Cal Club Autocross Forums

Is it expensive to have wheels chromed? Downside to having wheels chromed? How much weight DOES it Add?

Of course there are the fairly inexpensive eBay chrome knockoffs.

The Vette needs some street tire bling ...

Chrome hides cracks. Polish the rims, won't add weight and don't have to worry about the chrome peeling later.

Glenn Duensing wrote:Chrome hides cracks. Polish the rims, won't add weight and don't have to worry about the chrome peeling later.

http://www.performanceplustire.com/polishingServices

Mako Koiwai wrote:Is it expensive to have wheels chromed? Downside to having wheels chromed? How much weight DOES it Add?

Of course there are the fairly inexpensive eBay chrome knockoffs.

The Vette needs some street tire bling ...

I would guess 1/2lb. If you autox on them the chrome may crack and flake off. Most places do it as an exchange, $400-$600 a set - for the same price you can get your wheels done, but you have to wait for them.

At that price it is crazy to not buy a set of knockoffs. Tire Rack has C6 (Sport Edition knockoffs) chrome wheels for just over $700.

FYI, to get a set polished cost about the same as chrome, but it makes the wheel lighter (no paint).

I've had back luck with having a wheel chromed - cracking and flaking. Polishing is way better.

Tom Tanquary wrote:I've had back luck with having a wheel chromed - cracking and flaking. Polishing is way better.

X2

I have seen chromed wheels crack. It is a bad idea!

Having done plating for quite a long time, I'd suggest that it's almost always a bad idea to put anything on aluminum unless you REALLY need it there. Especially so with cast or forged pieces.

Besides, the first thing they'd do is polish up the wheels anyway. Chrome looks like crap on anything less than a perfect mirror finish and nickel underplate can only hide so much - regardless of how much levelling agent is added to the bath.

There are some places in LA/OC that will polish the wheels for ~100 each. It's NASTY work.

Once you have polished wheels, it's usually easier to keep them shiny with that stuff in the blue can - nevr dull? I can't remember the exact name right now. You can put clearcoat on them, but it doesn't stick well to polish and eventually starts to flake off.

Now we just need to find some wheels that Karen likes, to buy and have polished. So far the only ones she's found that she likes are called CCW. They DO come polished, they're just a bit expensive ... for the street tires. :heyes:

I have always liked the 2004 Commemorative Edition Z06's polished wheels:

I would love to have a set of polished ZR1 wheels on my car, but they only come painted or chromed...