Have wheels chromed or not?

[MichaelP]

Just wondering what people's experiences are with getting their clear coat wheels chromed.

My wheels are NOT looking too great so have been thinking of getting them chromed.

California Chrome will do the job for $125 a wheel.

Will they be harder to maintain, easier or about the same?

Thanks.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Too flashy.

 

[Warren S]

Chrome should be just as easy to clean. But I've also seen bad chrome jobs on other cars where either the plating is too thin, bronze showing, or that it didn't stick too good on aluminum resulting in chips. Just something to think about when plating aluminum.

You want flashy? How about 24K gold? Just kidding, don't do this please.

 

[Newport Viper]

Check out powder coating, less cash any color or gloss.......

 

[BigCarrot]

Go for it! Much easier to clean, and they always look great!

 

[Shelby3]

Go for the chrome. I just picked up some chrome HRE's and they are much easier to keep looking good. Polished aluminum is just trying to look like chrome anyway so you might as well get the looks with the ease of care.

 

[MichaelP]

I hate all of you.

I wanted a yes or a no from EVERYONE.

Actually not considering it for the shine factor, just that my wheels look like crap because brake dust was left on them for 2 weeks, and I want them to look better.

 

[MichaelP]

Too flashy.

I didn't realize chrom was shinier/flashier than polished aluminum. Is it? I never really notice those things just know my wheels look bad even by my low standards.

 

[Anthony - 98 GTS]

Get them chromed!! Looks better and easier to maintain.

 

[Warren S]

Chrome it.

 

[99 R/T 10]

Too flashy.

I didn't realize chrom was shinier/flashier than polished aluminum. Is it? I never really notice those things just know my wheels look bad even by my low standards.

Put the two side by side and the chrome looks 100% better, go chrome. I will be chroming a second set in the future and hear California Chrome is the one to go with.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I hate all of you.

I wanted a yes or a no from EVERYONE.

Actually not considering it for the shine factor, just that my wheels look like crap because brake dust was left on them for 2 weeks, and I want them to look better.

Well, I'm the only one that doesn't like chrome so go for it. But it isn't gonna solve your problem.

 

[99 R/T 10]

Oh, sure it will. Don't listen to Chuck, he hardly ever uses his car anyway. J/K, if it is mainly for keeping clean and not have to put real effort into washing them, great. But they won't keep the dust from collecting.

 

[ExecUtron Technologies]

I went back and forth. Decided on polish & Powdercote.

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[MichaelP]

Oh, sure it will. Don't listen to Chuck, he hardly ever uses his car anyway. J/K, if it is mainly for keeping clean and not have to put real effort into washing them, great. But they won't keep the dust from collecting.

Actually the reason is my wheels look horrible.I had driven about 4 hours then had to hop a plan and the brake dust (stock brake pads) sat for 2 weeks. I have never been able to get them clean since then.

I have always washed them every week so it is not about not having to wash them. Just trying to take care of the problem I created.



I have since then changed to EBC greens so of course I have much less brake dust.

 

[MichaelP]

I went back and forth. Decided on polish & Powdercote.

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They look good and the picture probably doesn't do them justice.

What is the reason for the powder coating after the chroming?

 

[prodiver]

I had mine plated over a year ago and have put 25000 miles on the car since. Plating still looks like new. Much easier to maintain and clean.

 

[MichaelP]

I had mine plated over a year ago and have put 25000 miles on the car since. Plating still looks like new. Much easier to maintain and clean.

Prodiver, when you say plated you mean they are now chrome? Where did you have it done?

Thanks

 

[Ulysses]

MichaelP,

ExecUtron has polished aluminum, not chrome. The clear powder coating keeps the aluminum from oxidizing.

 

[Docta Vipa]

I have heard that chromed wheels do not hold up very well to the high heat levels generated on the track, so, assuming this is true, you might want to think about that. Makes me wonder why the SRT-10 comes with chromed wheels, if this is true.

 

[FLX109]

Do it, I did it and think its great, never any problems clean nice and look better, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, go for it

 

[MichaelP]

FLX109 where did you get it done?

 

[FLX109]

Cailfornia Chrome Wheel, Excellent work
[email protected]
661 294-0170
talk to john

 

[MichaelP]

Thanks, seems that is the place to get it done.

 

[Gerald Levin]

FLX, I also have a 96 and I've seen fellow VCA member Ron Fleming's 98 wheels which are the chrome version of my 96 wheels and they look great. What was the appx cost for you to send your wheels to California and have them chromed? Any idea how long the chrome will last before it starts to flake? Thanks

 

[MichaelP]

FLX, I also have a 96 and I've seen fellow VCA member Ron Fleming's 98 wheels which are the chrome version of my 96 wheels and they look great. What was the appx cost for you to send your wheels to California and have them chromed? Any idea how long the chrome will last before it starts to flake? Thanks

Yea yea what he ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ said

 

[prodiver]

I had mine plated over a year ago and have put 25000 miles on the car since. Plating still looks like new. Much easier to maintain and clean.

Prodiver, when you say plated you mean they are now chrome? Where did you have it done?

Thanks

California Chrome did my wheels and I have done some high speed driving, Pony Express 100, and The Silver State Challange and have had no problems with them. I have another set of unchromed wheels that I use for track events but I had a set of 93 Vette wheels done by Calif. Chrome that I did use for track events and I never had any problems with them at all. If you don't use Calif. Chrome make sure that whoever does them knows how to do alloy wheels. The only drawback to chrome is they add a little more weight to the wheel but they are so much easier to clean and look a lot better then stock. I tried polished wheels also and if you have them clearcoated they look good until you get a chip in the clear coat. Then they start to tarnish underneath. I found it was easier to retain the shine without the clear coat. With chrome you don't have to worry about the clear coat.

 

[ExecUtron Technologies]

I went back and forth. Decided on polish & Powdercote.

They look good and the picture probably doesn't do them justice.

What is the reason for the powder coating after the chroming?

They're actually polished, and not chromed. I wanted chrome, but my body guy talked me into polish...

 

[RedSnakeGTS]

i have polished, clear coated HREs and i want chrome! the majority of the chrome places offer a warranty on their work, so why wouldnt it hold up? when i get my car back from heffner's i will chrome my HREs.....

 

[MichaelP]

I saw on the California wheels site they give quantity discounts. Perhaps if we told them there would be X number wheels in a 2 week period they would give us a discount.

What do you think?