Wheel & Tire Cleaner
A ready-to-use alkaline wheel cleaner formulated with sodium metasilicate pentahydrate for heavy brake dust removal on consumer vehicles. Turtle Wax Wheel & Tire Cleaner ranks #1 strongest among 68 wheel cleaners in ChemCX's SDS-based analysis, with a formulation designed for aggressive brake dust and iron deposit removal. Its 7 surfactants give it a broader cleaning toolkit than most wheel cleaners for lifting and suspending loosened contaminants. It also contains chelating agents that bind dissolved minerals, helping prevent water spots during rinsing.
Key Chemistry
pH Level
Active Mechanism
alkaline saponification
Surfactants
7 (anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, cationic, amine_oxide)
Expert Analysis
Uses sodium metasilicate pentahydrate as the primary alkaline builder at pH 13 to break down brake dust and road grime through chemical dissolution. The formula incorporates a comprehensive surfactant system with anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, cationic, and amine oxide types to provide thorough cleaning and soil suspension across different contamination types.
Key Differentiators
- •High alkalinity at pH 13 for aggressive brake dust dissolution
- •Comprehensive five-surfactant system for broad-spectrum cleaning effectiveness
Potential Concerns
- ⚠High pH of 13 may damage sensitive wheel finishes or anodized coatings
- ⚠Danger signal word indicates corrosive properties requiring careful handling
Ingredients
Source: sb258 label
Safety Profile
Most severe safety profile in wheel cleaner database. Skin Corrosion Category 1 is the highest severity. Product is classified as corrosive for transport. Multiple Prop 65 chemicals present as trace contaminants. Marketing claims 'non-acidic and safe' but caustic alkaline products carry equal or greater risk than acids.
