Skip advert
Advertisement

Wheel cleaner mini test

Can the new wheel cleaner from HubiKote compete with our reigning chap?

If you let the brake dust and winter road grime stay on your wheels, it does much more than just leave your car looking dirty. The filth can damage your rims, and repairs can be expensive.

Specialist cleaners shift baked-on dirt, and the latest to arrive is HubiKote’s new Hubi Wheels. It claims to be extremely powerful, so we rated it against our current champ, Bilt-Hamber Auto Wheel, which has just got a new scent.

Advertisement - Article continues below

There were weeks of road dirt on our filthy wheel – as the left front alloy of a front-wheel-drive hatchback, it accumulated more brake dust and gutter grime than any other wheel on our test car.

We applied each product according to its instructions and assessed ease of use, before seeing which removed the most dirt. Value for money was the final factor in our test.

Hubi Wheels changes colour as it works, and removed a lot of dirt. But the Bilt-Hamber offered similar performance and better value, with a litre bottle to its rival’s 500ml. And the new smell masks the eggy odour that used to be our only gripe with the product.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,546 off RRP*Used from £11,690
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £14,480Avg. savings £2,084 off RRP*Used from £8,995
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £39,025Avg. savings £3,528 off RRP*Used from £9,222
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £3,330 off RRP*Used from £15,499
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Jaecoo 7 recalled: a quarter of all brand’s 2025 UK cars going back to dealers
Jaecoo 7 - front action

Jaecoo 7 recalled: a quarter of all brand’s 2025 UK cars going back to dealers

The Chinese brand has initiated a recall for roughly 7,500 Jaecoo 7 models due to an incorrectly attached wiring harness clip
News
6 Mar 2026
New Dacia Jogger Hybrid 155 review: frugal family car makes tons of sense in town
Dacia Jogger Hybrid 155 - front tracking

New Dacia Jogger Hybrid 155 review: frugal family car makes tons of sense in town

Dacia's MPV goes well with hybrid power, but it can get a bit thirsty on longer trips
Road tests
6 Mar 2026
New Mazda CX-5 2026 review: spacious SUV is a step in the wrong direction
Auto Express news reporter Ellis Hyde standing next to a Mazda CX-5

New Mazda CX-5 2026 review: spacious SUV is a step in the wrong direction

The new CX-5 a fair bit different to the old model, but that's not necessarily a good thing
Road tests
6 Mar 2026