Chrome wheels continue to gain popularity due to their flawless, shiny, and reflective finish. When new, they look beautiful and add glamor to any vehicle. But when damaged, chipped and chipped chrome is a pain in the eye!
Unfortunately, because chrome rims are silver rather than painted, they cannot be repainted as easily as standard rims.
The chrome is applied through a plating process on the aluminum alloy wheel. Chromium alone will not adhere to aluminum. And, because dissimilar metals corrode when touched, it was found that by using a zinc and copper plate between the chrome and the aluminum, the chrome will adhere to the aluminum and not corrode.
So why are your chrome rims deteriorating?
During driving, especially at high speeds, gravel lifts off the road and hits the wheels. This causes very small abrasions on the chrome surface and occurs inside the “barrel” of the rim and also on the face.
The “curb damage” will also break the “chrome seal.”
Also, the movement of the tire on the rim deteriorates the bead of the rim over time.
Once this process begins, you will notice a marked deterioration of the finish. This is further compounded by road salt getting trapped under the plate. Without washing, the salt will eat the alloy wheel.
Chrome wheel repair is possible, but expensive.
If you detect the problem in the early stages of wear, a local tire repair shop may be able to repair the tire. This is done by sandblasting, shot blasting, and smoothing the damage by sanding and painting over it. Now of course your rims will look good, but they will be a different color than chrome.
If the chrome deterioration is more severe and stripping has begun, you should send the wheels to a specialist “re-chrome” workshop.
Since chrome is applied through a plating process, the old plate must be removed and the rim surface smoothed. This is done with industrial blasting or sandblasting equipment.
Once the rims have been removed, they will be polished and then recoated with copper, zinc, and chrome to restore their original shine.
Many people send their tires to California to be re-plated. (“Tire Covering from Google, CA”). This is expensive and usually takes about 8 weeks. The tires are typically shipped to Mexico where the actual work is done and the environmental laws are not as strict.
There are a few reasons for this, the most important of which is EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulations that limit hazardous air pollutants that are released into the air due to the use of chemicals necessary in the coating process.
Unfortunately, you may notice that you still see deterioration or corrosion underneath the new chrome. The quality of work is often unacceptable and disappointing, especially when considering time and expense.
Despite the drawbacks, the chrome is a beautiful finish. Prevention is the best way to ensure a more durable tire. Simply clean the rims regularly with a detergent such as dish soap and then rinse thoroughly. This is especially important during and after winter, when road salt and chemicals accelerate the deterioration process. Also consider swapping out your chrome wheels for a painted alloy set in the winter months.