okay, i just bought a set of aluminum 16.5's and the previous owner didnt exactly clean all the gunk off them but the wheels are in good shape.

its mostly brake dust but no matter what ive used so far i cant get it all off,ive tried aluminum wheel cleaner ive soaked em good with it and took a strong water blaster to it and still cant get it all off.

heres the wheels in question, sorry for the bad pic they were takin on my cellphone.

 

try meguiars detailer line "Wheel Brightener" just BE SURE its diluted at LEAST 4:1

 

well i found this stuff in the garage my dad had, its aluminum pre clean and its bright pink..i used it and a rag and got some of it and its doing real well then im using an aluminum wheel cleaner...but its alot of work i have one wheel almost done, ill probally have to go get another bottle tomorrow .

 

i washed semis for while and we used some type of acid to clean them had to be careful though leave it on the rims to long it turned them black i cant remember what its called though but that would be the stuff i would use sorry this post is useless just thought i would add this.

 

use jewelers rouge and mix with lighter fluid make a paste and use a mothers power
ball AWESOME!!

 

One thing you have look into before you do anything is find if they are clear-coated. Metal polish won't work on the clear. If you want to actually polish the aluminum you need to strip the coating off.

 

they are clearcoated but its bad in spots, ive got half a mind to take them and get them rhinolined

 

That would look pretty sweet. I love blacked out wheels.

 

Its called muratic acid. I have tried it on mine and now they wont get as shinny as the ones I didnt use it on. I would just try mothers alumminum polish it takes a long time but it makes them sparkle

 

If thats the case you have to remove the tires and then strip the clear coat

Use this to strip it:

Mar-Hyde(R) Tal-Strip(R) II Aircraft Coating Remover Aerosol, 3711, 12 oz, 12 per case

Of course, youll have to polish them real well and keep them polished at all times after the clearcoat is stripped off.