Matt Black Sidewinder rims , Impossible to keep clean !

[Nine Ball]

I recommend these two brake pads, for those worried about dust.

Hawk Performance Ceramic
EBC Red Stuff

[FrgMstr]

I recommend these two brake pads, for those worried about dust.

Hawk Performance Ceramic
EBC Red Stuff

I have been using the EBC Red Stuff pads for a few years now. My vote for an all-around brake pad. Good pads, low dust, no squeal, good bite. I have tracked this pads many times over the years, and while these are not track pads, they exhibit good qualities even when pushed. Was doing ~2:45 laps at CoTA with these and street tires. You could push these pads fairly deep out there, although I knew better than to get too aggressive with the Reds for too long.

[ViperGeorge]

I 100% agree, the Matt black finish is the hardest color I've ever had to clean. Even when I'm done I can still find brake dust in nooks and crannies that I've missed, and that's even after taking the rims off to clean!

I've tried special wheel cleaning solutions. Special sealants. Nothing works.

I wish wheel finish would have been an option for the 14 TAs, I would have gone with the Hyper Black that I had on my 13. They were MUCH easier to keep looking clean.

Hyper Black is an option on the 15s. I have them on my TA 2.0. I also have a set of matte black wheels and boy are you right, they are a pain to clean.

[AM.MSCL]

We got about 60% of our wheels coated with Ceramic Pro 9H; it does not prevent brake dust from showing but sure helps with cleaning.

We have also tried Mequiar's Wheel Protect (think was the name) and if you follow the instructions it holds ups well for about 4000 miles of hard driving before needing to be re-applied. It does not prevent dust from sticking but helps with clean up.

[kdaviper]

The matte black must be different that the black on the Venom rims as mine look clean even with dust on them?

I thought that was the whole point of black wheels lol

[Rapidrezults]

I thought that was the whole point of black wheels lol

The problem is the wheels still have a slight sheen to them, so they are not exactly matte. This makes it so that when they are dirty, you can see that they are dirty, as with true matte finished wheels the dust blends in much better.

[ViperJon]

Definitely hear you on the nooks and crannies. lol also try getting your arm all the way in full depth of the wheel is impossible and my fingers are sore after putting in all the little hole

Must have.

[AZTVR]

That's not very helpful unless one also mentions that they are Griot's Garage items. Some generic ones would be pretty harsh for a matte finish.
The Wheel Woolies recommended previously are also a good idea, from my research.

Must have.

[Nine Ball]

I have been using the EBC Red Stuff pads for a few years now. My vote for an all-around brake pad. Good pads, low dust, no squeal, good bite. I have tracked this pads many times over the years, and while these are not track pads, they exhibit good qualities even when pushed. Was doing ~2:45 laps at CoTA with these and street tires. You could push these pads fairly deep out there, although I knew better than to get too aggressive with the Reds for too long.

Agreed! I run the EBC reds in my '06 Viper. Many, many, many stops from 200 mph.

[darbgnik]

I found the EBC pads to work well on the track, but no matter the bedding procedures I tried, I couldn't et rid of the squeal. Not a deal breaker, but it was there.

[Uncle Paul]

Hate brake dust too.

Nice first world problem,

[Trainerdave]

You just can't let yourself worry about brake dust between the spokes or you'll drive yourself crazy. Life's too short.

He has a little "corvette waxer syndrome .

[Bruce H.]

He has a little "corvette waxer syndrome .

Well I tried that today and it didn't work out too well. I was rotating tires between track days and thought having them off the car would be the perfect time to give them a good clean after all this discussion. They're definitely cleaner between the spokes and around the barrel, but they really don't look much different from 10 feet away. And it's a really tough job with them on the car for such little and short-term improvement. So I'm going to stick to really enjoying the process of applying brake dust rather than sweating removing it

[Stealth]

Must have.

EXACTLY the brush I have--bigger one. It really works great. It is basically impossible for any hand carwash people to clean the Sidewinder II wheels and barrels--even if they felt like expending the effort.

[Darius]

When I wash my car use a spray on wheel cleaner before I hose it down, then after a few minutes I hit them with the pressure washer.

[Redx]

When I wash my car use a spray on wheel cleaner before I hose it down, then after a few minutes I hit them with the pressure washer.

Same, I use polish angel pre wash mint wheel cleaner, combined with polish angel super sport ptfe coating (once ever 5-6 washes I reapply)and it's not really necessary to scrub the wheels after.

[Vipes]

Try keeping polished aluminum clean. Anybody want to trade black sidewinders for CCW 505a?