Chrome or polished Hoops?

[bigtyme1]

What do you think is better and why, My first pick would be chrome but I was told they can pit and scratch and are harder to repair. The polished looks good but not as much of a luster. What do you think please.

[awr68]

I'm on the fence really! Chrome in my mind is easier to maintain...but there can be issues when chroming aluminum. I have seen a lot of chromed aluminum wheels go bad in about a years time....but that was on daily drivers....one of these sets are on my truck and they aren't cheep wheels.
I think I would go polished.

[monza]

I liked polished easy to maintain, trying chrome with a clear coat to see how that works.

[buickfunnycar.com]

polished then cleared...problem solved.:thumbsup:

[monza]

polished then cleared...problem solved.:thumbsup:

Yea thats what I meant to have said.. polished clear coat.

[67ragtp]

I dont find it easy to keep my polished alluminum Budniks clean and looking like the day they came out of the box. I routinely clean them with a foam window cleaner, after I come in from a cruze to get the road/brake dust off them. They oxidize and start to dull, then out comes the products for polishing which I have probably experimented with 10 different ones on the market. For me its a couple hours working on all four wheels buffing them by hand doing the inner hoop as well. Many of the alluminum polishes on the market are very abrasive as well and end up leaving behind minor polishing scratches. I like the idea of clear coating them, I only wish Budnik offered it when I bought them. I spoke with Alan Budnik at SEMA about this issue and he just didnt trust the adhession qualities of the coatings and very concerned about yellowing. Ive never actually seen a clear powder coated high polished alum. wheel, dont know how much luster you give up in the process, would like to hear from you guys on who you trust to do it.

So now my logic switched over to a forgeline aluminum hoop that is chrome plated. Im hoping the maintance is significantly less. Chrome does not oxidize like alluminum, it should be that simple. Chrome is also a much harder surface.
Theres a few cents- Rich :thumbsup:

[98ssnova]

I currently have polished wheels and have had them for awhile now. It is to mee alot to maintain crome is just earier to to keep like new.:thumbsup:

[ProdigyCustoms]

Chrome, Chrome, Chrome. If your going to have a high luster finshed like polished aluminum, Chrome is 10 times easier to maintain. Cost about $400 more on a set of wheels, but it lets you have your Saturdays for other things besides polishing.

If you powder coat the centers and inners and chrome the lips, all you need is a water hose and a rag for perfect wheels all the time.

[elitecustombody]

if the chrome is done right,it will last for very long time,you can also polish and have the anodized,it's alot better than clearcoat

[Vegas69]

Personally I'm just not that into Chrome anymore. That was 90's man.:D

[skatinjay27]

Personally I'm just not that into Chrome anymore. That was 90's man.:Dits the same look as polished aluminum.... just easier to keep blinging...
yes it can pit, but on these car that are cleaned regularly and dont get driven in harsh weather they will be fine, they just cost more than polished all. thats why most people dont get them.
if chrome is dated then so is polished.

[Vegas69]

We are going to have to butt heads here...chrome and polished are not the same. The brightness is completely different. I do prefer polished and brushed finishes now but chrome is still alright with me. If you want to see the difference come over and look at my bike. It's got some chrome and a lot of polished. They contrast eachother.

[skatinjay27]

We are going to have to butt heads here...chrome and polished are not the same. The brightness is completely different. I do prefer polished and brushed finishes now but chrome is still alright with me. If you want to see the difference come over and look at my bike. It's got some chrome and a lot of polished. They contrast eachother.i guess we will...lol
that just means your stuffs not polished to its full potential thats all.

[buickfunnycar.com]

Personally I'm just not that into Chrome anymore. That was 90's man.:D

Agreed...polished has a certain richness to it that chrome can't hold a candle to.:yes:

[Vegas69]

i guess we will...lol
that just means your stuffs not polished to its full potential thats all.

That's for sure! I have been neglecting that poor bike. It's getting some love tomorrow. They do have a different tint seriously. They pretty much suck side by side.

[thedude327]

Here's some food for thought. The Hubble space telescope uses a thin film of polished Aluminum on it's mirror. In other words, they didn't chrome it...........

Paul

[Steve1968LS2]

Chrome is easier to take care of, but I feel polished looks better.

To me chrome is very "harsh" while polish has a softer tone that just seems to be visually appealing.

The other option is to polish and then clear powder. Best of both worlds. :)

[HRBS]

Chrome is like glass. Its a hard surfaced COATING that scratches easily (a simple wipe with a rag even micro will leave scratches that can not be seen with the naked eye). And once scratched, its permanent (like glass) !
Then elements, and debris (such as brake dust etc) get into the scratches and then the trouble starts.
Alum. is a soft and porous MATERIAL not a coating. Alum wheels can be sanded and polished to a high luster time and time again.
They will NEVER be as lustful and elegant as chrome AND they are harder and dirtier to maintain, but you'll never have to replace a wheel due to lack of maintance.
Decisions... decisions :willy:

[ItDoRun]

Polished...all day long!

[comp-spec]

Chrome hoop with a dark green satin center

[COYBILT]

I would Go chrome if you want easy maintenance. But polishe aluminum is nice too. Heres a question you have to ask your self, A:Is all my trim to mirror show quality shine? B: Do I have rocker moldings that are polished to a mirror like shine, C: does the Chrome on the wheel look brilliant(Gody) as hell or is it a good match to the trim on the vehicle?
what I am getting at is, I have seen to many vehicles that haven't had the stainless trim professionally polished and or its not polished to a show luster and the wheels start to take away from the car. My GTO used to look that way when I had a Set of COYs on it.

