Wheel and Tire Care
Brake dust is not just dirt. It is hot metallic particles from the brake pads and rotor that embed themselves into the wheel finish and then oxidize, which is why a neglected wheel develops permanent orange-brown speckling that washing will not remove. Cleaning wheels regularly is genuinely preventive maintenance for the finish, not just cosmetic.
Match the cleaner to the finish. pH neutral cleaners are safe on everything including polished aluminum, chrome, painted and powder-coated finishes, and machined faces with a clear coat. Acidic wheel cleaners cut heavy brake dust quickly but will etch polished and machined finishes and strip clear coat, so they belong only on painted or chrome wheels and only with a fast rinse. Iron removers are the right tool for embedded brake dust: they chemically dissolve the iron particles and change color as they work.
Never use an acidic or strong alkaline cleaner on a bare polished or anodized wheel, and never let any cleaner dry on a hot wheel. Work one wheel at a time, in the shade, and rinse thoroughly.
For tires, a water-based dressing gives a clean satin finish and does not sling onto the paint. Silicone-heavy glossy dressings look dramatic and tend to attract dust and migrate onto the bodywork.
Before you buy
Wheel and Tire Care: the questions people ask
How do I read a tire size?
Metric sizes give section width in millimetres, then aspect ratio as a percentage of that width, then rim diameter in inches. So 275/60R20 is 275mm wide with a sidewall 60 percent of 275mm tall on a 20 inch wheel. Flotation sizes are simpler: 35x12.50R20 is 35 inches tall and 12.5 inches wide on a 20 inch wheel. Every listing here also publishes the overall diameter worked out for you.
Will a bigger size fit without a lift?
Usually one size up over stock clears on a half ton truck with a leveling kit. Going from a 33 inch to a 35 inch tire almost always needs a leveling kit plus trimming at the front bumper corners. 37 inch tires need a real lift and normally a re-gear to get the drivability back.
What do load index and speed rating mean?
Load index is the weight one tire carries at its rated pressure. Speed rating is the sustained speed it is certified for. Never fit a tire with a lower load index than the placard in your driver door jamb calls for. On a truck that tows, going under the placard rating is the commonest cause of a tire failing under load.
Do tires arrive mounted?
Loose tires ship on their own and need a local shop to mount and balance them. Wheel and tire packages ship mounted, balanced and ready to bolt on.
How fast do orders ship?
Orders ship from a United States warehouse, normally within 1 to 3 business days of clearing. Orders over $199 ship free, and below that a flat rate is shown at checkout before you pay. Tracking is emailed as soon as the shipment is created.
What can I return?
Unmounted, uninstalled parts in original packaging can be returned within 30 days. A wheel that has had a tire mounted on it, and a tire that has been fitted, cannot be returned because neither is new any more. That is why we check the fitment data on every order against the vehicle you give us before it ships.
Can someone check fitment for me before I order?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Send us the year, make, model, trim and what is on the vehicle now, and we will tell you what fits, what will rub and what it takes to clear.
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