a tire and wheel washing apparatus for cleaning exterior surfaces of tire and wheel combinations of a vehicle as the vehicle is conveyed past the apparatus . the tire washing apparatus preferably includes a longitudinally - extending cleaning element rotating about a shaft having a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to the conveyed direction of the vehicle . the cleaning element is adapted to clean the exterior surfaces of tire and wheel combinations of the vehicle , and preferably has an undulating cleaning surface with a repeating pattern of a peak portion followed by a valley portion . preferably , an intermediate portion located between the peak and valley portions has a substantially curvilinear edge surface .