hi,

what are the pros , and cons, on CHROME and POLISHED rims??

hi,

what are the pros , and cons, on CHROME and POLISHED rims??

Major difference is, Chrome eventually cracks and splits off the aluminum wheel... BUT Polished is just that... A silver alloy paint on aluminum usually with a lacquer clear coat finish... But I do like the Chrome better...

Lets see, the chrome looks great, is easy to keep clean, and you don't see it all over the place.

BUT if you don't keep it clean it can corrode and peel / flake, mine are corroding from the inside causing small pinhole leaks, which I've been told by several tire people is not unusual for chromed wheels, and every time tires get mounted / unmounted it buggers up the rim leading to flaking and poor sealing where the tire bead seats.

So for good chome get high milage tires, paint the inside with an anti-corrosion paint, and make sure the air you put in has been dried well.

polished there not painted there polished right? never knew polished was a silver paint mmm



Major difference is, Chrome eventually cracks and splits off the aluminum wheel... BUT Polished is just that... A silver alloy paint on aluminum usually with a lacquer clear coat finish... But I do like the Chrome better...

I've never had issues with Chrome Rims, I remember buying a practiclaly ruined set of Cragar SS's from a Junkyard in Newburgh, NY for $10, and then $4 on Brillo Pads, I had the baddest-assest (is that a word) looking SS's in all of Orange County.... for 4 years of College...

soon we'll have side by side shots of my new LSC Chrome Rims and my Alloy Polished Factory Rims, can't wait for that thread... comming soon at :V

Factory rim on my 90 SE....I replaced the center "LSC" letters with a LINCON emblem....but, I am saving up my pennies for some Cobra "R" rims.
Take a look at my photo garage or my cardomain website for different pics..Katz

http://www.cardomain.com/id/4_given_1

Katz, that's actually not a factory wheel. That's an American Racing wheel. The factory BBS or BBS style wheels never had flat spokes like that. 1990 cars also had silver wheels with a polished lip. '91+ SE's had the argent spokes. You can see the different wheels Ford used if you search for Mark VII wheels on FordvsChevy.com; I posted all the wheels if I remember right.

Here is a 1990-92 LSC wheel:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/449000-449999/449926_61_full.jpg

Interestingly, Ford originally used actual BBS RA wheel derivatives before they took over production. Early 1990 models had wheels with a cast BBS logo and BBS center caps. I believe later wheel manufacture was outsourced to Speedline.

Polished aluminum wheels are only clearcoated. The metal becomes reflective if buffed enough. The clearcoat is there to protect the finish. Wax your wheels, whatever the finish.

i have crome on my 95 ltc and one is starting to leak because of corosion, so im gonna buy some alluminum.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/towncar097/-Town%20Car%20Times%202-/lincoln10.jpg
i got these Wheels
16 inch, that were sopose to be from a special edition 90 Town Car. Someone said that it was off a older lincoln. Anywhich way, one is starting to peel on the edge. So i took em off and put my OEM 16 spoke Town car wheels back on.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/towncar097/1996%20Town%20Car%20Signature%20Series%20Blk/wheel.jpg
*owned*

I prefer chrome rims myself. :cool:

Getting back on the polished finish......



It is'nt any type of paint or coating.

A polished wheel will require more mantainence to keep looking good. A few hours with Mothers Mag polish and a rag, or a mothers power ball, and you can have polished aluminum wheels looking like chrome.

I'll have pics hopefully tomorrow to prove it. :)


Mike

I was'nt able to get everything like I wanted done.


I finally broke down and bought me a new powerball and chucked it up in my air drill. I got a good portion of the corrosion off, but will take another good day of polishing to get them the way I want.


Here are the before and after pics.


Mike

Damn mike! Im jealous of you! You have three great cars! My rims also looked like yours until i whipped out the mothers polish.

chrome is still hottttttttttttt

chrome for mayor :)

It's what you like.... I prefer the polised aluminum look but after having them on my last car I wouldn't buy another set again, I don't like being a slave to my wheels!!! So this time I bought a set of chrome wheels and they are a breeze to keep looking nice.

Chrome is da bomb!

Alum is cool, but needs lots of work unless to have ta clear powdercoat put on.

Paint the inside of the wheels and wax the outsides with a non-abrasive polish.