NEW set of Chrome Wheels: I want to protect them from day one, but how?

[Bis]

Hello folks. I am just starting to learn about some of the maintenance involved with Chrome wheels. I am a total newb at detailing and never had aftermarket chrome wheels before.



I don't know what products to use and the proper technique I should be using to "christen" these brand new wheels and give them a solid start.

I have been using the usual Pep-Boys off-the-shelf products for all of my automotive detailing needs. :nervous:

I figured I won't be having the wheels off the vehicle a whole lot, so I want to fully treat them while I have them off and have the time to pamper them when they arrive (wax, sealant, force fields, anything!).



I have read good and bad stories about Chrome wheels and how difficult they can be. Other people tend to think that they are not as bad to maintain with regular treatment and that they can be extremely durable if you get a set that has been properly chromed.



Background info:



First of all, here's the wheel style I will be moving to - 20"X8" iroc Replica by American Racing.

Location: Delaware/New Jersey/Pennsylvania/Washington DC are the areas that I travel most often. This is of concern mainly during the winter months when we start to see snow and tons of salt on the roads: December - March.



Application: All season daily driving on a 2001 Chevy Astro minivan. Mostly highway use, but with weekly trips to the beach from May-September (no direct contact with beach sand).

Care Frequency: I wash the car once a week or every two weeks depending on how busy I get, I apply spray wax after each wash and do a full wax every 6 to 8 weeks with standard Turtle Wax green stuff during spring, summer and fall. Due to the cold weather in the winter months I don't do hand washing, I run it through the car wash instead (any advice in this regard is appreciated as well).



The stock chrome wheels that I have in there currently are cleaned with the same car wash mix I use on the paint every time I wash the car. Lug-nut brush, microfiber glove on the chromed areas and then dried with the same microfiber cloth I dry the car with. Then I apply some liquid wax on them after they dry. Unfortunately this wheels were somewhat corroded and pretty scuffed up and swirly when I got the vehicle, so I have not tried to put a lot of love into them. Though I want to change that with my new wheels!



Your help is really appreciated!!!



Thank you!

 

[Bis]

I have been spending a lot of time doing research on this topic. There seems to be 2 different opinions (and this is for used chrome wheels):



1. You can use ph neutral spray cleaners on chrome then polish then wax/coat/protect the wheel and this will yield good protection against contaminants sticking to the wheel.



2. Wash with the same soap you use for the paint of the car and do not use sprays or chemicals. Do no apply wax, protective coatings or shine enhancers, chrome needs to be unsealed in order for it to stay in top shape. Coating with products after its polished keeps it from "breathing" and can cloud-up the finish.



Which one is correct?

 

[imported_animes2k]

Chrome doesn't need to breathe. It's a solid metal, not leather or fabric or fresh paint.



I'm not sure which sealant would be best for chrome, but if you keep them washed regularly, you shouldn't need a dedicated wheel cleaner. I would probably hit them with something like Klasse, Zaino or Optimum All-In-One products when new (clean and protect). Then apply a matched sealant - Klasse SG, Zaino Z2/5, Optimum Opti-Seal.



Reapply as needed. It will help to keep dirt and brake dust from sticking. Regular wax won't hold up well against the heat and brake dust and will often attract more dust.

 

[SpoolinNoMore]

FK1000p is a high temp sealant which is very durable. I'm not sure if that Armor All wheel protectant works on chrome, but thats what I use on my wheels and love it.

 

[Accumulator]

Bis- While I've done OK with both wheel cleaners and shampoo mixes, I'd probably lean towards the latter. Most any sealant or wax oughta work OK but I'd use FK1000P or KSG (and multiple coats of either). I"d keep them fairly clean, not letting the brakedust/etc. remain on them for too awful long (but I wouldn't be Autopian-fanatical about it either).



By the time you notice anything amiss, it's likely that the chromium plating has been compromised, and serious failure is then just a matter of time.



Just don't curb them, or let the chrome get deeply scratched, or let salt linger on them too long in the winter. You'd better figure out a way to clean them properly, by hand with the right stuff, during the winter or they're likely tobe trashed by spring. I myself would get some cheap winter wheels (with snowtires), as I do on everything, even AWD/4WD vehicles. If that sounds too pricey, I wouldn't buy the chrome wheels in question as IMO it'd be a misapplication of funds.



Oh, and you *have* reasearched this upgrade, right? As in, no mechanical/stress downsides to running those wheels on that vehicle? People sometimes stick big wheels/low profile tires on vehicles and then regret it 20K miles later. The offset is correct, right? And the tires you plan to run are correct for that vehicle? And and and..

 

[Ron Ketcham]

Well stated, Accumulator!

People often forget these very important points when it comes to "new" set of wheels.

