Wheel Crud Question
 

Hopefully this is a stupid question, but sometimes it's best to be anal...

While cleaning my wheels this weekend, I noticed that the inside of the rims had a layer of crud -- this was inside the rims, towards the inside of the car (I had to reach between the spokes pretty far to get to it) and was about 1/2 inch wide.

I was curious and just pushed it around with my fingers and it came off easily since it was wet. I did it some more and figured it was dirt and brake dust, but there was a lot. I cleaned up the bottom half, backed the car up half a wheel rotation and did the rest (so this crud wouldn't get in the brakes and so the wheel was still balanced).

Any comments? Should this be ignored? Should I clean this stuff up religiously? Did Audi realize this would happen and design the car to handle it gracefully?

That's brake dust and other road crud...I clean it religiously every time I wash...
 

...the car, but only for aesthetics. There is no harm in having that crap on your wheels other than looks.

Brake dust will pit your aluminum rims if not cleaned at regular intervals.
 

It may take awhile, but it will do it.

I recommend that you remove each wheel and thoroughly clean, remove tar, clay bar, and heavily wax.
 

Trust me, while this sounds really anal and it will take an entire day to do all four wheels, this is well worth it in the long run as it will prevent crud from sticking to the clear coat and perhaps extend the life of the clear coat. It also makes future wheel cleaning MUCH easier.

a brake pad modification can also help
 

using a pad that gives off less brake dust, search the forum for previous discussions on the positives and negatives.

Mintex Red Box and EBC Green are two of the more common ones.

Practicing that "Old Tire Religion" are you? ;-)

That among other automotive ritualistic practices :)

I live to serve my car ;)
 

And I'll be doing this during the next few days.

This actually does help the wheels stay dust-free, and definitely keeps the crud off. While I'm at it, the car wants leather treatment and mat cleaning. The sacrifices we make.... Cheers!