Skip advert
Advertisement

Wheel Polishes tested

It’s time to ditch the winter dirt from your wheels with one of these polishes. We see which shines brightest

Wheel cleaners tested

Cleaning grubby wheels is one of the toughest valeting jobs, so why not make it easy on yourself by using a polish?

A few minutes spent applying one of these specialist coatings slows the build-up of brake dust. And then, when it is time to clean up, the grime comes off more easily – often requiring little more than a blast with a pressure washer.

Advertisement - Article continues below

There are all manner of treatments around, from polishes to pastes and coatings. Which will protect and preserve your wheels? We tried 12 through the harshest winter in years to find out.
 
The test
First we wanted to check how effective each polish was at keeping brake dust and road grime at bay. We applied each to sections of the front wheels on our test car, leaving some areas untreated to provide a control. Muck build- up was regularly checked over four weeks’ driving. We then blasted each section with a hose for five seconds and assessed how easily the grime was removed.

Hard waxes are used at a slower rate than liquid treatments. We took this into account when factoring in cost, although this played a relatively small role in the verdict. None of the prices here includes delivery costs.

Verdict

Tough winter weather meant all our products had a hard time. Mer Wheel Wax is our winner, though. It works well, slowing dust build-up and proving quick to wash down. Easy-to-clean Angelwax is our hard paste pick, and Collinite’s No.845 completes the podium.
 

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,310 off RRP*Used from £12,420
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,400
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £1,676 off RRP*
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £2,116 off RRP*Used from £19,490
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Ford Fiesta to return? Icon could be reborn as re-nosed Volkswagen ID.2
Ford Fiesta facelift - front cornering

Ford Fiesta to return? Icon could be reborn as re-nosed Volkswagen ID.2

VW’s sales and marketing boss considers Ford tech share “very successful” – and won’t rule out future projects
News
30 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025