Keeping your alloy wheels in good nick is a good idea no matter how old your car is. Not only do scratch and muck free wheels look a lot nicer, a clean and cared for set of wheels will undoubtedly help you get a couple of extra quid when it comes time to sell your pride and joy.
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For these reasons, we recommend investing in a quality cleaning brush that’s designed to exclusively clean the ‘face’ of alloy wheels – the spokes, rim and centre cap. This part of an alloy is the most visible and detailed, but also most prone to scratches. A proper wheel face brush is designed to clean this area effectively without causing any damage and will leave any set of wheels looking brand new when used with a quality wheel cleaner. We’ve chosen our favourite wheel face alloys below and pointed to some of the most important features you should be looking for.
The best wheel face brushes
Meguiar’s Vera Angle Wheel Cleaning Face Brush
The best wheel face brush
Price: £22 | VIEW OFFER
Soft bristles are essential to avoiding alloy scratches which makes these super-soft bristles from Meguiar’s our top choice for wheel face cleaning. Not only are they super soft to stop scratches, but they’re also flared to increase the cleaning surface area and help wheel soap lather up more effectively.
The brush features a thick rubber bumper for absorbing any collisions and makes use of rubber for the handle to keep it grippy when it gets wet. For more thorough scrubbing the handle can even be removed.
Mothers Wheel/Rim Cleaning Brush
The best simple wheel face brush
Price: £10.95 | VIEW OFFER
While this Mothers Rim Cleaning Brush doesn’t boast any clever or innovative features, as a basic wheel face brush it’s almost flawless. The bristles are both super soft and nice and long to ensure it properly scrubs away dirt without leaving behind any scratches.
The reset of the brush is well thought out too. While the handle isn’t detachable for more elbow grease-infused cleaning, it is comfortable to hold, robustly made and rubber-coated for grip in the wet.
Vikan Vehicle Brush
The best wheel face brush on a budget
Price: £7.75 | VIEW OFFER
Not wanting to spend a lot but still want scratch-free and clean alloy wheels? Vikan is known for producing solidly made and affordable brushes and this wheel brush is no different. Like the Mothers example, it makes use of long, soft bristles and features a rubber bumper to prevent scratches.
In fact, the only evidence of cost-cutting can be felt in the handle which isn’t particularly ergonomic and can be uncomfortable to hold after a while. It also lacks a rubber coating which makes it slippery when wet.
What you need to look for in a good wheel face brush:
Bristles – Alloy wheels are tougher than paintwork which is why brushes are safe to use to clean them but they aren’t made from Vibranium and can still get marked. Look for soft bristles to ensure the brush properly cleans away grime but won’t leave small nicks in the finish. Make sure they’re a decent length too so they can lather up cleaning products better.
Try and avoid metal as much as possible when choosing a wheel brush too. While the use of metal is popular in cheaper wheel brushes and does offer some extra strength, the metal poses a huge scratch risk to alloy wheels. Note that rubber or vinyl-coated metal won’t be an issue as long as it’s a quality coating.
Ergonomics – Make sure the handle is comfortable to hold and is designed to avoid scrapped knuckles. While there’s no need for a proper knuckle guard, make sure the handle is a decent length and grippy. Look for a rubber-coated handle so it stays grippy even when it’s wet.
Extras – Look for rubber bumpers on any edge as these will prevent damage to the wheels if you accidentally clatter the brush into them. The ability to hang the brush when not in use can also be worth considering.
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