Poorboy’s World Wheel Sealant: Real World Test And Review

Poorboy’s World Wheel Sealant is a relatively easy to apply wheel protection that can be applied to most wheel surfaces.

It makes wheels easier to clean as well as keeping them clean for longer but fails to deliver durability of any practical use for frequently driven cars.

Prepmycar Rating: 6.6 / 10

Poorboy’s World Wheel Sealant

• 7.0 Ease of application
• 6.0 Aesthetics
• 7.5 Hydrophobicity
• 5.0 Durability
• 7.5 Value for money
• 6.6 OVERALL TEST SCORE

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Pros

• Easy to apply
• Help to keep the wheels cleaner for longer
• Easier to clean during subsequent washes

Cons

• Low durability
• Poor Aesthetics

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Testing process

I used this product on the gloss black wheels of a family member’s car, so I could maintain them and observe the performance over time.

Before applying the sealant, I first deep-cleaned the wheels to ensure the sealant had a clean surface to bond to.

I used Bilt Hamber Auto-Wheel to clean the wheels and agitated with several brushes. I repeated this a few times as there were stubborn spots of brake dust on the wheels that I wanted to remove.

I then dried the wheel and applied the product, then monitored performance over the next few weeks. 

Test Results

Ease of application 7.0/10

The wheel sealant is a pink paste with a consistency of room temperature butter, making it easy to spread.

I used a microfibre cloth wrapped around my finger to rub the product onto the surface of the wheel, using small circular motions, although a foam or microfibre applicator pad could also be used.

I then left it to haze for a few minutes before using a clean towel to buff away any residue. This is a much easier application process than a ceramic wheel coating but arguably more time-consuming that using a spray sealant, such as Gyeon Wet Coat or Meguiar’s Ceramic Wax. 

Aesthetics 6.0/10

I have used this on silver wheels, and there was not much of an improvement in aesthetics on these wheels. When I used the Poorboy’s paste on gloss black wheels, there did appear to be a small improvement in appearance, but I do think the cleanliness of the wheel is the most important factor here. 

Hydrophobicity 7.5/10

Water does run off protected wheels faster, which does help to keep the wheels cleaner for longer and also easier to clean during subsequent washes.

I found that protected wheels could just be pressure washed clean after being pre-washed with snow foam. Soon after application, water beaded up quite well on the wheels, but this deteriorated within a week or two. 

Durability 5.0/10

While many ceramic-based wheel sealants can boast durability of a year and beyond, Poorboy’s sealant is very much limited to weeks, not months.

Just like a simple paste wax will not last as long as a ceramic coating on paint, this wheel sealant does not last more than a few weeks, even without using wheel cleaners.

I noted about six weeks of durability, having only used snowfoam and pressure to wash the wheels without contact.

This durability is disappointing, as it would require one to reapply the paste quite frequently. That is not an issue if you have a whole day to wash the car, but as time is valuable for many, it may cause issues. 

Value for money 7.5/10

An 8 oz (236ml) tub of wheel sealant will cost in the region of £15 ($16.80 USD) in the UK, which is certainly cheaper than a ceramic coating.

This paste will also go quite far, as not very much will be needed to cover an entire wheel face, less is often more in detailing.

While it is quite hard to be accurate, I estimate about 5 ml of product would be enough to cover an entire wheel face, so 20 ml for all four wheels.

A tub would then be good for around 12 cars at an approximate cost of £1.25 ($1.40 USD) per car.

While this does not sound like a huge expense, remember it will need to be reapplied quite frequently, so it may not last as long as expected.

About Poorboy’s World

Poorboy’s World is an American based detailing company with the goal of making detailing more affordable to everyone. They use simple packaging with easy-to-understand instructions and easy-to-use products made in the USA. They are well known for their popular Black Hole glaze, which you can read more about here.

Final thoughts

This is a product that, unfortunately, I struggle to love.

There is no doubt that it does work at sealing wheels, but it is let down by durability that is not practical for most people.

If you have bought new wheels and are looking for something to protect them, I would definitely recommend going for a proper ceramic coating, they cannot be beaten for durability and protection, they are also quite easy to apply and are a great way to introduce yourself to ceramics. 

For wheels that are not brand new, this product will certainly work, but I would consider using some sort of paint spray sealant instead, such as KKD Purity X or Gyeon Wet Coat.

While these are not designed specifically for wheels, they will still provide protection, lasting a similar length of time to the Poorboy’s while being much quicker and easier to apply. 

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PoorBoys PB-WS08 Wheel Sealant 8oz, 236ml

• Long lasting protection
• For use on any type of wheel
• Protects wheels from brake dust, dirt, tar, bugs, water and anything else that impacts your wheels

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