There are tons of car care products out there, so how do you know which ones to choose? Reading reviews are a great start, but viewing a demonstration allows you to actually see the results. Tire Rack carries an exceptional line of car care products from Griot's Garage and through the following experiment of cleaning the tires and wheels on a 2003 Pontiac Bonneville, I'm going to show you which products I used and how I removed the brake dust: 
Using the Long Reach Wheel Scrubbing Brush, I am able to gently remove the caked-on residue from the face of the wheel. It is an excellent tool for covering a lot of area, as well as thinner spokes.
The design of the brush makes it very easy to use and with a simple spray of water it washes back to clean as new.
The major advantage with the brush is its ability to scrub the inside drum of the wheel without it being removed from the car. The long reach of the brush makes it easy to scrub out the residue that corrodes the insides of the drums after the wheel cleaner breaks it up. I use the 3-Finger Detail Mitt to get into the crevices and harder to clean areas, like lug hole openings. It's a nice item to have to clean out the smaller areas properly with the finger coverings. After this, I use the Tire Scrubbing Brush to remove any residue from the tires themselves.
Notice the difference in this side-by-side comparison. The left side was cleaned with Griot's products, while the right side was left uncleaned. 
Now that the wheels are clean, it may also be a good time, if possible, to utilize the Multi-Pattern Hoze Nozzle and Car Wash Dispenser, and its ability to house any type of wash you would like within the added cartridge. You can use any car wash or tire wash you would like at this point along with the tire brush. I would recommend using the Long Lasting Tire Dressing as well. Not only will it protect your tires without drying them out (like many other products do), but you have the choice of getting the kind of look you desire. Like the normal look? Add a single coat and enjoy. Like the wet sheen look? Add multiple coats.
- Wheel Cleaner (35oz)
- Finest Sprayer
- Tire Scrubbing Brush
- 3-Finger Detail Mitts
- Long Reach Wheel Scrubbing Brush
- Multi-Pattern Hose Nozzle and Car Wash Dispenser
The culprit comes in the form of brake dust, coated stock alloy wheels. With the face and drum of the wheel quite dirty, the challenge is to clean them without removing the wheels from the vehicle. Notice the brake dust present in this before shot of the wheel.
Many people, myself included, simply do not have the time to jack up their car, remove the lugs, take the tires and wheels off, clean and then torque the wheels back on. That being said, a nice tip is to use this process of cleaning if you rotate your own tires. Since you already have to remove the tires, it makes it an easy and convenient time to clean the wheels. In fact, it would also be a great time to use Griot's Under-Carriage Spray to keep the inside wheel wells looking fantastic!
Many people, myself included, simply do not have the time to jack up their car, remove the lugs, take the tires and wheels off, clean and then torque the wheels back on. That being said, a nice tip is to use this process of cleaning if you rotate your own tires. Since you already have to remove the tires, it makes it an easy and convenient time to clean the wheels. In fact, it would also be a great time to use Griot's Under-Carriage Spray to keep the inside wheel wells looking fantastic!
The Multi-Pattern Hoze Nozzle and Car Wash Dispenser is not a necessity, but with 10 spray patterns to choose from it can instantly be a great car wash tool and make a nice addition to your car wash collection. I will start by spraying the wheels with the Wheel Cleaner, but only on half so you can see the side-by-side comparison. The wheel cleaner creates a reaction with the brake dust and gunk that has been left on the wheel. After a little time, you will notice that the spray has taken a purple-ish tinge and is ready to be scrubbed.
Using the Long Reach Wheel Scrubbing Brush, I am able to gently remove the caked-on residue from the face of the wheel. It is an excellent tool for covering a lot of area, as well as thinner spokes.
The design of the brush makes it very easy to use and with a simple spray of water it washes back to clean as new.
The major advantage with the brush is its ability to scrub the inside drum of the wheel without it being removed from the car. The long reach of the brush makes it easy to scrub out the residue that corrodes the insides of the drums after the wheel cleaner breaks it up. I use the 3-Finger Detail Mitt to get into the crevices and harder to clean areas, like lug hole openings. It's a nice item to have to clean out the smaller areas properly with the finger coverings. After this, I use the Tire Scrubbing Brush to remove any residue from the tires themselves.
Notice the difference in this side-by-side comparison. The left side was cleaned with Griot's products, while the right side was left uncleaned.
Now that the wheels are clean, it may also be a good time, if possible, to utilize the Multi-Pattern Hoze Nozzle and Car Wash Dispenser, and its ability to house any type of wash you would like within the added cartridge. You can use any car wash or tire wash you would like at this point along with the tire brush. I would recommend using the Long Lasting Tire Dressing as well. Not only will it protect your tires without drying them out (like many other products do), but you have the choice of getting the kind of look you desire. Like the normal look? Add a single coat and enjoy. Like the wet sheen look? Add multiple coats.All in all, the end result is a set of tires and wheels that are quick and easy to clean, without removing them from the vehicle! It is a great time saving option for the busy worker who likes to keep sections of his or her car clean!
For more information on caring for and cleaning your wheels, read "Finishes and Care."
Comments on The Griot's Garage Experiment #1: Eliminating Brake Dust