I've got some high silver polished wheels from an M45 on my brilliant silver G35 Coupe.

I love the way they look now but my understanding is that they will take more work to keep clean. Now my local Discount Tire guy is going to do a fine grade polish on my wheels, to remove tarnish and some scratches, and then apply a silicon sealer/wax/polish which, he says, will allow me to clean the wheels with just a spray of water.

I'm considering chroming these wheels but I have a few things to consider before deciding.
1) Will chrome actually survive the environment better than "waxed" silver polish aluminum alloys?
2) Will chrome also require a wax/polish/sealer?
3) How will chrome look on a KYO Brilliant Silver G35 Coupe?

As to # 3, I've looked at all of the "Rides" on this site but haven't found a KYO with chrome wheels that gives me any real insight into how my wheels will look chromed. (Most chromed wheels have fewer and/or narrower spokes than mine.) I'm afraid that chrome wheels, with the surface area of my M45 wheels, will cause either my Brilliant Silver Coupe or the chromed wheels to "wash out", I.E. clash, rather than enhance each other.

Here is an image of an M45 with chrome wheels. This is what my wheels will look like after being chromed:
M45 w/Chrome wheels

Here are some images of my ride with high polished silver aluminum alloy wheels:
Right Rear QPanel (High angle)
Right Rear QPanel (Low angle)
Right Rear QPanel (Normal angle)
Right Rear QPanel (Normal angle/higher EV)

Since my "PhotoShop" trial has just expired (and I'm just a beginner with this product), I'm asking if someone would please chop the wheels from the M45 into one or more of my G35c images.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Screamin' Daemon - L5AT <P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by suprhulk on 03/17/03 11:50 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

Looking at your car, I think you should stay away from the chrome. The current wheels look plenty bright.

Yes, applying a wheel wax such as Mother's Clearcoat Wheel Polish will help keep brake dust, etc. from building up. BUT, you will need more than just water to clean your wheels no matter if they are clearcoat or chrome. You need to use a quality wheel cleaner like Eagle One A2Z or Mother's Wheel Mist to dislodge the brake dust. Then, clean the wheel with regular car wash soap. I like to use a scotch brite or OCello kitchen sponge (soft side not scrub side). Once your done washing your car, take a terry towel and dry the wheels. This will bring out the shine and keep water spots from clouding them.

On chrome, you will need to periodically use a chrome polish to make them shine thier best.

Personally, I think a quality clearcoated wheel is easier to take care of than chrome.

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

Personally, I think a quality clearcoated wheel is easier to take care of than chrome.

<hr></blockquote> Doubt it. Most wheel makers recommend using only mild soap and water to clean chrome wheels. They don't require polishing if you don't let them stay too dirty too long with brake dust, acid rain, salt, etc.


Ivory Pearl/Premium/Xenon/

 

Maybe, but there sure are a lot of chrome cleaners and polishers out there.

I guess my feelings on that stem from the fact that the clearcoat provides a layer of protection, whereas chrome is just the metal.

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

Maybe, but there sure are a lot of chrome cleaners and polishers out there.

<hr></blockquote>Yeah, well, there's a lot of "electric superchargers" and "hi-flow air inlet tubes" too...

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

I guess my feelings on that stem from the fact that the clearcoat provides a layer of protection, whereas chrome is just the metal.

<hr></blockquote>True, but it's the clearcoat that gets pitted. In my experience, chrome can be more suseptible to scratches, whereas polished wheels are easily damaged by brake dust and other contaminates. Pick your poison, I guess!


Ivory Pearl/Premium/Xenon/

 

I have chrome 20" on my kyo! Yes i use a mothers chrome sealer and polish every 2 times i wash the car! The quality of chrome also has to do with the manufacture of the wheel. I seen cheap chrome wheels go through my powder coating shop a year old flaking and pealing but they paid like $200 a wheel! Mine been good for 3 years with no issues but they where $2500 for the set!