The only tire/wheel cleaning without brushes I have seen that seemed to work well involves using a two step application of low and high pH products followed by a high pressure rinse after as much dwell time as can be set up. Years ago many operators used Hydrofluoric acid for tire/wheel cleaning that did very well but there are very few HF products available on the market today due to other possible problems associated with HF. Many, many years ago when I was just a teenager I worked at my uncle's wash which was very primitive in comparison to today's set ups. He used caustic soda beads dissolved in a drum and applied it under high pressure. The wheels and tires came out great. Due to the damage pure caustic soda can cause on modern rims I would not recommend trying this.
