Looking for some new wheels and not sure about what kind of finish to get. Heard some complain about chrome flaking and peeling after a year , I like chrome but want them to last for a while .

 

Polished are much harder to maintain then chrome. Most quality chrome wheels come with a 3 year or better warranty-if they don't-stay away from them.

 

I have both and chrome is much easier to keep clean and maintian...polsihed requires alot of time to clean and polish...quality chrome will not flake unless it gets chipped some how, yes it can happen but if it does and you catch it you can fix it before it gets to peeling... you cant go wrong with chrome!!

 

Chrome looks better for sure but there has been alot of complaints about the peeling issue. If your into keeping your eye on them that's what I'd get for sure.

 

Chromes are by far the sharpest wheel--treat em like the rest of the car--polished are nicew- but really they are a dull chrome wheel and alot of work--Maintance is the key to the whole car--took me a year to decide--went with chromes on a red Z and never looked back--enjoy-

 

Polished wheels are better suited for a car that is used mainly in fair weather. In that case (like mine), the upkeep is tolerable. Polished wheels can be repaired if scuffed, scratched... even road rash can be repaired. The "organic" shine of polished aluminum is nicer than the harsher shine of chrome.

Now, with all of that being said, wheels with a high quality chrome plating will be easier to care for and look great with just a little TLC. Getting caught in the rain will not creat an 8 hour polishing sentence in your garage.

Choose wisely (and have fun shopping)!

Chuck

 

Chrome!

 

Chrome or go home!!! Just kidding. Its all in your personal preference!! GOOD LUCK!!

 

I like the polished ones myself. They have less "look at me" effect to them. -Not that it is a bad thing but I would prefer polished.

 

Chrome!

 

I prefer the polished look of the metal over the plated chrome look. I'm more of a minimalist when it comes to that. No chrome accents, no chrome underhood, etc... it all depends on the look (and function) you prefer. I have polished CCWs on a daily driver. I have considered having them chromed due to the difficulty of maintaining them, but after thinking about it and seeing a set of chromed CCWs side by side with mine recently, the extra maintenance is worth it for the difference in appearance. There really is a HUGE difference when you see them side by side. Unless you hit a REALLY good combo with your car, even the expensive chrome wheels just look cheap much of the time IMHO.

 

From a similar thread http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2003964

 

Chrome is so much easier to keep clean,and look better to me.

 

I only had chrome wheels on all of my cars until I got a set of polished CCWs. I now prefer the look of high polished aluminum over chrome. They do take more time to clean, but if done regularly it isn't that bad!

 

Polished wheels get the point across without being "in your face". Whenever I see chrome wheels, i always get this image of Hummer's and Escalades.

The reduction in unsprung weight is also a bonus for the polished wheels and as for cleaning, it isn't too bad if they happen to be clear coated like my Z16's.

 

I have owned chrome wheels on my cars for 40 years, started out with Chrome reversed rims in the 60's. then on to custom type chrome wheels.. Some of these wheels look bad after a few years, the chrome was not always that good or the process was not perfect.. As long as the chrome was good they looked good.. I have learned over the years nver to use chrome polish on chrome wheels.. if you like to keep them looking good , chrome polish weekly or every other week will have the chrome starting to look gold in color because you have effectivly rubbed and polished all the chrome off. If you have chrome wheels use windex.. you can do chrome polish once a year or so but dont over do it.
Times have changed,, while chrome wheels look great and are easy to maintain.. every rice burner and bling bling car has chrome wheels , be they 50 dollar a piece 14 inchers from Pepboys to the 24 inchers on your hummer, or escalade.. everyone has chrome.. the other bad thing about chrome is, curb one and you're out 50 dollars or your out 1000 dollars what ever the wheel cost.
Polished sends a different message.. they are classy, if you keep them nice it is note worthy.. its like having a regular car or a corvette, everyone has chrome... like a regular car.. even 100 dollar junk heaps are seen with chrome.. show me a chrome wheel that is 5 years old and has 55,000 miles on it.. it looks old, winter driving and salt will destroy a chrome wheel, with a polished wheel you can polish out anything.
My car is 9 years old and has 70,000 miles on it. I have polished CCW 505's, they are 5 years old, they have 55,000 miles on them, so are the rotors. I even have had curb rash on this photo I am about to show you... This photo was taken 3 weeks ago. The curb rash was polished out by me in less than an hour.

 

here is the other reason for polished

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...+happen+to+you

 

I love my polsihed CCW's would not trade them for chrome if you paid me. They are a good amount of work, but it's like anything else...if you keep up with them, they are not that bad. yea, if you drive for 3
months through rain and dirt and never clean them, then yes, you will have a nice little polishing project on your hands. But given them a little TLC here and there and they are fine.

 

it's really up to you...chrome is very shiney and less work. Polished is very nice...less shiney but requires more time to keep in top shape. How about black?

Good luck!

 

Yep, that's why I have chrome...