Hycote Alloy Wheel Cleaner
We test out dirt-busting wheel cleaner on a filthy rim.
Price: £6.99 (500ml)
The latest wheel cleaner claims to get the job done in 15 minutes with minimal effort. But does Hycote’s new Pro Valet formula deliver?
The 500ml can contains a strong-smelling foam that you spray on and leave to soak. We applied the formula to a car that had covered 2,000 miles without a clean, and put it up against multiple test winner Wonder Wheels.
Despite carrying the same price tag as its rival, the Hycote doesn’t come with a brush. It’s also a lot messier than the Wonder Wheels liquid, so requires longer to rinse off.
Bringing the side of the rim up to scratch took a bit more scrubbing than with its rival, but the Hycote did live up to its promise of doing the job in 15 minutes.
We finished the process with Hycote Tyre and Rubber Dressing, a spray-on foam that restored the shine to our rubber. But it took longer to work than CarPlan’s Tyre Slik, and costs £3 more.
Verdict
Rating: ★★★
What is it?
New business venture from a paint care company sees wheel cleaner released.
Problems?
Flimsy spray caps, messy to apply, formulae don’t work as well as CarPlan Wonder Wheels or Tyre Slik.
Why buy?
Quick way to clean alloys and tyres, worth the extra effort for immediate results.
