Skip advert
Advertisement

Wheel polishes

Maintain that freshly cleaned shine on your alloys by using a rim wax. We test the top 10

If nothing but the best will do for your car, you can't ignore wheel polishes. Apply them after cleaning your alloys and you'll not only give a shine to the rims, but also slow the build-up of brake dust and make them much easier to clean in the future. Well, that's the manufacturers' claim, at least... but does wheel wax work - and are such products worth the time, money and effort?

Advertisement - Article continues below

To find out, we put 10 of the leading lights through their paces. We sourced the polishes and kits from accessory shops and the Internet, then assessed them for four weeks, during which time our test car covered 1,600 miles.

Verdict

You have to be keen to buy a wheel polish. They do reduce brake dust build-up and ease cleaning, but are time-consuming to apply and some are pricey.
Still, our top two don't break the bank; Autoglym wins and Turtle Wax comes close behind. And for top protection, try the compre-hensive Muc-Off kit.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,690Avg. savings £5,321 off RRP*Used from £11,399
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £25,235Avg. savings £2,713 off RRP*Used from £11,562
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £1,429 off RRP*
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £8,206 off RRP*Used from £12,044
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Inside Ford’s big comeback plan: Fiesta, small SUV, hybrid and VW relationship all explained
Ford Bronco Sport 2025

Inside Ford’s big comeback plan: Fiesta, small SUV, hybrid and VW relationship all explained

Exclusive analysis reveals Ford’s comeback plan: new Fiesta EV, hybrid crossover and working with Renault and VW
Features
11 Dec 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Jaecoo 5 offers Range Rover looks for just £214 per month
Jaecoo 5 - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: Jaecoo 5 offers Range Rover looks for just £214 per month

It’s easy to see why Jaecoo has become a popular brand with deals like this. The Jaecoo 5 is our Deal of the Day for December 10.
News
10 Dec 2025
EU 2035 petrol and diesel car ban to be scrapped – will the UK follow?
Electric car charging mega test - charging overhead

EU 2035 petrol and diesel car ban to be scrapped – will the UK follow?

The head of the biggest EU party has told the press that from 2035, car manufacturers must reduce CO2 emissions by 90 per cent
News
12 Dec 2025