What do I need to be using on these to protect them? I got the silver ones with the machined (polished) lip. Is giving them a good coat of Mequires Gold Class wax all I need to do or should I be using a differnt type of product on these?
I use the Klasse twins on my wheels (All In One and Sealant Glaze). It offers really good protection and great durability. Regular car waxes with carnuba typically don't have as good of durability as the acrylic sealants like Klasse, but they would work (especially if you like taking your wheels off every 1.5 to 2 months to wax them).
Sure you can wax them. Just let me tell you that my real,silver 95 Cobra R's have never had wax on them, and they have been on my car since 2001. They still look brand new. So I wouldn't worry about the silver. However, don't scrape a curb with the machined outer lip, and do not let tire shops put wheel weights on the outside edge. Get the stickies on the inside outer edge. They will last a lifetime then.