2k wheels: polished vs. chrome
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 330
Likes: 33
From: Milwaukee WI
2k wheels: polished vs. chrome
I currently have chrome 2k wheels, and the last owner didn't take very good care of them and they look like crap on the inside. I am probably going to get new wheels the next time I need tires.
I'd be happy with chrome or polished. Question to the forum: which is easier to maintain? Do the polished have a clear coat? If so will it peel easily? Which wheel is tougher?
I'd be happy with chrome or polished. Question to the forum: which is easier to maintain? Do the polished have a clear coat? If so will it peel easily? Which wheel is tougher?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 2
From: Holland Landing Ontario
Great question.
I have the same wheels, but mine are mint. I don't think there is clear coat on them, but I may be wrong. If they don't, you could try to repair the ones you have by removing one and doing a serious polish job on the inside. I can't recommend a procedure, but I'm sure someone will chime in.
My 2nd vehicle has chrome rims. I find them to be more work than the thin spokes. Water marks, road grime and brake dust seem to stick to them more and they are much harder to clean.
Dave
I have the same wheels, but mine are mint. I don't think there is clear coat on them, but I may be wrong. If they don't, you could try to repair the ones you have by removing one and doing a serious polish job on the inside. I can't recommend a procedure, but I'm sure someone will chime in.
My 2nd vehicle has chrome rims. I find them to be more work than the thin spokes. Water marks, road grime and brake dust seem to stick to them more and they are much harder to clean.
Dave
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If you get the factory polished wheels, then yes, they have clearcoat on them. Other polished wheels may or may not have clearcoat - CCWs do not. Both type of wheels are easy to maintain - a good coat of wax and frequent washing does the trick. Chrome will tend to peel after a while but if you take good care of them, they will last a long time. Clearcoated polished wheels will eventually start to peel or get cloudy. Again, if you take care of them, they will last a long time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
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From: North Port Fl
Chrome wheels are less maintenance, and easier to clean. But polished wheels with a clear coat can be fairly easy to take care of as long as there is regular cleaning and polishing with some kind of protectant (this is not absolutely necessary but will help in the long run). But once chrome wheels start to rust, there is not much you can do about it, other than getting them rechromed. (You can remove the rust and put some kind of clear coat on the rusted area to keep it from spreading but, you will eventually have to get them rechromed). If your polished wheels start to look bad and cleaning them doesn't help. You can always remove the clear coat (with a clear coat remover, or just with sandpaper) sand the wheels continually going to a finer grit paper or emery cloth. Then polish the wheels. You can then recoat with a clear coat made for wheels or leave it uncoated. But if you leave it uncoated they will turn dull very easy and continually need to be polished.
