Beast Wheel Cleaner
Best Value
$0.77/oz
Positioned as SONAX's 'user-friendly' wheel cleaner option. The Beast offers color-changing thioglycolate performance with improved safety margins. Priced similarly to Wheel Cleaner PLUS ($0.77/oz for 1L), it targets users who want effective iron removal with reduced chemical exposure risk. The distinctive black color creates shelf differentiation.
Key Chemistry
pH Level
Active Mechanism
thioglycolate chelation
Surfactants
0 (amphoteric, nonionic)
Expert Analysis
SONAX Beast Wheel Cleaner represents a reformulated approach prioritizing safety over maximum strength. While still using thioglycolate chemistry (10-30%), the concentration is lower than Wheel Cleaner PLUS (15-40%). The formula adds a sophisticated multi-chelator system including sodium alaninate (amino acid-based) and PBTC (phosphonate) to enhance cleaning without relying solely on high thioglycolate levels. Sodium hydroxide is used to buffer the pH upward to the 5-5.3 range, reducing corrosivity while maintaining efficacy. The distinctive black color is purely aesthetic branding. The dual surfactant system (amphoteric + nonionic) provides gentler cleaning than anionic systems.
Key Differentiators
- •Mildest safety profile of SONAX wheel cleaners (Category 1B vs Category 1 sensitization)
- •Multi-chelator system (sodium alaninate + PBTC) for enhanced cleaning
- •Distinctive black color for brand differentiation
- •No acute toxicity classification
- •Lower thioglycolate concentration (10-30%) than Wheel Cleaner PLUS
- •Dual surfactant system (amphoteric + nonionic)
Potential Concerns
- ⚠Lower thioglycolate concentration may require longer dwell times or multiple applications on heavily contaminated wheels
- ⚠Two withheld CAS numbers reduce full transparency
- ⚠Black dye may temporarily discolor white towels or mitts
- ⚠PBTC contains phosphonate which some eco-conscious consumers may avoid
Ingredients
Source: sb258 label
Safety Profile
Mildest safety profile of SONAX wheel cleaners. Category 1B skin sensitization (less severe than Category 1). No acute toxicity classification unlike Wheel Cleaner PLUS. No Prop 65 substances.