Flat Belt or Chain: What the Conveyor Under Your Wheels Means

Most people judge a tunnel wash by what happens to the paint: the foam, the brushes, the dryer at the end. Far fewer people think about the part that actually carries the car through. That is a shame, because the conveyor is the one piece of the whole system that touches your wheels.

How a chain conveyor works

In a traditional tunnel, a chain runs along the floor inside a narrow track. The wheels on one side of the car ride in a guide rail, and a roller on the moving chain pushes against the back of a tire. You put the car in neutral and the chain pulls it forward. This design has been around for decades and it works.

It does ask a few things of your car. The wheels have to line up with the guide. The tires and rims have to fit the rail. A low front end, a wide aftermarket wheel or a set of dual rear wheels can sit awkwardly in a narrow track, and a roller pressing on a tire is one more thing that can go wrong with a damaged or oddly shaped wheel. None of that is a scandal. It is simply how the equipment is built.

How a flat belt is different

A flat conveyor belt is what it sounds like: a continuous flat surface under the wheels, a bit like a wide treadmill. There is no narrow track to thread and no roller pushing against a tire. Mickey's runs a flat conveyor belt through its 110 foot tunnel, and the shop's own site says it is safer for your wheels and underbody than traditional chain conveyors. That is how they describe it, and it fits the design: spreading the load across a flat surface leaves less for a roller or a rail to catch on.

If you spent real money on wheels, or you drive a car that sits low, that difference is the reason to choose one tunnel over another. It is also worth knowing for the family minivan, because the wheels and the underbody are where a car meets the world, and the least stress you can put on them the better.

What happens before you reach the belt

At Mickey's, every car gets a spray and brush prep from an attendant before it enters the tunnel. It is a short pause that loosens bug splatter, road film and salt, so the foam isn't starting from zero. A Google reviewer named Dan A noted that vehicles are pre-washed before they reach the conveyor, and called the attendants friendly and welcoming. This is also your chance to say something. Mention a cracked windshield, an aftermarket part, a loose piece of trim, anything you would rather the attendant knew about before the car moves.

Before you drive in

A few habits make any tunnel go smoothly, belt or chain.

• Fold in your mirrors if they fold, and take down a removable antenna.
• Check the roof. The clearance at the Mickey's entrance is 7 feet 6 inches, so a tall cargo box, a ladder rack or a lifted truck with gear strapped on top needs a tape measure first.
• Close the windows and sunroof all the way, and make sure the gas door and any charge port cover are shut.
• Follow the attendant's directions on where to stop and what gear to be in. At most tunnels that means neutral, foot off the brake, hands off the wheel, and the wheels pointed straight.
• Take off loose items on the outside of the car, like a magnetic sign or a bike on a rack.

When your vehicle is unusual

If you have a very wide aftermarket wheel, a lowered car, or a truck with dual rear wheels, don't guess. Ask the attendant at the door before you go through. They handle every kind of vehicle that pulls in, and they know what the tunnel is comfortable with. For anything that doesn't belong in a tunnel, the detail shop at the same address does deep hand washing by appointment, which is a better answer than risking a wheel you love.

Mickey's Car Wash & Detail Shop is at 16 Galaxy Pass in Sutton, on Route 146, and the tunnel runs daily from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, weather permitting. Questions about your vehicle and the tunnel are welcome at (508) 571-1134.