chroming stock rims- plus and minuses

Generally it is seen as a minus, however if the right buyer comes along, you may be in luck.

Site Moderator Tillman has his wheels chromed. See if you like it and want to go down this route.

http://www.ferrari328.com

 

Specifically, the previous owner had them chromed.

If you go this route, you may want to spend a little cash and pick up a set of new OEM rims from Ferrari UK to have around when you sell the car.

The chromed rims definitely don't work on all colors (red and white come to mind), but on black should be OK.

Another thought -- since the wheels are aluminum, maybe polishing them and getting them clear coated would provide a similar effect? I've not seen that done before.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Tillmans' wheels seem to get dirty and they have a smoked chrome effect that goes well with the color of the car. Other than that, I agree, it doesn't work well with all colors.

Besides that, unless processes have improved, if you have a nick, it must be replated, or else it will just flake off. Polished doesn't do this, runs around the same dollars per wheel (if not cheaper) and doesn't look too mirror finished on the wheels.

 

[]D[][]V[][]D

 

Is that English?

 

No..........

 

My personal taste...chrome wheels on a Ferrari is overkill. Chrome cries out for attention, and a Ferrari already accomplishes that. But then again, I'm not much on putting the horsey shields on the sides for the same reason. That's just my opinion and probably isn't worth 2 cents.

 

[]D P
[] I
[]V[] M
[]D P

 

WTF?

 

If it's not a classic car, chrome will cheapen the look.

 

Aside from looks chrome does add more weight to the wheel. How much I'm not sure. Tillman have you ever weighed yours in relation to a stock wheel?

The extra weight, I'm guessing somewhere in the neighborhood of a pound or so per wheel, means the brakes have to work harder and also adds to the unsprung weight the shocks and springs must deal with. All of this may be minimal but, I think should be included in the discussion of plusses and minuses.

On the plus side chrome is easier to clean that a painted or powder coated wheel. That's my experience at least.

I'm not a chrome fan. I'd rather see polished aluminum than chrome. Even then, only on certain cars.

 

One downside is that most tracks will not let you drive rims that have been chromed on thier track.

 

I personally like the chrome. I am about to chrome my 308's rims. There is a reason I am doing this route though. My car has been down for about 5 years due to an engine compartment fire. Its about to hit the road in the next few months. The original rims are still on it with 5 years of polishing to catch up on. So its either sand them and hope they looks ok. Or I can sand blast them and have them dipped for $500 and they are much easier to clean and no polishing. I elect the latter. At least it looks almost original and its easier to take care of.

 

If you chrome them make absolutely sure its done correctly by a reputable shop. A cheapo job looks the same when new until the chrome starts peeling off.

 

Er, have you been living under a rock ... 90% of modular wheels have a polished alloy rim. They usually are clear coated so you do not have to polish them everyday.

Chrome rims are not my thing. Modular wheels are but not with body coloured centres as it just looks like **** (IMO).

Pete

 

I meant polished stock 328 wheels. I haven't seen anyone do that yet, but I'm sure someone, somewhere has. I'd like to see those pics.

 

From the picture, it doesn't look bad at all, however how much additional weight will it add to your vehicle?