does the chrome not last long on the aftermarket wheels?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 12
From: Leon Iowa
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
does the chrome not last long on the aftermarket wheels?
Just wondering because my chrome Z06 replica wheels are looking like crap already. I bought them from a vendor not quite 3 years ago. The car has only seen rain one time and has never seen snow since I have owned it. I even use polish to protect them but they still are starting to pit some. I kinda wonder if the chrome is just a cheap quality. Anybody else have their wheels do this?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 916
Likes: 2
From: prescott arizona
I personally would NEVER have chrome wheels. Aluminum just doesn't seem to take chrome plating well. I'll take the polished aluminum wheels anytime and spend the required time keeping them looking good. I like keeping my FRC looking its best.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 0
From: Broken Arrow OK
I was considering buying some chrome aluminum wheels for my 1999 but talked to a tire store guy who said "stay away from them". He told me that the chrome under the tire beads would separate and cause never ending air leak problems.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 15
From: Jensen Beach FL
I have had several sets of chrome wheels through out the years and found they do not hold up well. I've had Keystone, Crager and others. I had these when I was in Maryland where they use salt on the roads so I don't know how they would hold up in an area that doesn't use salt. I have never had a problem with OEM wheels except a Seville I had where they were losing the finish and GM replaced all 4 free.
Last edited by craig04c5; Apr 22, 2008 at 07:35 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 12
From: Leon Iowa
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
yea well I would of thought they would of lasted longer since the car is always in the garage and never in rain or snow. I may just look in to a set of polished thinspokes or something like that
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,995
Likes: 61
From: Fort Wayne IN
My '99 had the 5 spoke alloy wheels that had been chromed when I bought it. The outside is holding up well but the barrels are flaking badly. In fact the chome on the rear barrels is gone so I painted them sort of a gunmetal grey... Looks good.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,394
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From: Leon Iowa
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
yea I know what ya mean. The chrome fell off on the inside the first year I had the wheels.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,608
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From: the GOCC are everywhere, even back from "band camp"
Just wondering because my chrome Z06 replica wheels are looking like crap already. I bought them from a vendor not quite 3 years ago. The car has only seen rain one time and has never seen snow since I have owned it. I even use polish to protect them but they still are starting to pit some. I kinda wonder if the chrome is just a cheap quality. Anybody else have their wheels do this?
Bruce
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I had a set of chrome Z06 wheels that I bought from Xtreme Motorsports - had them on the car for 3.5 years and then sold them. No flaking of the chrome at all - mine was garaged all the time and cleaned/waxed regularly. Less than 3 years is way too soon for the chrome to be coming off - most wheels have a 3 year warranty on the chrome so you might want to speak with the vendor.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
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From: Leon Iowa
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,640
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From: . New York
My car had aftermarket chromed thinspokes on it when I bought it, I didnt know enough to adjust the price I paid when I bought the car. No idea how old they are but the barrels are all peeling 
Problem is, the outsides look so damn good in chrome that I'm probably gonna do something stupid like replace them with factory oem thinspokes that have been chromed.
What can I tell ya, I just love the chrome on a black car.
Problem is, the outsides look so damn good in chrome that I'm probably gonna do something stupid like replace them with factory oem thinspokes that have been chromed.
What can I tell ya, I just love the chrome on a black car.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
My son fitted chrome wheels to our VW Golf. Great looking wheels but it sits outside and they started peeling after less than 2 years and now look really bad. It would cost more to rechrome them than they cost originally. I'd steer clear in future.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,608
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From: Aliso Viejo So. Cal.
One huge killer of chrome is brake dust. Especially if it's not wiped off on a regular bases. In fact, I wipe my rims down almost daily. Brake dust also tends to actually embed itself into the chrome. If it's left on the rim for a length of time the chrome will get pitted and will be beyond any type of cleaning. Bottom line, keep em clean as best you can.