trouble then I can respect that as it's quite a pain in the A&s!
Do you use a particular brand of wheel cleaner and polymer coating?
I was also wondering if I really need to reapply the polymer coating if I'm diligent about waxing the wheels?
Do you use a particular brand of wheel cleaner and polymer coating?
I was also wondering if I really need to reapply the polymer coating if I'm diligent about waxing the wheels?
I use P21S wheel cleaner and wolfgang paint sealant 3.0 both of which can be ordered from autogeek.com . These are by no means the only products that will work. From the research I've done the best paint sealant is Zaino but I've not yet bitten the bullet and placed what may be $200 Zaino order. I doubt you have to be so anal about coating the wheels but I figure, while I've got them off why not. It does make the tire rotation day a pain in the ass but brake dust doesn't build up and it keeps them looking nice. The front of the wheels I treat exactly the same as the rest of the car.
__________________
08 BBP MT absolutely stock!
Getting 38MPG with "moderate" hypermiling. Going for 40!
I use P21S wheel cleaner and wolfgang paint sealant 3.0 both of which can be ordered from autogeek.com . These are by no means the only products that will work. From the research I've done the best paint sealant is Zaino but I've not yet bitten the bullet and placed what may be $200 Zaino order. I doubt you have to be so anal about coating the wheels but I figure, while I've got them off why not. It does make the tire rotation day a pain in the ass but brake dust doesn't build up and it keeps them looking nice. The front of the wheels I treat exactly the same as the rest of the car.
Thanks for your input on this. I've also read that a light coating of lubricant on the back of the wheel, before installation, will help to fight corrosion.
I think I'll just try a couple of coats of wax. Right now the wheels look pristine from the outside (and of course the ones I got from Tire Rack haven't even been on the car yet), so maybe religiously waxing and cleaning will be sufficient.
Do you rotate your wheels yourself, or do you have a garage do it? I'm thinking about doing it myself, or at least specifying that the mechanic use a torque wrench rather than an air gun to put the nuts on. Seems to me that an air gun would have a greater chance of damaging the finish on the nuts. Any thoughts?
Do you rotate your wheels yourself, or do you have a garage do it? I'm thinking about doing it myself, or at least specifying that the mechanic use a torque wrench rather than an air gun to put the nuts on. Seems to me that an air gun would have a greater chance of damaging the finish on the nuts. Any thoughts?
I got my fit on November 2 07 and decided to buy a torque wrench so I could rotate my tires properly. I actually got up on black Friday at 3 AM because Sears had an $80 1/2 in drive torque wrench on sale for $40. My Honda dealership only charges $29 for an oil change but wants $50 for tire rotation. Go figure! I even came back a week later to re torque them. It's kind of a pain but I'm trying to be impeccable with the fit.
__________________
08 BBP MT absolutely stock!
Getting 38MPG with "moderate" hypermiling. Going for 40!
Last edited by feddup; 10-14-2008 at 02:18 PM.
Reason: spelling
I got my fit on November 2 07 and decided to buy a torque wrench so I could rotate my tires properly. I actually got up on black Friday at 3 AM because Sears had an $80 1/2 in drive torque wrench on sale for $40. My Honda dealership only charges $29 for an oil change but wants $50 for tire rotation. Go figure! I even come bach a week later to re torque them. It's kind of a pain but I'm trying to be impeccable with the fit.
Sounds like a good strategy. I'll look into getting a torque wrench. Do you use a floor jack, or the one that comes with the Fit?
I got my fit on November 2 07 and decided to buy a torque wrench so I could rotate my tires properly. I actually got up on black Friday at 3 AM because Sears had an $80 1/2 in drive torque wrench on sale for $40. My Honda dealership only charges $29 for an oil change but wants $50 for tire rotation. Go figure! I even come bach a week later to re torque them. It's kind of a pain but I'm trying to be impeccable with the fit.
Hey, you're getting good mileage. I too use mild hypermiling to try to boost my mpg. So far I'm getting between 40 and 41 mpg on a stock '08 MR Sport manual, with most of those miles driven on trips. My best tankful was 43.9.
Hey, you're getting good mileage. I too use mild hypermiling to try to boost my mpg. So far I'm getting between 40 and 41 mpg on a stock '08 MR Sport manual, with most of those miles driven on trips. My best tankful was 43.9.
I can't get over 38.X! it makes me mad but I do mostly city driving. My BBP paint dictates that I'm not going to draft. I don't want my paint all ate up with chips.
__________________
08 BBP MT absolutely stock!
Getting 38MPG with "moderate" hypermiling. Going for 40!
Last edited by feddup; 10-14-2008 at 01:37 PM.
Reason: spelling
Sounds like a good strategy. I'll look into getting a torque wrench. Do you use a floor jack, or the one that comes with the Fit?
I hate to sound like a Sears fanatic as the brand has suffered over the years but I use 2.5 ton Craftsman floor jack. I got it with two nice jack stands for $30. The fits scissor jack will work and I encourage people to get used to it's operation before it's actually needed. I've changed flats on the interstate at night several times and it's not the time to be learning about your tools.
__________________
08 BBP MT absolutely stock!
Getting 38MPG with "moderate" hypermiling. Going for 40!
Hydro lasts over 4wks, so on my car's paint, i use Hydro every other
wash. you can Hydro plastics to dress it, over glass, etc. does not
whiten or smear.
hope it helps.
__________________ 08 FitSport Storm Silver Metallic (5MT)
Suspension: EnduraTechs
Dressup: Black fog lamp surrounds, Megan axle-back.
Wheels: DragDR21 15x7 +40mm, Ziex912 195/50/15
Int & Ext: Factory a/s floor mats, Zeta deadpedal,
factory trim kit, JDM visor, JDM door handles, MOMO Champion,
Daikei hub 20mm spacer + AS01 adjust, RecaroYoung Sport
child seat VivoLite, TypeR style satin shift knob, Zeta cargo cover,
Mugen window visors, ONYX metalized 30% tint.
ICE: JVC Arsenal HU
This is where I got all my microfiber towels and their merchandise is stellar. They're pricey everyday but have excellent sales if you watch for them. Their "monster fluffies" feel like what a bathrobe at a five star hotel should feel like!
__________________
08 BBP MT absolutely stock!
Getting 38MPG with "moderate" hypermiling. Going for 40!
You can research detailing till the end of time and they'll argue every bit as vehemently as fitfreaks. As always get your brain turned on (be skeptical!) don't listen to extremists!
__________________
08 BBP MT absolutely stock!
Getting 38MPG with "moderate" hypermiling. Going for 40!
fake wheel whore
Linear Mode
