So, you've got chrome wheels, d'ya?

[sprtbkbabe]

So, I got schooled on chrome yesterday. Particularly, how chrome wheels in the state that uses mag-chloride for every fooking slight snow shower, are slowly being eroded away.

How did I come to this spectacular conclusion? I came out to a flat tire after work. Got air in it and went to Discount to get a repair. Maybe its a nail or even a screwdriver (I've had that before)? Negative! The chemical has worked its way under the tire and has eaten away enough that the bead isn't sealing.... The salesman says they now discourage customers from chrome wheel purchases.

I would've been stuck with new wheels and an $900 charge to visa... if I didn't call Woody's Wheelworks (an MRA class sponsor) and confirmed this mag shit is eating chrome "everything" on cars. Oh, and Woody's only charges 60/wheel to blast the interior chrome off so the tires will seal. Love that shop!!!

[madvlad]

Chrome in this state is a huge no no, we have about 5-10 cars weekly here with that problem.

[sprtbkbabe]

Chrome in this state is a huge no no, we have about 5-10 cars weekly here with that problem.

Where were you when I bought these wheels 5 years ago, Damir?

[madvlad]

Where were you when I bought these wheels 5 years ago, Damir?

I think we had barely met at that point when you bought my couch .... that and chrome weights ridiculous amounts too lowering your already bad mpg's lol

[bulldog]

I had chrome for years and the key is to clean your rims immediately after a snow storm where they used the mag-chloride; and clean them good with a cleaner. Taking care of your rims goes a long way....but nowadays they make is way easier! Most cleaners for chrome you spray on, let sit for a few minutes, and spray off and all done! Just be lucky this in not NM where they still use that horrible red sand/salt for the snow!

But I doubt I will get chrome now anyways....that was like cool in the 90s plus weighs too much!

P.S. Hell I don't even let that sh*t sit on my paint! My car is a 2003 and the paint looks as good as the day I bought it because of how often I clean and hand wax!

[Mother Goose]

Wait, people clean their wheels?

[bulldog]

Wait, people clean their wheels?

Growing up poor really makes you take care of stuff because once it is gone there was no money for replacement.

[madvlad]

Wait, people clean their wheels?

Haha they don't even do their own laundry dood

[bulldog]

You guys think chrome is hard, you should have seen my buddies growing up trying to take care of their triple gold Daytons rims

[Keyser Soze]

"Chrome won't get ya home" ?

[madvlad]

You guys think chrome is hard, you should have seen my buddies growing up trying to take care of their triple gold Daytons rims

80 spoke or 100 spoke?

[bulldog]

I've never tried it, but these claim to protect chrome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_88JbTDx0N8

http://www.pitstopinternational.com/chrome-guard.html

http://www.amazon.com/Mag-Shag-Rim-C.../dp/B002ABUTN0


Some tips here:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5114860_prot...ls-winter.html

80 spoke or 100 spoke?

Yup, you know what's up homey
I never got them as I never followed what every one else did. Everyone in my school was into spoke rims and I went and bought huge CHROME 7 stars on low profile tires; in like 1994 when nobody was doing chrome tuner rims where I lived! Funny I got sh*t about them, and then a few years later everyone was putting on chrome wheels. To follow the topic though I had those chrome rims for about 8 years and had very little fading due to the fact I cleaned them all the time!

[Ghosty]

Thanks for the heads up Shovon! I had no idea MagChlor does that. I've heard varying stories on how bad it is/isn't for your hoses, and electrical wiring/connections/etc. especially anything exposed on a car. But not about chrome. Luckily I have no chrome that I know of on any of my vehicles.

<Cross-posted on ColoradoRacing.com>

[Mother Goose]

Growing up poor really makes you take care of stuff because once it is gone there was no money for replacement.

I was in the same boat, brother. But I have stock wheels on my RS, and well, the rest of the car isn't looking good either.

[Sully]

No chrome here... I ain't no balla wit da bling bling!

[bulldog]

No chrome here... I ain't no balla wit da bling bling!

Yeah you stuck to GSXR Telefonica fairings instead!

[3point5]

chime…I had chrome wheels on my z and the wheels didnt seal up due to the mag-chl, it took a letter to Discount Tire but they bought the wheels back from me, IIRC, ~25% or 30% of their original price towards new wheels…

chrome wheels, never again...

[Sully]

Yeah you stuck to GSXR Telefonica fairings instead!

pfffft... don't hate on the Pornstar

[bulldog]

pfffft... don't hate on the Pornstar

No way...I love pornstars! All started when I was 14 and found this tape of my stepdads that was hidden.......

[sprtbkbabe]

I read ALOT of car and bike mags and never have I seen anything written about mag-chloride vs. chrome's destructiveness.

And anyone who knows my previous cars and bikes, knows that I keep them up perfectly. This Durango sees an undercarriage wash a day or two after each time the city throws down that junk. And I wax and polish my wheels with Maguires every couple of months. Apparently, that wasn't done each and every wash?

Here's some info CDOT thinks is informative:
http://www.coloradodot.info/travel/winter-driving/faqs.html
How do these liquid treatments affect the environment, my automobile and electrical utilities?
"...Liquid anti-icers and de-icers are no more damaging to the finish of vehicles than conventional sodium chloride-based products and will wash away with a commercial car wash cleaning. Unlike sand/salt mixtures, the liquids will not damage your car's paint job or windshield."


What a massive amount of bullshit!


Then you read:
"Colorado utilities report that mist from liquid road treatments, which become airborne due to contact with fast-moving vehicles, can coat insulators that separate electric conductors from the poles that support them. As a result, electricity may jump from the wires to the poles, causing electrical outages. Utility companies across the state perform maintenance to remove the coatings from their equipment to reduce the risk of outages."

That sounds delightful and very GREEN!!!

[Ghosty]

More good info from ColoradoRacing guys:

Yeah, you need something acidic to get the chrome fully clean too. I haven't tried it but some vinegar and water mix should do the trick. I have been using this stuff that I use on my boat to clean the chrome grille and bumpers on my truck and it works amazing. Without it, the mag chloride just stays on there. I believe it has a mild acid in it that removes the hard water residue that is left on the boat after pulling it out of the lake.

Mag Chloride eats at everything, even the insulators on top of power poles along the highway. Alot of people think chrome is some magic metal that can't be damaged by anything. Yes, chrome is strong, but also very thin, doesn't take much to get through it. Once chrome wheels are damaged, it's cheaper to buy a new set. I put chrome wheels on my wife's Tahoe 7 years ago. Even though we neglected them, they still look very nice, you have to look real close to see flaws. Chrome is still alot easier to up keep then polished aluminum. But, polished aluminum can always be fixed where chrome can't. I repair mag chloride damaged wheels every month at my shop.

Chrome is not heavy, yes your 24 inch "spinners" made from cast aluminum that are chromed weigh 65 pounds each, but it's not the chrome that adds the weight, it's a heavy damn wheel. I wish i would have done some before and after tests of parts we chromed when I worked at a chrome shop.

[sag]

my vehicles always get powerwashed asap after getting mag chlorided, usually on the way home from work or before i get to work.i carry a microfiber in the car to wipe the wheels down. brake dust drives me bonkers. im pretty ocd when it comes to my vehicles though.

[Ph03niX]

All chrome does is melt the hell out of my retinas. F*** that.

Destroy all chrome now.