Chrome Wheels in Winter

[bjam2]

Ok i have chrome ponys on my stang and don't want to use them in the winter but no where has rims cheaper than 70 bucks each for plain steel ones.

I found another stanger 45 minutes away and bought a set of turbines with tires for $85 then put them on and i can't even turn cus they rub like hell and the damn kid said they would fit and is now being an ass. They are like 235/50/15.

It started snowing a lil last night so is there anything i can do to protect the chrome.

What about washing like once a week and putting vaseline or something on them after every time?

And if that doesn't work, how much does it cost to get wheels rechromed? A set? A single Wheel?

 

[Rick 91GT]

The 235/50/15 is fine in the rear but up front it may be a little big up front. I'd get 2 cheap tires for the front.

The chrome will get nasty over the winter for sure, you need to wash them off the salt will kill them. I'd wax them to help protect them if you have to use them in the snow.

I'd find some cheap 225/60's for the front personally.

 

[Iowa91LX]

If they are Ford Chrome pony wheels then they should be fine. It sure doesnt do them any good to be exposed to the salt, but Ford has very good chrome wheels. Put a coat of wax on them before winter and then make sure you rinse them off often during the winter.
I dont know which is worse on rims, brake dust or salt. Either way if the chrome rims are any good then they wont peel or dull from salt if taken care of.

Another option is to sell those cheap wheels and your half way to a winter beater car.

Look at my signature, and I drive an Escort everyday, I like my Mustangs to much to drive them on the salt. It will kill your undercarriage, not just the rims. In the spring take your innerfenders loose and rinse the inside of your fenders off. Its a perfect place for salt to sit and rot your fenders.

 

[negusm]

Ok i have chrome ponys on my stang and don't want to use them in the winter but no where has rims cheaper than 70 bucks each for plain steel ones.

I found another stanger 45 minutes away and bought a set of turbines with tires for $85 then put them on and i can't even turn cus they rub like hell and the damn kid said they would fit and is now being an ass. They are like 235/50/15.

It started snowing a lil last night so is there anything i can do to protect the chrome.

What about washing like once a week and putting vaseline or something on them after every time?

And if that doesn't work, how much does it cost to get wheels rechromed? A set? A single Wheel?

Just go to the junk yard and get some plain steel wheels. They are so prevelant they should let you have them for next to nothing. I'm talking about the LX type skinny steel wheels, not the wide GT ones. All you then need to do is toss some good winter tires on them and the tires shouldn't cost much because you wouldn't be getting wide low profile ones.

My family does this for every car we drive in the winter in NYS. My 96 Probe GT (purchased new) had factory chrome wheels ($400+ option at the time) and we just went to the junk yard got plain jane steel wheels for like $40 for 4 (the kind that came on the SE). They are smaller and skinnier and it cost like $200 total for a set of new Cooper snow tires with the blocky tread. BEFORE when I had it in the snow my ABS was constantly on whenever I was driving over unplowed snow. AFTER it was like a mountain goat. We did the same thing with my '67 Cougar rwd car with the same results. Skinny wheels with good snow tires RULE in the snow.

Sold the Probe GT recently and NOT ONE pit in the chrome wheels. The car was getting a tad rusty underneath from 4 years of the NYS salt but the chrome wheels were awesome.

Rechroming a wheel is gonna probably be $200 per wheel.

-Mike

 

[DirtyD916]

i think they should be fine. just give them a good bath every now and then.

 

[evn_05]

10 holes

I just took my chrome cobras off the other day to put the stock 10 holes on with new bridgestone blizzaks. My car looks like crap, but it rides great now and my chromies dont have to suffer through the snow and horrible salt. If only the whole stang didnt have to see it.... god I hate winter. Oh well I have been told these blizzacks are some of the best snow tires around. It had better start snowing cuz i hate em otherwise I locked em up twice yesterday... havin little ass tires sucks. Oh and by the way they are 205/35-15.

 

[Black331Stang]

i must say, something is not right with your car if u have 15" turbines with 235s on them and they dont fit...u should be able to turn all the way if not at least all the way until full lock...i have 245s up front and i have a bad rubbing/thumping sound but i think something is wrong..so those wheels shoudl fit without a doubt

 

[bjam2]

what kind of wax are we talking about here? Like wax for car paint, or wax like for ski's or snowboards.

Also what are other ways of protecting a car in winter??

 

[sunburstpony]

i live in newfoundland and salt is everywhere. if you can get another set
of aftermarket wheels. if not there is a metal polisher and protector
called autosol. you may get it at wal-mart it cleans your wheels of stuff
and it protects metal until you clean them again. if you can try to hunt down
a winter beater. i have a 93 topaz around here we call them the
indestructable winter beater

 

[Carney Woods]

just get smaller front tires for your turbines.......problem solved