How long before Chrome Rims start to rust !!!!???

[Jason Greer]

I have a set of 17" Chrome ZR1's that I had on my last car a 94 Z28. I had them on my new car for a while and then came winter so I put the factory rims back on. About a week and a half ago I decided to put the rims back on since it seemed like it wasn't going to snow again and there wasn't going to be any salt on the roads. Well I thought wrong. It definately has snowed and there was a load of salt on the road. I only drove with them on for a week now, but I took them off last night. I cleaned them thoughly with hot water and car wash solution about two or three times. I don't see any rust but how long will it take for the salt to discolor or cause my rims to rust? I was always lead to believe that salt is a corrosive and pretty much if it came into contact with the chrome it would eat at the rim until it either became discolored or rusted. Also do chrome rims have a clear coat on them.

[hockeyman]

Welcome to this site. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]
Salt will start eating away on anything it has time to sit on. The longer you leave the salt stay on any part of a car, the worse off you are in having it stay in nice condition. As long as you cleaned the rims, you should be fine. Also, go the auto store and pick up some Mother's Wheel Polish in a red can. That works as a wax for metal and keeps them shining nice.
I don't know about clearcoating Chrome. I don't know of anyone that has done it, so don't try until you talk to someone experienced first. It may come out nice, but again, I'm not sure.

-Marc

[SUNSETBIRD]

jason-

some chrome rims can come with a clear coat. i know my friend who got new chrome wheels for his viper had the clear coat on them. the sad way to find out if they are coated is my trying to buff out any scratches on the wheel with a file. another friend of mine found out the hard way that if it has the clear coat...dont file on it (the clear coat just turns cloudy)!! you can get your wheels powder clear coated i believe.

-Sarah

[WickEdSix9838]

arent ZR1's aluminum wheels???????