FEYNLAB® wheel and tyre portfolio — full seasonal system

FEYNLAB® wheel and tyre portfolio — full seasonal system

Wheels and tyres are not one-product jobs. Lasting clean rims and sling-free tyres need a system — cleaner, iron decon, wheel ceramic, tyre ceramic, and maintenance top-ups. Here is the full map.

System overview

Slide scope to see what is realistic at home vs what belongs in a certified bay.

Portfolio by role

1. Cleaning — Tire & Wheel Cleaner

Smart surfactant wheel cleaner, pH 7–9. Safe on clearcoat, powder coat, and anodized wheels. Work to white foam — foam colour means oxidized antiozonants and old dressing are lifting.

Use:

• Trigger spray.
• Brush barrel / wool for tight areas.
• Dwell 2–3 min (not on hot dry wheel).
• Rinse cold water thoroughly.

Never:

• Hot wheel right after driving — flash dry, water spots.
• Bare magnesium.
• Fully cured Tire Pro sidewall (maintenance rules differ).

2. Iron remover — Pure Wash (iron indicator)

Purple iron-bleed indicator reacts with ferrous fallout (Fe on wheel surface). Rinse immediately after reaction.

Rules:

• Cool, wet wheel.
• Spray and watch for purple — Fe present.
• Never let dry — stain risk.

3. Rinseless wash — Pure Rinseless V3

Water-saving wash when a hose is unavailable. Polymers encapsulate soil with minimal friction — fewer swirls.

When:

• Garage without drainage.
• Spot clean between details.
• Show cars where overspray is forbidden.

4. Wheel protection — Ceramic Wheel & Caliper

~70 % solids single-component ceramic, 1–2 µm film, ~1 year life. Dwell 25–30 min; IR 60 °C / 15 min optional. See dedicated article.

5. Heavy decon — Industrial V2

pH-wide heavy cleaner (dilution sets pH), high UV block — underbody, heavily soiled wheels, engine bays. HVLP application; respirator; ventilation.

6. Tyre protection — Tire Pro

Two-part semi-permanent elastomer ceramic. Six phases; 1+ year life. Studio-oriented.

7. Tyre maintenance — Black Velvet

Water-based polymer sealant. 1–3 foam-applicator layers. 1–4 week life by use. No sling, no VOC.

8. Gloss maintenance — Detailer

Quick detailer with SiO₂ boosters. After every wash for hydrophobia and depth. Safe on cured Wheel & Caliper; on tyres only 2–4 h after Tire Pro cure per protocol.

Recommended stacks

Daily driver (DIY)

1. Tire & Wheel Cleaner + brush each wash.
2. Iron decon (Pure Wash indicator) every ~3 months.
3. Wheel & Caliper ceramic once per year.
4. Black Velvet on tyres monthly after wash.
5. Detailer after washes.

Daily driver (studio)

1. Same wash routine.
2. Annual Wheel & Caliper + IR.
3. Annual Tire Pro.
4. Detailer maintenance.

Show car

1. Rinseless V3 between events.
2. Iron decon before photos.
3. Black Velvet 2–3 layers for max satin.
4. Wheels already on Wheel & Caliper ceramic.

Three myths

Myth 1: “Acid cleaners are faster, therefore better”

HF, HCl, H₂SO₄ convert iron fallout quickly — but attack aluminium (amphoteric), dissolve anodizing, etch clearcoat, and react with magnesium (H₂ evolution). Speed on premium wheels = permanent damage. pH 6–7 iron remover with thioglycolate complex is enough.

Myth 2: “Melamine sponge removes water spots from anodizing”

Melamine ≈ P3000 abrasive. It removes clearcoat on paint and Al₂O₃ on anodizing → matte islands in direct light.

Water spots on anodizing: chelation (citric acid pH 4–5, short dwell) or professional anodizing polish.

Myth 3: “Solvent silicone lasts until the next wash”

Gloss yes. Cost: sling, antiozonant stripping, clogged pores, dust — tyre looks dirty in days.

Black Velvet delivers satin gloss without those failure modes.

DIY vs studio

Takeaways

• Tire & Wheel Cleaner + Black Velvet is a solid DIY base.
• Wheel & Caliper and Tire Pro benefit from studio IR and protocol discipline.
• Industrial V2 is studio/PPE territory.
• HF speed, melamine on anodizing, and solvent “lasting gloss” are costly mistakes.

Further reading

• Wheel anatomy — substrates and chemistry
• Acid vs neutral wheel cleaners
• Tire Pro — semi-permanent ceramic
• Ceramic Wheel & Caliper application