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  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Wheels

  • Thread starter Thread starter James00GT
  • Start date Start date Jul 28, 2004
J

James00GT

New Member
Jul 21, 2004
12
0
0
Jul 28, 2004
#1
  • Jul 28, 2004
  • #1
Ive been looking into getting some new wheels for my 00 GT and i was wondering what is the diff. between polished and chrome wheels?? Also who here has polised wheels.... n e complaints???
 

twogts4us

15 Year Member
Apr 1, 2004
4,188
12
79
Dunedin, FL
Jul 28, 2004
#2
  • Jul 28, 2004
  • #2
I'm buying polished Boyd Coddingtons - simply because thats the only way they come. But polished is easier to fix than chrome, if, God forbid, you catch a curb. I'd prefer polished over chrome anyday. Just about the same shine.
Welcome to StangNet!!!
 

01GT eibach

Active Member
Nov 18, 2002
1,075
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36
Pittsburgh, PA
Jul 29, 2004
#3
  • Jul 29, 2004
  • #3
"Polished" gets its shine by polishing the alloy rim, while chrome has a layer of shiny metal electroplated on top of the rim. The chrome is definitely brighter and flashier. If the rim gets scratched, as mentioned above, it can easily rip right thru the chrome plating down to the base rim. So, from purely a "driver friendly" point of view, the polished rims are the better bet. From a pure aesthetics view, opinions are mixed ... some peole love chrome wheels, and some think they can be "a little much". Personally, I prefer the slightly more subdued look of polished over chrome but that is only a slight opinion -- there are lots of guys here who have chrome rims with very hot looking cars.

Just my $0.02...
 

Ryan02Stang

Active Member
Jun 17, 2003
1,181
0
36
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Jul 29, 2004
#4
  • Jul 29, 2004
  • #4
01GT eibach said:
"Polished" gets its shine by polishing the alloy rim, while chrome has a layer of shiny metal electroplated on top of the rim. The chrome is definitely brighter and flashier. If the rim gets scratched, as mentioned above, it can easily rip right thru the chrome plating down to the base rim. So, from purely a "driver friendly" point of view, the polished rims are the better bet. From a pure aesthetics view, opinions are mixed ... some peole love chrome wheels, and some think they can be "a little much". Personally, I prefer the slightly more subdued look of polished over chrome but that is only a slight opinion -- there are lots of guys here who have chrome rims with very hot looking cars.

Just my $0.02...
Click to expand...


He said it perfect! I also prefer a very high polished rim to a chrome wheel. Now if I had a Navigator...there would def be some chrome 26's on that bad boy!
 
T

TNstanggurl

New Member
May 27, 2004
153
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0
TN
Jul 29, 2004
#5
  • Jul 29, 2004
  • #5
Dont get polished. They are a bitch to keep shiney. You have to polish them like every 2 weeks. Get chrome just dont hit any curbs and you'll be ok.
 

Bornstanger

Uncle 'Kiss Me''Kiss Me''Kiss Me''Kiss Me'er
Founding Member
Oct 20, 2001
476
0
26
Strongsville, OH
Jul 29, 2004
#6
  • Jul 29, 2004
  • #6
sorry for being an ass or idiot or combination of both, but i don't get why people always bitch about the upkeep of polished wheels. right now i have my factory 98 GT polished wheels and all i do is wash them off with the same soap i use to clean my car and they shine like no tommorrow. maybe i have a special breed of polished wheels or something?
 
M

mrcorpse

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2002
82
0
0
Gainesville, FL
Jul 29, 2004
#7
  • Jul 29, 2004
  • #7
Polished will also be lighter...since that Chrome layer will add a few pounds to any rim.
 

Cobra Jay

Member
Apr 7, 2004
889
0
16
Motor City
Jul 29, 2004
#8
  • Jul 29, 2004
  • #8
TNstanggurl said:
Dont get polished. They are a bitch to keep shiney. You have to polish them like every 2 weeks. Get chrome just dont hit any curbs and you'll be ok.
Click to expand...


You still have to take care of chrome rims too, otherwise they get pitted and rust. Bitching about having to take care of your rims is like people who bitch about gas mileage and then go and put a S/C and more mods on their car.
 

millhouse

Founding Member
May 14, 2002
1,985
0
46
Simpsonville, SC
Jul 29, 2004
#9
  • Jul 29, 2004
  • #9
TNstanggurl said:
Dont get polished. They are a bitch to keep shiney. You have to polish them like every 2 weeks. Get chrome just dont hit any curbs and you'll be ok.
Click to expand...


Unless the wheels came without a clear-coat...you should not be re-polishing them, as you will wear throgh the clear coat and into the aluminum itself. After to much polishing, it's very easy to take enough aluminum off of the wheel to make it unsafe.

I personally think chrome is to flashy, to expensive and to heavy for my tastes. Many people cant even tell the difference between a highly polished aluminum wheel, and a chromed one.

Heres a polished wheel


And another one
 

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Srpera

Member
Jan 8, 2004
73
0
9
MA
Jul 29, 2004
#10
  • Jul 29, 2004
  • #10
I would never buy polished wheels unless the car is kept garaged and out of the elements. I live in the northeast and the elements do a number on the polished wheel, no matter how often you wash them. Chrome is easier to maintain, just wash with soapy water frequently. A clear coated polished wheel would be a good idea, depending on the durability of the clear coat. Go with the chrome.
 

twogts4us

15 Year Member
Apr 1, 2004
4,188
12
79
Dunedin, FL
Jul 29, 2004
#11
  • Jul 29, 2004
  • #11
This is a good debate - there are pros and cons on both sides. Chrome can be very durable if taken care of, but can quickly look like crap if it is neglected or damaged. Polished rims can be repaired. Both need regular cleaning. I clean my OEM rims once a week and it's easy...it's when you don't do it for a while that it becomes a PITA.
For me, I still vote for polished...a bit less bling. Boyd Coddington's for me!!!
 

Defleshed

Satanic Mechanic
Nov 30, 2003
10,569
1
0
In Torment, In Hell
Jul 29, 2004
#12
  • Jul 29, 2004
  • #12
less bling can be a good thing sometimes. I'd go for the polished, just because I looove that look. The chrome is too "LOOK AT ME"
 
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