WHICH WHEEL BRUSH IS THE BEST?

If you Google "wheel brush", you will get a variety of different options.
You have the hard-bristled one, the microfiber one, the wool one, and so on.

The hard-bristled one is the OG in the game, providing great cleaning power. However, there are some downsides. It will most likely scratch the hell out of your wheels, although the damage may not be visible to the naked eye on your regular silver aluminum wheels.
New cars today often come with expensive wheels, frequently in black or other delicate finishes. On these, we strongly recommend against using a hard-bristle brush, as it will most likely leave scratches. The same way you wouldn’t take a hard-bristle brush to the exterior paint of your car and clean it, the same rule should be applied to your wheels if it’s a car you care about.

Next, we have the wool microfiber wheel brush. These first appeared on the market around 2010, introduced under the name Wheel Woolies. They quickly became popular because of their softness, ability to hold a lot of water, and long-lasting durability.
Compared to the hard-bristled brush, the cleaning power is significantly lower, but it is also much gentler on the wheels. One major advantage is that it can hold water and shampoo, providing extra lubrication for safer cleaning.

Now, can a wool microfiber wheel brush scratch your wheels? It most definitely can, but we would say it's more about how you clean your wheels rather than what brush you use.
(If you want to learn the best way to clean your wheels, click HERE .)

Later, we saw the introduction of the microfiber wheel brush, around the same time the market transitioned from wool mitts to microfiber mitts. These offered many of the same benefits as wool brushes, though they don’t hold as much water. However, in our opinion, they feel better and safer on delicate wheel finishes.

Just like the wool brush, a microfiber brush can still scratch your wheels if used incorrectly.

The market today is flooded with different types of wheel brushes. We now have:

• Bendable brushes for easier access to the barrel.
• Brushes with removable microfiber covers that can be machine-washed and reused.
• Extra-long and thin brushes designed to reach difficult spokes, which most rim and car manufacturers now design into their wheels.

So, what’s the ideal choice for your detailing arsenal?
It depends. If you have a car with expensive wheels, we recommend a microfiber or wool brush.
On the other hand, if your wheels have been neglected for too long, you might not be able to clean them properly without using a strong wheel cleaner and scrubbing hard with a stiff-bristled brush.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours.
If your LADA has been sitting outside for 30 years without ever being cleaned, then a hard-bristled brush might be your best bet.