Owning a classic car fitted with wire wheels can be a great sense of pride as well as some awesome responsibility.

That responsibility is driven by the proven fact that maintainig wire wheels can be a very demanding task, requiring lots of patience and time coupled with a very practised eye.

Chrome wire wheels can can look very powerful if maintained in more or less perfect condition and more or less all the time. However the unforgiving roads of the UK and Western Europe and the difficult winters will always take their toll. That's why an ongoing classic car wire wheels maintenace programme must be established and stringently adhered to.

Here are some of the steps that should be followed to establish a classic car wire wheels maintenace programme. Step one is to use a soft brush or cloth to gently scrub the wire wheels and remove any dirt or grime. Rinse the wire wheels thoroughly with clean water and dry them with a soft cloth.

for any signs of wear or damage, such as bent or cracked spokes. Address any issues promptly to prevent them from getting worse and compromising the safety of the vehicle. consider restoring or replacing them if the damage looks like being ireparerable.. This is a job best left to a professional as it requires special knowledge, tools and patience to get it done

and address them promptly.

ensure that the joints and moving parts are operating smoothly and to prevent any wear or damage.

When parking the car, try to avoid leaving it in direct sunlight or in areas with high humidity, as this can cause the wire wheels to rust more quickly.

In addition to the specialist guidelines below, the following applies to all finishes:

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Wash the car's wheels with soap and water on a regular basis, then dry them well afterward.

Wheels should be taken off the car and cleaned properly on a regular basis to get rid of the corrosive filth and brake dust that accumulates over time.

How often the wire wheels should be cleaned is condition and distance dependent. Because brake dust and road salt are so corrosive, it is essential to clean the wheels of your vehicle before storing it for the winter.

If minor rust spots begin to emerge, an acid-based chrome cleaner can be used; however, these cleaners are highly powerful and should not be used frequently. The recommended treatment times and rinse protocol as specified by the manufacturershould be carefully observed.

Remove the wheels from the car, give them a good cleaning, let them dry completely, and then give them a light spray of WD40 (or an equivalent) to help protect them while they're in storage throughout the winter. When storing wheels in WD40, be sure to clean them well before using them again to avoid damaging the brakes.