Polished vs. Chrome wheels?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,275
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis MO
Polished vs. Chrome wheels?
Can somebody please explain to me (and perhaps post a few pics) the differences between polished and chrome wheels? Would I want one over the other, and if so, for what reasons? And which do you think look shinier?
Thanks,
Mark
Thanks,
Mark
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 101,562
Likes: 41
From: Ca
Chrome wheels are by far, the easiest to keep clean. They are shinier then polished too, it just depends on what look you are trying to achieve.
Why I want chrome is because of the maintenance issues, there is hardly any upkeep on chromies because you don't have to polish them up. They are a bit more expensive on the front end.
Why I want chrome is because of the maintenance issues, there is hardly any upkeep on chromies because you don't have to polish them up. They are a bit more expensive on the front end.
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
Originally Posted by Prism911
Can somebody please explain to me (and perhaps post a few pics) the differences between polished and chrome wheels? Would I want one over the other, and if so, for what reasons? And which do you think look shinier?
Thanks,
Mark
Thanks,
Mark
Chrome will usually eventually pit and rust. It is much more suspectable to heat. A polished metal may show corrosion, but it can generally be cleaned off.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,819
Likes: 1
From: Toledo Ohio
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
For shine-Chrome
Easy to keep clean-Chrome
Mine came with polished and I just can't see putting new wheels on a new car. When its time for tires I may go with Chrome wheels also.jmho.
Easy to keep clean-Chrome
Mine came with polished and I just can't see putting new wheels on a new car. When its time for tires I may go with Chrome wheels also.jmho.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 2
From: MCO
While I'm more partial to the polished aluminum (preferrably forged), I admit the chromies really sparkle -- especially on a dark colored car. However, if you go that route, try as hard as you can to NOT get the cheap chromies (usually off-shore replicas, for example). Sometimes the chrome plating is so poor, they start to flake "during shipment".
I have seen some wheel shops advertise those for $962 for a set of 4 for a C5 (original five spoke, 2001 - 2004 style). A genuine GM polished wheel goes for $620 list price each --- but is usually sold for around $360 each.
I have seen some wheel shops advertise those for $962 for a set of 4 for a C5 (original five spoke, 2001 - 2004 style). A genuine GM polished wheel goes for $620 list price each --- but is usually sold for around $360 each.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,266
Likes: 5
From: Germantown, TN
Originally Posted by JACKAL0PE
Polished is just that, a metal that has been polished. It can be steel, magnesium, all sorts of metals. Chrome is a covering for metal. If something is chrome, it has been "chrome plated". Chrome has more shine to it. It's almost a mirror. A polished metal will reflect as well, but not nearly as clearly as chrome will.
Chrome will usually eventually pit and rust. It is much more suspectable to heat. A polished metal may show corrosion, but it can generally be cleaned off.
Chrome will usually eventually pit and rust. It is much more suspectable to heat. A polished metal may show corrosion, but it can generally be cleaned off.
I went with the polished because I got a great deal on my wheel/tire combo. The maintenance is demanding and quite often to maintain polished at a nice shine... 
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
You can get the polished wheels clear coated and the maintenance will be the same as the stock wheels. I prefer the polished look. It has a warmer look and can polish up close to looking like chrome.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,385
Likes: 160
From: Orlando FL
Originally Posted by Stock Man
You can get the polished wheels clear coated and the maintenance will be the same as the stock wheels. I prefer the polished look. It has a warmer look and can polish up close to looking like chrome.
I have the '04 CE coupe with the high polished aluminum and find the maintenance minimal. Not to say I wouldn't like the chrome ones but love the look and warm feel!!
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Jordan MN
After owning several of the chrome wheels like enkei, neeper, niche etc, i was almost always disapointed with the chrome durability. I think that the polished wheels are almost every bit as nice looking and i would imagine they are lighter (correct me if i am wrong) Chrome looks nice until it pits or flakes and then looks terrible. Im very happy with the polished wheels on my two cars.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
My vote is for chrome. I love my Z06 Chromies and will be buying more chrome wheels when I get rid of these.
I like to see this-
- on the faces of onlookers, and chrome attracts the most attention
I like to see this-
- on the faces of onlookers, and chrome attracts the most attention
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 0
From: Big Bear City CA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
Originally Posted by Pumba
Mark,
Chrome has the highest luster, but it also adds significant weight to the wheels. But they are beautiful.
Chrome has the highest luster, but it also adds significant weight to the wheels. But they are beautiful.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 0
From: Machine Silver Z06 The Golden State......... Bay Area
St. Jude Donor '05
You've gotten explanations on the differences now here's a pic of a Chromed OE wheel. Much shinier than polished imho. I would stay with OE though either Polished or painted wheels that have been stripped and chromed. Not a big fan of repro wheels. Or you could go high dollar with CCW's, awesome wheels. They come polished but you can have them chromed. If I ever get new wheels it will be CCW's.
Last edited by Target Chaser; May 17, 2005 at 05:45 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,234
Likes: 19
From: Freestate Corvette Club! Elkridge, MD
St. Jude Donor '17
Originally Posted by Pumba
Mark,
Chrome has the highest luster, but it also adds significant weight to the wheels. But they are beautiful.
.
Chrome has the highest luster, but it also adds significant weight to the wheels. But they are beautiful.
.
Significant weight
No it does not! It is thinner than a layer of good tin foil.
You really can not go wrong either way - I have had both (now have the chrome in the pic below) The factory high polish were SUPER easy to maintain - as are my chromies. BUT the chrome does shine like a mirror and therefore show more stuff and need to be kept cleaner. On the other hand you can simply wipe down the chrome wheels if it is normal road dirt and they look great. If you take care of them and wax them once in a while they will never rust or pit.
One caution - if you are getting aftermarket polished wheels and your car is NOT a garage queen look out - they are usually not coated and are a TRUE pain in the butt (especially in places where they salt the roads)
Last edited by Ragtop_Rob; May 17, 2005 at 06:49 AM.