Now,for polishing aluminum I would recommend "Meguiar's NXT all metal polysh" and viva paper towels. I have found its the best thing Ive ever used in my life. I may be young but, I've probably done more metal polishing and buffing then a lot of the older members on here would dream of. I Used to sand aluminum motorcycle frames and polish them for awhile. WAYYYYYY TOOOO MUCH WORK.

I hope this gives you a good idea of what to look at bigtyme1 and the rest of the members on lateral-G.

Now I am into brushed aluminum (HMMMM I wonder why)
Thats a another conversation, as I feel I damn near high jacked this thread.

[XcYZ]

Personally, I'd never use chrome. But that's just me. :thumbsup:

[Payton King]

on a trailer hitch once....an old girl friend took care of that.

[DOOM]

Personally I'm just not that into Chrome anymore. That was 90's man.:D

Hey Todd whats wrong with the 90's man:cool: :lol:

[DriverzInc]

The thing about chrome is its a nightmare if you ever have to have it stripped and re-done. With the polished hoops, you can always send them back in for a re-polish, say you curb one. On a three piece wheel, you can have the entire outer rim shell replaced, so not a bad idea to go chrome here if repairs are a concern. Honestly, I could go with either one. For me it depends on the car, and the build, and look of the car. Some cars would look better with a 3pc wheel with a chrome outer, some cars look better with an all polished wheel.

If it is a matter of cleaning.... Well, chrome would clean more easily with soap and water, and/or glass cleaner and a micro fiber cloth. However, if we are talking about a show car, that doesn't see a ton of road time, well then, polished reflects light and can be much *brighter* opposed to the mirror effect you get from chrome.

So I hope I've confused you even more. I guess long story short is there are pros and cons to both, and it really depends on the application.

[DOOM]

Try polishing these mofos:faint: It takes a good 6 hours in the summer . We use this for our snowmobiles in the winter my nephew spends about a good 8 hour day when we get back with all the salt spray on them !!!:faint: We did clear coat them awile back did'nt hold . NO MORE POLISHED ALUMINUM!!!!! I would go chrome or brushed.....:cheers:

[buickfunnycar.com]

on a trailer hitch once....an old girl friend took care of that.

LMFAO...:rofl:

[DriverzInc]

Try polishing these mofos:faint: It takes a good 6 hours in the summer . We use this for our snowmobiles in the winter my nephew spends about a good 8 hour day when we get back with all the salt spray on them !!!:faint: We did clear coat them awile back did'nt hold . NO MORE POLISHED ALUMINUM!!!!! I would go chrome or brushed.....:cheers:

This is a perfect example of what I was saying. It depends on application. For a lifted truck,that sees snow, and a ton of drivetime, I think I'd even go with a fully powder coated wheel, and stay away from chrome or polished. But for a hot rod that only gets driven on the weekend, and to car shows......... remember guys, its all relative to what the wheels are going on, and what they are going to be used for....

[66LS7]

I'm going to try chrome on the 70 Camaro project. I have a set of Forgelines being made with chrome outer hoops , powder coated center, & inner hoop. I'm looking for more driving time than polishing.:D

[Payton King]

someone got the joke

[JRouche]

I am a fan of polished. Chrome is just to much like a mirror, no depth. And its a 60s and 70s look. You know, the disco era, if you like disco you may like chrome LOL Just kidding. Chrome does have its places.

And for a polished wheel, billet polishes up oh so nice. Cast wheels will look good for a fraction of the time. The billet wheel is less porous. Cast wheels do have some porosity and thats where the oxidation will take hold.

I just did a Zoopseal treatment of my new wheels. Im curious to see how that holds up. Havent read any negative comments with the stuff yet, besides price. Time will tell. JR

[Vegas69]

I am a fan of polished. Chrome is just to much like a mirror, no depth. And its a 60s and 70s look. You know, the disco era, if you like disco you may like chrome LOL Just kidding. Chrome does have its places.

And for a polished wheel, billet polishes up oh so nice. Cast wheels will look good for a fraction of the time. The billet wheel is less porous. Cast wheels do have some porosity and thats where the oxidation will take hold.

I just did a Zoopseal treatment of my new wheels. Im curious to see how that holds up. Havent read any negative comments with the stuff yet, besides price. Time will tell. JR

This guy has good taste....I said 90's but 70's is more like it AJ!

[skatinjay27]

This guy has good taste....I said 90's but 70's is more like it AJ!
polished was used more than chrome back then...
any ways i didnt say i dont like polished looks just dont care for the polishing time!

[Vegas69]

So your lazy..that's what your saying?:cheers:

[skatinjay27]

So your lazy..that's what your saying?:cheers:hey why dont you go play with your car in the garage and leave me alone!!!!

o yea! nevermind:D :lol:

no but really its just im crazy anal about the bling luster to the point of like 2 inchs away! lol
and it take alot of work/time to polish those out.

[Vegas69]

OUCH:fire: I miss my car man. Got a tissue?:rofl:

[mazspeed]

Clear powercoated brushed.