And as you point out, pay a bigger price later.

Grumpy

 

[Accumulator]

One of those "and"s that I might oughta be explicit about- remember to check whether the lugnuts for those wheels will work on your spare too Running low profile tires on an Astro might lead to using the spare a little more than you would otherwise.



Eh, I'm just a conservative old form-follows-function kind of guy, but I kinda think the Astro would look better with something closer to stock, maybe even the wheels that came on it! With a set of really good (load rated) tires. I'd use the old wheels for winter and put the chrome wheel money into the suspension, a relay conversion for the headlights, and some brake tweaks instead. Nobody'd see where the money went, but I'd really appreciate it from the driver's seat. Gee, I could see using that as a dog-hauler myself!



Sorry, I understand that you didn't ask for the above advice I just get stoked about vehicles I could put to good use and IMO things like minivans get the short shrift among car buffs. Done right, they can make great stealth vehicles; I've *NEVER* received a ticket in a minivan, and heaven knows I did a lot of flying low in my MPV.

 

[Ron Ketcham]

Ultimate "stealth" vehicle.

Back in the mid 90's, some Ford SVO guys got playing with a Windstar van.

They noticed that the V8 and front wheel drive assembly from a Continental would drop right in, perfect fit, very little mods needed.

So they took two of them from Vehicle Ops, did some engine management changes, etc. and did it.

Sat. nights on Warren in Detroit was "wake up" for a lot of other drivers and their cars.

Grumpy

 

[White lexus 23]

the advise i can give you for keeping chrome rims top notch is first get ceramic brake pads, they will not dust as bad and will make it simpler to clean. i always use a seperate bucket with a little more soap than i do for the paint. if you just use soap and water on a regular basis they will stay very clean without harsh cleaners. when my rims on occasion become dirty like when driving in rain i take the whole wheel off and use a cleaner then. it is also important that you keep whatever wash mit or sponge very clean. and also do nother ever spray anything on them when they are hot, always let them cool down first. waxing is good and i would go with what accmulator said on the wax, just make sure they are really clean before you do it otherwise you could swril them.

 

[forrest@mothers]

I would not run aftermarket chrome plated rims in the winter where heavy salt is used.



I'd keep the old rims and swap before the first snowfall.

 

[David Fermani]

Ultimate "stealth" vehicle.

Back in the mid 90's, some Ford SVO guys got playing with a Windstar van.

They noticed that the V8 and front wheel drive assembly from a Continental would drop right in, perfect fit, very little mods needed.

So they took two of them from Vehicle Ops, did some engine management changes, etc. and did it.

Sat. nights on Warren in Detroit was "wake up" for a lot of other drivers and their cars.

Grumpy

Oh no, a SVT Wind*. Buddy actually has a 3800 Supercharged engine in his Montana van. You'd only see this kind of stuff happen in the streets of Detroit. I lived in Dearborn right near their Oakwood facility and used to see all kinds of wierd stuff going on. Telegraph Rd was like the Woodward Cruise back in the 80's/90's. Also grew up hanging out @ my buddies place in Brighton within walking distance to GM's test track straight away and used to sit on the hill and watch all kinds of cool ars get tested.

 

[Bis]

Chrome doesn't need to breathe. It's a solid metal, not leather or fabric or fresh paint.



I'm not sure which sealant would be best for chrome, but if you keep them washed regularly, you shouldn't need a dedicated wheel cleaner. I would probably hit them with something like Klasse, Zaino or Optimum All-In-One products when new (clean and protect). Then apply a matched sealant - Klasse SG, Zaino Z2/5, Optimum Opti-Seal.



Reapply as needed. It will help to keep dirt and brake dust from sticking. Regular wax won't hold up well against the heat and brake dust and will often attract more dust.

Thanks anime. I find the whole "breathing" thing a bit illogical as well, but I figured I'd ask since I saw it as a topic of heated debate around the web.

I am definitely going to clean the wheels on a weekly basis, 2 weeks at the most.



Klasse seems to be very friendly on just about any surface, (even glass???) so I might give it a try. I need to get something better for my paint anyway, so I rather have one product that can do almost everything (wheels and paint in this case).



Zaino and Klasse (both the AIO products and the sealants) keep coming up in every thread I see. I just don't know which brand is better?

Is one better in one regard more than the other?



There are so many factors to take into account that I think I can drive myself crazy:



• Cost?

• How many applications can be done with each?

• Ease of Application?

• What surfaces can it be used on?

• How effective is the product is at doing its job (polishing and hidding scratches, adding luster and bringing out color, etc)?

• How long are the long-term results for each?

• What needs to be done to keep the initial application look between washes?



These are some of the factors that come into my mind when trying to make the decision. But then again I like to over-think things a bit too much.



