What You Need To Know To Decide On A Wheel Finish

Chrome Wheels

By far the most popular wheel finish but they come at a price both to buy and to maintain. But they look spectacular.

Chrome plating can be done on both steel and aluminum wheels. Chrome plating creates an exceptionally high luster finish with great durability.

Chrome plating aluminum is much more involved than most people realize. What you see when you look at a chrome wheel is actually the chrome being similar to a clear coat.

Chrome plating is easy to clean with non-abrasive cleaners. The finish will last for many years if properly maintained.

Painted Wheels

Paint can be a variety of colors, from white to black. However, the most common color for custom wheels is silver.

Paint, when applied through a powder coating process, is a very durable finish. Paint becomes even more effective when it has a clear coat over it.

A painted and clear-coated aluminum wheel is the most corrosion resistant wheel available. Paint has very few downsides and is relatively inexpensive. It can chip and scratch but is very resistant to this.

Paint with a clear coat is very easy to clean with most acid free cleaner or ordinary detergents and water. This finish requires no special maintenance. Use caution when purchasing a painted wheel without a clear coat.

Chrome Plated

Chrome plating can be done on both steel and aluminum wheels. Chrome plating creates an exceptionally high luster finish with great durability.

Chrome plating aluminum is much more involved than most people realize. What you see when you look at a chrome wheel is actually the chrome being similar to a clear coat.

Chrome plating is easy to clean with non-abrasive cleaners. The finish will last for many years if properly maintained.

Machined Finish

This is basically a wheel with no finish. A wheel may also be painted and machined. A painted and machined wheel starts as a painted wheel and then has a section of the paint machined off.

What you see in the machined portion is the actual material that the wheel is made from. It is applicable only to alloy wheels and if covered with a clear coat finish has the same characteristics as a painted finish. A machined wheel without a clear finish requires regular maintenance and may discolor with age.

Polished Aluminum Wheels

A polished wheel is the raw material that has been buffed or polished to a shiny finish. In this cases the raw material is aluminum.

No paint or coatings are applied to the wheel. Polished wheels have a appearance similar to chrome but must be re-polished regularly to maintain the luster. Make sure you understand the maintenance requirements of a polished wheel if you choose this finish. We recommend 2EZ Polish.