new wheels
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,300
Likes: 2
From: Nor Cal
Here's a link:
<a href="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/993084.jpg" target="_blank">Chrome 18" wheels</a> for the lazy..
I'd beware if they are hollow spoke. If they are solid, you should be ok. If you want to see some pics of my defective chrome wheels, look here: <a href="http://www.cuberootconsulting.com/gallery/album43" target="_blank">Defective Chrome Hollow Spoke Wheels</a>
The chroming process reduces the strength of the wheels significantly. But they sure do look great!
Jeff
<a href="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/993084.jpg" target="_blank">Chrome 18" wheels</a> for the lazy..
I'd beware if they are hollow spoke. If they are solid, you should be ok. If you want to see some pics of my defective chrome wheels, look here: <a href="http://www.cuberootconsulting.com/gallery/album43" target="_blank">Defective Chrome Hollow Spoke Wheels</a>
The chroming process reduces the strength of the wheels significantly. But they sure do look great!
Jeff
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
Jeff, now you got me nervous. My wheels are solid spoke. I am concerned with what happen with your wheels. Where did you buy them and how long until you noticed the damage. I do appreciate you bringing this to my attention!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,300
Likes: 2
From: Nor Cal
They were probably chromed for about 2 years before the damage started happening. The previous owner had them chromed, so I don't know the exact details. They were chromed in southern California somewhere.
I first noticed that the hollow spokes had debris and were hard to balance. Then things got progressively worse, until a chunk fell off the inside of the wheel. Most likely because the acid used during the chroming process wasn't rinsed out adequately. Amazingly, I drove for another 50 miles without any adverse affects.
When you had your wheels chromed, you probably signed a release of strength waiver or something like that. I'd check with the people who chromed your wheels. Apparently, chroming wheels and retaining their strength is possible, but just more expensive.
There are other optins which I think are better. Porsche has offered chrome paint on their wheels which look pretty good from about 5 feet away. Polishing the wheels is another good option. Nothing is as brilliant as actual chrome, however. But paint/polishing doesn't affect the wheel strength at all.
Since your's are solid spoke, I don't think that the chroming process would have affected the strength as much as if you had hollow spokes becuase of less nooks and crannies. But check with your wheel chroming place and express your concerns to him.
You can show him my pictures if he doesn't believe you.
Jeff
I first noticed that the hollow spokes had debris and were hard to balance. Then things got progressively worse, until a chunk fell off the inside of the wheel. Most likely because the acid used during the chroming process wasn't rinsed out adequately. Amazingly, I drove for another 50 miles without any adverse affects.
When you had your wheels chromed, you probably signed a release of strength waiver or something like that. I'd check with the people who chromed your wheels. Apparently, chroming wheels and retaining their strength is possible, but just more expensive.
There are other optins which I think are better. Porsche has offered chrome paint on their wheels which look pretty good from about 5 feet away. Polishing the wheels is another good option. Nothing is as brilliant as actual chrome, however. But paint/polishing doesn't affect the wheel strength at all.
Since your's are solid spoke, I don't think that the chroming process would have affected the strength as much as if you had hollow spokes becuase of less nooks and crannies. But check with your wheel chroming place and express your concerns to him.
You can show him my pictures if he doesn't believe you.
Jeff
