American Racing Wheels - BEWARE - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

07midnite · 06-26-2016, 08:54 PM

Just a heads up. If you're in the market to buy some chrome wheels for your Cam, look passed American Racing Wheels. I have a set of 20" Special Edition Wheels on my 2011 SS. The crappy chrome plating job has been bubbling and flaking for over a year now and continues to get worse. Per their website, they will not warranty the chrome for more than a year. To pay that kind of jack for wheels and have the chrome coming off is flat out unacceptable. Wanted to let you guys know ahead of time.

07midnite · 06-26-2016, 09:14 PM

BTW, I have a set of chrome Cragar S/S's on my 1969 Pontiac. They're well over 30 years old. The chrome is in great shape. No bubbles or peeling whatsoever.

Trob85 · 06-26-2016, 09:42 PM

American racing have always been a low budget option that I believe are made in China (correct me if I'm wrong). It doesn't surprise me you always seem to hear of issues with the cheaper mass production wheels I just hope they would warranty them out.

glider1 · 06-26-2016, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 07midnite

BTW, I have a set of chrome Cragar S/S's on my 1969 Pontiac. They're well over 30 years old. The chrome is in great shape. No bubbles or peeling whatsoever.

What you're experiencing with your American wheels, I experienced with the Cragar S/S wheels.

Back in the mid 70's, I had a 72 Chevelle I put Cragar S/S wheels on. Within 2 years the chrome was peeling off. Since my brothers worked in a parts store, I had them replaced. These also peeled. It left such a bad taste in my mouth, I swore off chrome wheels. As much as I love the look of chrome wheels, especially when you get them to sparkle, I just can't bring myself to buy them.

Let me ask, is the problem confined to the spokes, or are the rims also an issue?

motorhead · 06-26-2016, 10:24 PM

I always had better luck with Cragers than American Racing when it came to cheap chrome wheels back in the day. Today it seems as though everything we buy sucks.

jrhagen · 06-26-2016, 10:44 PM

If it don't go, chrome it.

shibbs · 06-26-2016, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrhagen

If it don't go, chrome it.

Isn't that Harley's motto?

07midnite · 06-27-2016, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glider1

What you're experiencing with your American wheels, I experienced with the Cragar S/S wheels.

Back in the mid 70's, I had a 72 Chevelle I put Cragar S/S wheels on. Within 2 years the chrome was peeling off. Since my brothers worked in a parts store, I had them replaced. These also peeled. It left such a bad taste in my mouth, I swore off chrome wheels. As much as I love the look of chrome wheels, especially when you get them to sparkle, I just can't bring myself to buy them.

Let me ask, is the problem confined to the spokes, or are the rims also an issue?

The bubbling and flaking is mainly on the rim, not much on the spokes. Just a crappy chrome job. The car has a 1969 Indy Pace Car vibe about it. That's why I like the rims. Too bad the chrome is failing.

jrhagen · 06-27-2016, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shibbs

Isn't that Harley's motto?

I learned it from my dad back in the 70s. If the car has lots of chrome, money wasn't spent on performance.

Also, I have swapped out the chrome on my Harley for matte black.

sherob · 06-27-2016, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shibbs

Isn't that Harley's motto?

Chrome won't get you home...

07midnite · 06-28-2016, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrhagen

I learned it from my dad back in the 70s. If the car has lots of chrome, money wasn't spent on performance.

Also, I have swapped out the chrome on my Harley for matte black.

Yeah, I might have done the same with the chrome wheels on the Cam, but black/matte black wheels have been overkilled with these cars. They're either running factory wheels, or aftermarket black wheels these days. Plus, the chrome just looks better for a '69 retro look.

jrhagen · 06-28-2016, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 07midnite

Yeah, I might have done the same with the chrome wheels on the Cam, but black/matte black wheels have been overkilled with these cars. They're either running factory wheels, or aftermarket black wheels these days. Plus, the chrome just looks better for a '69 retro look.

If you to go full 69 retro, paint the stripes on like a 69 Z/28 like I did.

Aaron0731 · 07-01-2016, 02:22 PM

I have the same wheels but in the anthracite finish. I wax them with a spray wax every time I wash. Keeps em nice. Your car looks great with those though

06-26-2016, 08:54 PM	#1
07midnite Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Tomball, Texas Posts: 5	American Racing Wheels - BEWARE Just a heads up. If you're in the market to buy some chrome wheels for your Cam, look passed American Racing Wheels. I have a set of 20" Special Edition Wheels on my 2011 SS. The crappy chrome plating job has been bubbling and flaking for over a year now and continues to get worse. Per their website, they will not warranty the chrome for more than a year. To pay that kind of jack for wheels and have the chrome coming off is flat out unacceptable. Wanted to let you guys know ahead of time. Attached Images

06-26-2016, 09:42 PM	#3
Trob85 Svt lol Drives: 2011 ss inferno orange blown Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Topeka Posts: 2,312	American racing have always been a low budget option that I believe are made in China (correct me if I'm wrong). It doesn't surprise me you always seem to hear of issues with the cheaper mass production wheels I just hope they would warranty them out. __________________ plasti dip is not a mod.......and a cold air intake doesn't make you fast!

06-26-2016, 09:14 PM	#2
07midnite Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Tomball, Texas Posts: 5	BTW, I have a set of chrome Cragar S/S's on my 1969 Pontiac. They're well over 30 years old. The chrome is in great shape. No bubbles or peeling whatsoever.

06-26-2016, 10:24 PM	#5
motorhead Drives: Love the one you're with Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Downtown Charlie Brown Posts: 11,849	I always had better luck with Cragers than American Racing when it came to cheap chrome wheels back in the day. Today it seems as though everything we buy sucks.

06-26-2016, 10:44 PM	#6
jrhagen Banned Drives: Camaro Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: USA Posts: 2,701	If it don't go, chrome it.

07-01-2016, 02:22 PM	#13
Aaron0731 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS L99 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 295	I have the same wheels but in the anthracite finish. I wax them with a spray wax every time I wash. Keeps em nice. Your car looks great with those though