Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheel washing apparatus for cleaning a wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a brush device which includes or forms at least one brush that is placeable against the wheel, a drive device for rotatingly driving the at least one brush, and an advancing device with which the brush device is transferable from a rest position remote from the wheel into at least one use position near the wheel, wherein the brush device is lowerable by means of the advancing device upon moving in the direction of the wheel, wherein the brush device is moveable by means of the advancing device along a trajectory having at least one inflection point upon moving from the rest position into the at least one use position. The invention also relates to a vehicle washing installation and a method for cleaning a wheel.