Thank you for your feedback!

 

[Bis]

FK1000p is a high temp sealant which is very durable. I'm not sure if that Armor All wheel protectant works on chrome, but thats what I use on my wheels and love it.

Oh I like this. High temperature stuff would be great on the wheels. You said its a sealant but I read it is a wax. So that means that you can put sealant on top??? or would that hurt its thermal capability and shine?



And I did see the ArmorAll stuff too, pretty amazing!



Do you use the ArmorAll stuff on chrome? I hear its kinda milky and needs to be wiped? Does that affect the protection it offers?

 

[Bis]

Bis- While I've done OK with both wheel cleaners and shampoo mixes, I'd probably lean towards the latter. Most any sealant or wax oughta work OK but I'd use FK1000P or KSG (and multiple coats of either). I"d keep them fairly clean, not letting the brakedust/etc. remain on them for too awful long (but I wouldn't be Autopian-fanatical about it either).

I plan on keeping them clean, for sure. FK1000P with KSG on top: is that a no-no? Do they play well one on top of the other?

If I want to add more coats. I have heard you have to wait 24 hours between coats?

Just don't curb them, or let the chrome get deeply scratched, or let salt linger on them too long in the winter. You'd better figure out a way to clean them properly, by hand with the right stuff, during the winter or they're likely tobe trashed by spring. I myself would get some cheap winter wheels (with snowtires), as I do on everything, even AWD/4WD vehicles. If that sounds too pricey, I wouldn't buy the chrome wheels in question as IMO it'd be a misapplication of funds.

I have never had low profile tires and this big a wheel on any vehicle so I am going to be driving it very carefully to avoid curbs, pot holes, etc.

The whole "Chrome during winter" concept really does worry me. And I may have to go for the snow tires on those stock wheels pictured above if my budget in the fall is still good.



*Some* folks say there are products that will protect a chrome wheel through the winter (I guess for those that are stuck with ONE set of wheels). And some of the scary stories that I find online (about chrome wheels during winter) seems like the damage to the wheels came from carelessness (drivers that did not care for the wheels properly during the winter).



'In the worst of the cases I would want to come up with a care strategy to protect the wheels if I keep them on the car during the winter as a "plan b". Plan A would be to store them in sealed bags in the basement and put the snows to work for me.

Oh, and you *have* reasearched this upgrade, right? As in, no mechanical/stress downsides to running those wheels on that vehicle? People sometimes stick big wheels/low profile tires on vehicles and then regret it 20K miles later. The offset is correct, right? And the tires you plan to run are correct for that vehicle? And and and..

Thank you for bringing this up. Yes, I have looked into it. Drivers that use 18" and 20" wheels on their Astro/Safari vans aren't suggesting any negative effects due to this wheel/tire combo. I was worried about the extra weight of the 20" wheels, and the potential diameter increase, but I did my research and picked a combo that will be exactly the same as what I have right now on my van: 28" Diameter. So my gearing/speedometer should not see added stress or major differences. The weight is still a concern though (about 10 extra pounds per wheel aprox.). The tires are a lot wider too from 225mm profile wheel I am going to 255mm (Close to 1.5" difference), I am hoping the suspension won't be affected tremendously by all these changes.



Since my application for this vehicle involves some heavy loads at times, I expect that my results will be different from the majority of the crowd in the Astro/Safari forum because they only use their vans for show or as DD with a small load in the back. I carry heavy stuff with mine. My tires were carefully chosen, I hope they are up to the task!



It will be a matter of time before I can tell whether this was a smart choice or a really dumb one.



Here's the long story if anybody here cares to see it: Stock ---> Iroc 20" Wheels | My experience 2001 Astro Photos

 

[Bis]

One of those "and"s that I might oughta be explicit about- remember to check whether the lugnuts for those wheels will work on your spare too Running low profile tires on an Astro might lead to using the spare a little more than you would otherwise.

Good thing you mentioned that. I may have to throw a set of stock lugs in the glove compartment in case I ever use that rusted out piece of junk. hehe.

Every time I have had a problem I have had to call the tow truck. Thankfully flats have never been a problem for me. But like you mentioned, that may be about to change.... :nervous:

Eh, I'm just a conservative old form-follows-function kind of guy, but I kinda think the Astro would look better with something closer to stock, maybe even the wheels that came on it! With a set of really good (load rated) tires. I'd use the old wheels for winter and put the chrome wheel money into the suspension, a relay conversion for the headlights, and some brake tweaks instead. Nobody'd see where the money went, but I'd really appreciate it from the driver's seat. Gee, I could see using that as a dog-hauler myself!



