Ahh cheers for the reply, I've been worried that I knackered my tyre lol.

They came out real clean...well I was able to do most of them before it pissed down. Just really does shown up all the marks from the cowboy tyre fitters now I really do need to get myself some paddock stands so I can get down to refurbishing the wheels.

it's not just good for the outside, it's good for the inside too,

i've always got an old washing-up bowl about 1/3 full with paraffin with the mesh off a disposable BBQ in the bottom on top of 4 big wheel nuts (to lift the mesh off the bottom, then all the sh*t stays underneath) and use it to clean engine components or just about anything mechanical, the beauty of this is (unlike jizer or gunk which are water based) the bit's have a thin layer of oil left on em so they don't rust if left for a bit.

really good idea with the plate and nuts dog. top marks