20" wheels and carwash

nra0707 · #1 05-20-2009, 01:11 PM

Have any of you experienced any problems (i.e. scratching of 20" rims) when going through an automated carwash? I've recently put on 20s and I'm afraid that my local carwash's wheel track will scrape up the wheel finish.

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motordavid · #2 05-20-2009, 01:18 PM

I only have 19s, (style 132), but they protrude from wheel center and I would not want to take the risk; every car wash pull track
and wheel scrubbers are different, but if it were mine I would take a Pasadena...otoh, our ol' X has never been through a car wash.
GL,mD

Weasel · #3 05-20-2009, 01:21 PM

There is a local automated drive through carwash that has the tracks you drive into, put it in neutral, and it takes you away. My rear tires don't fit the tracks... about 1" too wide. A good thing to do is call the place in question and have them measure the width of the tracks, or tell you how wide a tread width tire they can host.

Gixxerboy63 · #4 05-20-2009, 01:31 PM

I'm too lazy ...uh, busy to hand wash my X every week so I run it through a local Magnum Car Wash. They do an excellent job and have never damaged my 20" 87s.

Before anyone gets upset with my "lack of respect" for my X and the idea of carelessly running it through a carwash: I do lovingly handwash it with extreme care when the weather is nice and I can take my time; It takes me several hours to detail everything, including the undercarriage..... Magnum takes care of me between these details.

TaMbALoLoNg · #5 05-20-2009, 01:41 PM

I read a caveat somewhere that the 315 or 20X10.5 should not be taken to a mechanical or automated carwash because the width of the wheel wont fit the tracks and will damage the wheel. Besides I will never risk it, and always do my own washing.

motordavid · #6 05-20-2009, 01:49 PM

I wasn't trying to sound like goody2shoes with the almost 8 yrs of handwashing the X and Vette...my point is none of us have any idea of the OP's
car wash situ in terms of track width, track pull, the way that car wash tire cleaning brushes operate, etc.

I have had co. cars with good sized wheels/tires that made it fine down the track but some car washes use a wheel cleaning roller
that rides up pretty high and abrades the wheels the first time or, over time.

Hard to make a rec'd or diagnosis for the OP, by mail, imo.

TaMbALoLoNg · #7 05-20-2009, 01:59 PM

NOBODY will take care of your X like you will. Your not doing your X any favors by taking it to an automated carwash. There will always be a scratch to some extent somewhere.

BGM · #8 05-20-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaMbALoLoNg

NOBODY will take care of your X like you will. Your not doing your X any favors by taking it to an automated carwash. There will always be a scratch to some extent somewhere.

Even if you "sometimes" take it to an automatic car wash you will get some type of abrasiveness done to the paint--think about how many cars have been through that wash and it's not like they clean the cloths after every car. At home you know for sure you have a clean sponge you are working with.

Brit6 · #9 05-20-2009, 04:20 PM

I got to a automated car wash that is touchless, no tracks at all, and when i get it home, i will dry it completly, clean the rims, shine the tires, etc etc.

No problems with my 87's at this wash, but i would never take any of my cars to a track system.

nra0707 · #10 05-21-2009, 09:18 AM

Thanks all for your info. Looks like I'll take my car to the "touchless" do-it-yourself, spray hose variety...or hand wash it in the driveway (sigh). I used to take pride in washing my bimmers by hand, but now I just dislike making it a whole-day affair. Guess I'm just getting lazy.

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