Sorry, I understand that you didn't ask for the above advice I just get stoked about vehicles I could put to good use and IMO things like minivans get the short shrift among car buffs. Done right, they can make great stealth vehicles; I've *NEVER* received a ticket in a minivan, and heaven knows I did a lot of flying low in my MPV.

These Astros and the (Ford Aerostar also) are amazing little vans. I really love them. Rear wheel drive makes all the difference in cargo capacity and interior space. I recommend them. Though as I learned recently, the GM brands are much more widely supported by the aftermarket industry (even after the Astro was discountinued in 2005) than the Ford Aerostar.



I have gotten plenty of speeding tickets in my minivan, lol, but they are a bit more stealthy...

 

[Bis]

the advise i can give you for keeping chrome rims top notch is first get ceramic brake pads, they will not dust as bad and will make it simpler to clean. i always use a seperate bucket with a little more soap than i do for the paint. if you just use soap and water on a regular basis they will stay very clean without harsh cleaners. when my rims on occasion become dirty like when driving in rain i take the whole wheel off and use a cleaner then. it is also important that you keep whatever wash mit or sponge very clean. and also do nother ever spray anything on them when they are hot, always let them cool down first. waxing is good and i would go with what accmulator said on the wax, just make sure they are really clean before you do it otherwise you could swril them.

Great advice. Also,about the pads: What are the differences in performance/durability with ceramic pads? Do they eat up the rotor quicker? Are they noisy?

Any other characteristics I should be aware of?

 

[imported_animes2k]

• Cost?



$26 for ZAIO 16oz

$15 for KAIO (10oz)

$22 for Prime Acrylic 16oz



These are all very similar products. The Werkstatt is a pumped up, more modern version of Klasse. The one I recommended there (Acrylic) has more protectant qualities than the original.



• How many applications can be done with each?



If you're only using this on your car and wheels (i.e. not detailing for others) any of these should last years.



• Ease of Application?

If you're just looking to go for protection (not cleaning and polishing) it's really quick easy. Rub in, allow to haze, buff off. If you want to remove scratches and clean the surface, it will take more effort.



• What surfaces can it be used on?

Glass, hard and soft plastic trim, paint, uncoated metals, chrome, you name it. Since they've all got chemical cleaning properties, they're good at removing oxidization, cleaning metal (your applicator will turn black like using a metal polish), removing contaminants, bugs and tar, etc.



• How effective is the product is at doing its job (polishing and hidding scratches, adding luster and bringing out color, etc)?

The AIOs will slightly darken the paint, in my experience. They are very light polishes, but work well on moderately hard paint with a polishing pad to remove wash marring. I wouldn't use it for more than that.





• How long are the long-term results for each?

None is a long-term protectant on its own. Each is a good base for a sealant or wax.





• What needs to be done to keep the initial application look between washes?

On chrome, I'd be hesitant to induce more marring, so I'd opt to wash the wheels with ONR in between full washes.

 

[Bis]

• Cost?



$26 for ZAIO 16oz

$15 for KAIO (10oz)

$22 for Prime Acrylic 16oz



These are all very similar products. The Werkstatt is a pumped up, more modern version of Klasse. The one I recommended there (Acrylic) has more protectant qualities than the original.



• How many applications can be done with each?



If you're only using this on your car and wheels (i.e. not detailing for others) any of these should last years.



• Ease of Application?

If you're just looking to go for protection (not cleaning and polishing) it's really quick easy. Rub in, allow to haze, buff off. If you want to remove scratches and clean the surface, it will take more effort.



• What surfaces can it be used on?

Glass, hard and soft plastic trim, paint, uncoated metals, chrome, you name it. Since they've all got chemical cleaning properties, they're good at removing oxidization, cleaning metal (your applicator will turn black like using a metal polish), removing contaminants, bugs and tar, etc.



• How effective is the product is at doing its job (polishing and hidding scratches, adding luster and bringing out color, etc)?

The AIOs will slightly darken the paint, in my experience. They are very light polishes, but work well on moderately hard paint with a polishing pad to remove wash marring. I wouldn't use it for more than that.





• How long are the long-term results for each?

None is a long-term protectant on its own. Each is a good base for a sealant or wax.





• What needs to be done to keep the initial application look between washes?

On chrome, I'd be hesitant to induce more marring, so I'd opt to wash the wheels with ONR in between full washes.

Thanks for the detailed overview.

Gonna check out all those products in detail now.



Here I found this product Poorboys Wheel Sealant which I was told could help if using the chrome wheels during the winter.



Again, while I understand its a bad idea, what are the chances that a few coatings of this (or any other product for that matter) will actually shield the wheels from the winter salt, sand and chemicals on the road?

 

[imported_animes2k]

I'd say it will help, but I wouldn't trust it against winter conditions in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic.

 

[Bis]

Good enough man. This has really helped me. Thanks to everybody involved.