From what I can find on the Kaboom website (assuming I'm looking at the correct product) it looks like this cleaner is a high alkaline cleaner (pH of 12), which isn't all that different from Meguiar's Hot Rims All Wheel & Tire Cleaner. Out of curiosity, you said you tried two different wheel cleaners before Kaboom but neither worked - care to share what those two wheel cleaners were? Also, was this accumulated and embedded dirt just in that bottom section of the wheel after sitting on the back of the CR-V for a few years?