whats the best way to clean/ care for polished wheels. im getting some 18in saleen wheels and am leaning toward polished over chrome.
polished wheels
- Thread starter steveb24
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04DarkShadowGT
Member
You will be kicking yourself when it comes time to clean them every other day 
No seriosuly get a mothers power ball and some metal polish. I would remove each wheel to clean the inside as well. At least once a month and more if you drive in rain and dont drive in snow with them unless you are very anal about keeping them clean.
My buddies dad has some sweet polished boyds on his old stroked and nitrous feed Durango that where pitted BADLY after a year or so because he never polished them and it was worse inside the rim because he never cleaned in there.
It took my buddy and I about 4-5 hours each wheel to get them looking even descent.
But if you dont like to do alot of work, then get chrome.
No seriosuly get a mothers power ball and some metal polish. I would remove each wheel to clean the inside as well. At least once a month and more if you drive in rain and dont drive in snow with them unless you are very anal about keeping them clean.
My buddies dad has some sweet polished boyds on his old stroked and nitrous feed Durango that where pitted BADLY after a year or so because he never polished them and it was worse inside the rim because he never cleaned in there.
It took my buddy and I about 4-5 hours each wheel to get them looking even descent.
But if you dont like to do alot of work, then get chrome.
durknutz01GT
New Member
Glass plus works fine for a quick shine... but then again what do I know. My my 17" Y2K R's are starting to pit pretty bad. Could be because I drove them all through the New England winter...
FivePointStang
Founding Member
I vote for chrome.... low maintenance and look great!
Keep in mind that either one will need to be taken care of especially when cleaning (no high pressure washers). But chrome can just be wiped clean with windex and a paper towel and look great.
Keep in mind that either one will need to be taken care of especially when cleaning (no high pressure washers). But chrome can just be wiped clean with windex and a paper towel and look great.
Mossberg
Active Member
shallowreef
New Member
Well what if he drives his car and deals with snow and cold tempatures? How does the chrome hold up against mother natures colder seasons?
FivePointStang
Founding Member
shallowreef said:
I wouldnt drive with any wheels that I care about during the winter months. I was assuming the driver would still have his original wheels for winter if he needed to drive.
Ive havent driven with my chrome during the winter months yet.... dont plan on testing it out either
04DarkShadowGT
Member
If you have to drive in the winter, you should have winter wheels and tires anyway. I wouldnt drive with any nice wheels in the winter
Mossberg
Active Member
Here are some pros and cons for chrome vs. polished (anything):
Chrome Pros: Chrome is bling bling, easy to clean (wayyy easier than polished), and will look good even when they are dirty.
Chrome Cons: After a couple years (sometimes earlier, sometimes never) they will start to peel. Meaning the chrome layer begins to flake off.
Aluminum Pros: Looks bling bling after some serious elbow grease has been applied with good metal polish. They will never peel and can always be re-polished.
Aluminum Cons: They oxidize quickly which makes them look 'hazy'. They need to be constantly polished or they look like butt.
I'd roll with chrome if I were you. Especially on some 18 inch Saleens!!!
Chrome Pros: Chrome is bling bling, easy to clean (wayyy easier than polished), and will look good even when they are dirty.
Chrome Cons: After a couple years (sometimes earlier, sometimes never) they will start to peel. Meaning the chrome layer begins to flake off.
Aluminum Pros: Looks bling bling after some serious elbow grease has been applied with good metal polish. They will never peel and can always be re-polished.
Aluminum Cons: They oxidize quickly which makes them look 'hazy'. They need to be constantly polished or they look like butt.
I'd roll with chrome if I were you. Especially on some 18 inch Saleens!!!
Cantslowdown
New Member
Chrome!!They are easy to take care of but you got to make sure u dont miss a spot cuz it will show when u clean them..If taken care of they shouldnt peel for along time..
TangerineGT96
New Member
your best bet would be gettin chrome. my wheels are polished and i HATE polishin on them for hours at a time.
ok..thanks guys.. yes, im keeping my old wheels for winter too, and i guess it sounds like chrome is the way to go. i dont really have much time to keep them clean, maybe once a week, for a half hour. i am getting 18in saleens too, which i know look amazing on anything, sounds like ill be throwin up another 100 to get the chrome.
Chrome is over rated and requires almost as much upkeep as polished...I will never buy chrome again.
Polished is easy to keep nice with the Mothers PowerBall....
I personally prefer powder coated to all
Polished is easy to keep nice with the Mothers PowerBall....
I personally prefer powder coated to all
Cantslowdown
New Member
Chrome is not that bad to clean glass cleaner and ur done just dont want to miss any spots..I put some wax stuff on mine once a month..
you've had your wheels for what? 1 month!!! wait a year or 2 and when they start pitting/peeling/flaking and you cleaned them weekly and waxed/polished them and then see how you feel about chrome. I've had cheap sets and expensive sets and all had issues eventually.Cantslowdown said:
wait.. im confused.. i have some beat a$$ wheels on my car that were there when i bought it and and they have badly pitted.. but they were never chrome or polished aluminum..silver i think.. what causes pitting and can the polished wheels "pit"?, because once that happens the wheels are trash.
santos
Founding Member
Cantslowdown
New Member
I really dont think any set of wheels will look good for along time on a d/d stuff happens so..I never said they will last along time but they do look good..Even when they are dirty they still look good..
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