Wheel Ceramic Coating – St. Louis Protection That Actually Lasts
Folks always notice the shine on the paint first. That’s the part that gets all the love. But let’s be real — your wheels take more of a beating than anything else on your car. Brake dust, salt, road grime, heat, you name it. It’s all flying straight at your wheels every time you hit the road in St. Louis. And if you’ve ever spent way too long scrubbing your rims with a tiny brush, just to have them filthy again after one rainy day, then you’ll get why wheel ceramic coating is worth talking about.
What Is Wheel Ceramic Coating?
It’s the same idea as ceramic coating your paint — but made for the high-heat, high-abuse areas around your wheels. When we do a wheel ceramic coating, we clean the wheels deep down, polish them if needed, and then apply a professional-grade ceramic product that bonds with the surface. It's not wax. It doesn’t wash off. Once it’s cured, it hardens into a shell that protects your wheels from grime, brake dust, moisture, and stains.
The result? Your wheels stay cleaner, they’re easier to wash, and they keep that clean shine way longer.
We do this all the time for our clients in High Ridge, Fenton, and out toward Ballwin. Once someone gets their wheels coated, they usually come back a few months later asking if we can do their calipers too — because they saw how much easier life got.
Why Do Wheels Need Ceramic Coating?
Think about what your wheels go through in a year. Around St. Louis, we’ve got:
Road salt in winter
Construction dust all summer
Heavy brake dust from city driving
Potholes that splash dirty water everywhere
Brake dust especially is no joke. It’s not just dirty — it’s corrosive. If it bakes onto your wheels, it can start to pit the clear coat. That’s where you start seeing permanent stains or rough spots.
When you’ve got ceramic on the wheels, brake dust doesn’t stick as easily. It wipes off with just water. Same goes for salt and mud. You don’t have to scrub for hours anymore.
What's Included in a Wheel Ceramic Coating?
Every shop does it a little different, but at Arch City Detail, here’s what our wheel ceramic coating service includes:
Full wheel removal (so we can coat the whole face and barrel)
Deep cleaning to strip old dressings, tar, and brake dust
Iron decontamination to pull out embedded grime
Polishing (if needed) to fix minor stains or hazing
Professional-grade ceramic application
Proper curing and wipe down
Optional: coating the calipers while we’re in there
And yeah — we only use high-temp ceramic coating that’s made to handle the heat wheels get. Some coatings aren’t built for this. But we’ve tested these on our own cars and clients’ vehicles, and they hold up through winter, summer, and everything in between.
What Kinds of Wheels Can Be Coated?
Pretty much anything. We’ve done:
Powder-coated wheels
Gloss black factory rims
Satin and matte finishes
Chrome
Aftermarket forged wheels
Polished aluminum
Got aftermarket wheels from Discount Tire out in Kirkwood or one of the local custom shops? We’ve probably coated that same set for someone else already.
Do Ceramic Coated Wheels Look Different?
Nope — they look the same at first. But when you wash your car the next few times, you’ll notice they look cleaner faster. The shine lasts longer. Water beads up and rolls off, instead of pooling and leaving water spots. You might also notice less buildup around the lug nuts and in the corners.
One guy from Sunset Hills brought us his Tesla Model Y after he’d had the wheels powder-coated black. He said every time he washed it, he was spending more time on the wheels than the rest of the car. We ceramic coated them, and the next time he came in, he said, “That was the easiest wash I’ve ever done.” Now he sends his neighbors to us.
Usually several years, depending on how often you drive, how you clean them, and what kind of conditions your car sees. A daily driver through the city with all that stop-and-go braking? Might need a refresh every other year. But a weekend car or garage queen? You’ll get more time out of it.
Either way, re-coating on a periodic basis is still way easier than trying to scrub brake dust off every month.
How Long Does Wheel Ceramic Coating Last?
Can I Do It Myself?
Technically, sure. But getting the wheels fully clean and coating the barrels without removing them is tough if you're doing it on the ground. Plus, not all DIY coatings hold up well to the heat and abuse wheels go through.
We’ve had folks try to DIY it, and then come in frustrated because it didn’t last, or they got high spots, or the finish looked uneven. We fix those jobs all the time. Not trying to scare anyone off — just saying it’s one of those things that’s easier and more reliable when it’s done professionally.
How Much Does Wheel Ceramic Coating Cost?
Prices can vary based on wheel size, condition, and how much work they need before coating. But here’s a rough ballpark:
Basic wheel face coating (no removal): $150–$200
Full wheel off car (face + barrel): $300–$400
Add calipers: $75–$100
We’re located in High Ridge, so if you're in South County, Fenton, Arnold, or Eureka, we're just a short drive away. And since we’re not mobile, all coatings are done in our climate-controlled shop.
Is It Worth It?
In our opinion, yeah — especially if you care about your car’s looks or hate scrubbing brake dust. It saves time, keeps your wheels looking good, and protects against the stuff that causes long-term damage.
If you’ve already invested in nice wheels — or even just like to keep your factory ones clean — ceramic coating adds that layer of protection and peace of mind.
Quick Pros & Cons
Pros:
Easier to clean
Less brake dust buildup
Protection from salt and grime
Looks better longer
Less risk of permanent stains
Cons:
Upfront cost
Needs re-coating every year or so
Requires the wheels to be removed for best results
Final Thoughts from the Shop
One of our regulars from the Central West End told us he didn’t believe ceramic coating made a difference until we did his wheels. Now he gets all four of his family’s cars done once a year. That’s how most of our customers find out — they try it once, and realize how much time they save and how much better their cars look.
Wheel ceramic coating is one of those little upgrades that adds up. It doesn’t scream for attention like a full paint correction, but it quietly makes your life easier every time you wash your car.
If you’re in the St. Louis area and tired of scrubbing brake dust off your wheels every weekend, give us a shout. We’ll get you taken care of.
We work with drivers from High Ridge, Sunset Hills, Ballwin, all over. Bring it by. We’ll make it look brand new and keep it easier to clean.
Book online, call or text and we’ll get you on the schedule.
Book Your Wheel Ceramic Coating Today
314-252-8950
info@archcitydetail.com