A method of recycling aluminum alloy wheels, the method comprises providing a feed of aluminum alloy wheels of a particular alloy; subjecting the aluminum alloy wheels to x-ray separation to remove contaminates; fragmenting the aluminum alloy wheels into a plurality of pieces; subjecting the pieces to magnetic separation to produce pieces having a reduced iron content; and, subjecting the pieces having a reduced iron content to shot blasting to produce shot blasted pieces. An optional eddy treatment step may be used.