polished vs chromed
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 58,522
Likes: 70
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
polished vs chromed
I posted this in the proper section (General Corvette---Wheels & Tires) and the thread has been read 3 times in 5 hours... so I am posting it here. 
I know this has been discussed before, but I couldnt find anything when I searched...
what are the advantages/disadvantages of chrome & polished wheels? I am on the fence about which I want to go with now.
thanks
I know this has been discussed before, but I couldnt find anything when I searched...
what are the advantages/disadvantages of chrome & polished wheels? I am on the fence about which I want to go with now.
thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 8
From: spring Grove illinois
Chrome wheels have a very nice deep shine,nicer than polished wheels! Disadvantage is they will pit from salt and over time are subject to peeling, Also some aftermarket wheels have been shown to be difficult to balance and heavier than oem wheels. Polished wheels are nice but do not have the deep shine of chrome, the polished wheels have a clear protective coating that can be worn off or scratched over time, when the coating is gone the wheels are also then open to pitting. Polished wheels are able to be refinished and brought back to like new. Hope this helps 
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,402
Likes: 288
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
Typically the polished wheels are aluminum and could be lighter in weight, more so verses steel. Aluminum wheels can be chromed, but I am not sure how much the plating adds to the weight.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
I LOVE my POLISHED wheels and when I had the perfect opportunity to exchange them for chrome, I didn't because I am ok with the high-maintenance in cleaning them, than the disadvantages you are faced with when it comes to the CHROME. Trust me, they are highly likely to PIT and peel with time and that is a ugly look.
Micah
Micah
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 925
Likes: 200
From: TX
Maybe this will help.
Polished aluminum sort of has an inner glow. Check out the most expensive custom bike parts really meant to win shows. To me it has a warmth whereas chrome looks, well, clinical.
Its not hard to keep looking fairly good and you can always bring it back to perfect, assuming no clearcoat.
My aluminum (uncoated) wheels on my zx (for 25 years) CAN look like they did in 1979. Did it a couple of years ago. It took about 5 or 6 hours of hard work.
Take a look at a stock harley. For example, the chrome headlamp next to the polished aluminum clutch or brake levers. That should help you make your decision.
(My wheels are the factory silver paint on msg coupe and i would not have it any other way. )
g
Polished aluminum sort of has an inner glow. Check out the most expensive custom bike parts really meant to win shows. To me it has a warmth whereas chrome looks, well, clinical.
Its not hard to keep looking fairly good and you can always bring it back to perfect, assuming no clearcoat.
My aluminum (uncoated) wheels on my zx (for 25 years) CAN look like they did in 1979. Did it a couple of years ago. It took about 5 or 6 hours of hard work.
Take a look at a stock harley. For example, the chrome headlamp next to the polished aluminum clutch or brake levers. That should help you make your decision.
(My wheels are the factory silver paint on msg coupe and i would not have it any other way.
)g
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
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
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,338
Likes: 24,779
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Chrome wheels will have an awesome shine, but eventually the chrome will peel. Polished, unless they are clearcoated, require a lot of maintenance. Just depends on how much work you want to put into them. I have had my chrome wheels for a little over two years now and they still look like new.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,434
Likes: 1
From: Austin TX
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
I love my chrome wheels. They have a much better shine than the OEM high polished wheels. My wheels don't see any road salt, though. I wouldn't recommend them if you are up north.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Lilburn Georgia
Originally Posted by FDA
I love the classy look of chrome or silver shiny wheels on the dark colored vettes...keep 'em washed and waxed, they'll keep that new look for a long time...
Just my two cents worth,
FDA
Just my two cents worth,
FDA
FDA