Question about polished wheels
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,490
Likes: 68
From: Hewitt NJ
Question about polished wheels
This question is for those guys running polished A-Molds (ZR-1) wheels w/o a clear coat. I'm referring to the replica wheels such as the ones sold by AFS or O.E. Concepts. How hard are they to maintain if you don't drive your car much? Do you have to polish them once a month or every three months? I'm considering polished C6 wheels from AFS and want to get some feedback before I make the purchase. Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 1
From: sd
Well MYCoupe since we both have a millenium yellow C5 vette (nice aZZ by the way)I'll take a stab at your question. I have the Y2K C5 polished wheels on my 85 from AFS(not the wheels that you are interested in but gives you an idea) and I only polish them with Mother's powerball once a year. I drive about 2500-5000 miles a year and in between washes I use my detailer spary to keep them shiny. Not alot of maintenance but at the beginning of the year you'll know its time to polish them back up. They start to look cloudy and not as shiny as they do after being polished.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Having had polished-only wheels in the past on other cars, and used in all kinds of weather, it really does depend. Like the poster before, if you hardly use the car (and wheels), it doesn't get much "abuse". One way to minimize it is to keep a spray bottle of water nearby and a lot of those all cotton cloths. Even if you only wash the car and wheels once a month or less, you can spray water on the towels, wipe off the wheels (from brake dust) and that will assist keeping them clean to a large extent.
You do need to ask a knowledgeable source at the wheel place what you CAN use on the wheels, i.e., maas, nevrdull, etc., because some they may not recommend.
Some form of wax/protectant is needed, maybe once a year, or more frequently depending on you.
And the Mother's powerball really helps.
You do need to ask a knowledgeable source at the wheel place what you CAN use on the wheels, i.e., maas, nevrdull, etc., because some they may not recommend.
Some form of wax/protectant is needed, maybe once a year, or more frequently depending on you.
And the Mother's powerball really helps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
A previous owner had polished the wheels on my '89. They were
not coated and at the time, the pads were either OEM or ???
For 'my' standards, the maintenance was modest. From time to
time I would buff them up by hand with Solvol Autosol metal
polish. (I have since switched to Z/06 wheels, more aggressive
pads and I am perhaps less attentive to the updated wheels.)
As for coated wheels, my vote would be not to use ANY kind of
polish that might possibly be abrasive. cuisinartvette has
some threads I can provide links to that detail how much
work it is to refinish a clear-coated wheel - it can become
necessary to do all four when the coating can not be matched.
Have you considered posting in Car Care Discussion in General Corvette Topics?
Members there are pretty well versed in techniques and products
for keeping cars looking their best.
.
not coated and at the time, the pads were either OEM or ???
For 'my' standards, the maintenance was modest. From time to
time I would buff them up by hand with Solvol Autosol metal
polish. (I have since switched to Z/06 wheels, more aggressive
pads and I am perhaps less attentive to the updated wheels.)
As for coated wheels, my vote would be not to use ANY kind of
polish that might possibly be abrasive. cuisinartvette has
some threads I can provide links to that detail how much
work it is to refinish a clear-coated wheel - it can become
necessary to do all four when the coating can not be matched.
Have you considered posting in Car Care Discussion in General Corvette Topics?
Members there are pretty well versed in techniques and products
for keeping cars looking their best.
.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I have polished aluminum wheels on my truck and I swore I'd never do it again (hince why I have black rims on the vette). I love how it looks but it being outside 100% of the time, the sun and florida sea air oxidizies them quickly. It's very noticable in a month and look horrible in about four months. For a mirror shine I have to polish them every three months and use special alumnium wheel cleaners once a week.
If it's garage kept, and not a daily driver I doubt you'll need to polish them more than once a year. Like goldeneye_vet said, just get a mothers powerball and it will make quick work of it anyway.
If you see a lot of rain and/or all day sun exposer, you'll be cursing at those polished rims in a couple of years. Hope this helps...
If it's garage kept, and not a daily driver I doubt you'll need to polish them more than once a year. Like goldeneye_vet said, just get a mothers powerball and it will make quick work of it anyway.
If you see a lot of rain and/or all day sun exposer, you'll be cursing at those polished rims in a couple of years. Hope this helps...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 4
I polish my rims about as often as I wax (usually twice a year). Though I would believe that once a year would keep them acceptable.
note: I dont have Zr1's, I have the ugly 80's turbines that I stripped and polished.
note: I dont have Zr1's, I have the ugly 80's turbines that I stripped and polished.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
I have polished HRE's. The car sits, covered, outside...and is driven about three times a month.
I have to touch-up the bare aluminum about monthly.
I'd think the same wheels would need polishing about quarterly if the car was garaged.
Larry
code5coupe
I have to touch-up the bare aluminum about monthly.
I'd think the same wheels would need polishing about quarterly if the car was garaged.
Larry
code5coupe