Protecting alloy rims from corrosion

[ChrisLydia]

I looking for any recommendations on a polish/stray/coating that would help protect my alloy rims from corrosion. I've seen Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish advertised, maybe that'd work good enough.

[1JEWLDSSRS]

The only way to stop them from corrosion is to do like I did when I bought my MRR M228's from PK Auto Designs. I had them polished, then had them clear coated with 2 coats of clear tp protect them and keep the polished look. They are NOT chrome..

[mickss]

Originally Posted by ChrisLydia

I looking for any recommendations on a polish/stray/coating that would help protect my alloy rims from corrosion. I've seen Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish advertised, maybe that'd work good enough.

Curious, do you drive your car during the winter when road salt is used?

[ChrisLydia]

No, its parked away in the garage during the winter. But my other cars see winter, snow, and salt. And they have the corroded alloy. If it's just the salt, I guess I'll be okay.

[FasNuf]

Originally Posted by 1JEWLDSSRS

The only way to stop them from corrosion is to do like I did when I bought my MRR M228's from PK Auto Designs. I had them polished, then had them clear coated with 2 coats of clear tp protect them and keep the polished look. They are NOT chrome..

Attachment 1099156

Attachment 1099157

The MMR's dont come clearcoated from the manufacturer?

[1JEWLDSSRS]

Originally Posted by FasNuf

The MMR's dont come clearcoated from the manufacturer?

The MRR's, no I don't believe so. They are either a brushed finish or a polished finish, and I asked them to clear them. PK that is. Now on the painted ones, I gonna say yes, they have to be for protection.

[NoDakZ/28]

Get them ceramic coated, keep up with the maintenance and you'll never have a problem.

[ChrisLydia]

Thanks all for good advice

[1JEWLDSSRS]

You are welcome. As NoDak said, you DO have to keep up on the care of them no matter what to protect them.

[FasNuf]

Originally Posted by 1JEWLDSSRS

The MRR's, no I don't believe so. They are either a brushed finish or a polished finish, and I asked them to clear them. PK that is. Now on the painted ones, I gonna say yes, they have to be for protection.

Thats weird, I mean why wouldn't you clearcoat a wheel after brushing or polishing it to keep it from oxidizing? Especially at the price they are, I would've expected that they were.

[silversleeper]

Originally Posted by FasNuf

Thats weird, I mean why wouldn't you clearcoat a wheel after brushing or polishing it to keep it from oxidizing? Especially at the price they are, I would've expected that they were.

When I contacted them about polished wheels they only had painted ones and would send it to a shop to be stripped and polished (at extra cost to me so I didn't get them). I believe the design did come in chrome or highly polished before. Yeah usually if factory done they will clearcoat them as it's hard to keep polishing them regularly by the owner to maintain a high shine. Wheels with more spokes and edges make it harder. The clearcoat does reduce the shine some but most people would rather have less shine than the maintenance.
Big truck fuel tanks and wheels often come uncoated. They are usually somewhat flat and uncomplicated which makes buffing them with an electric buffer not too time consuming or difficult.

[1JEWLDSSRS]

Originally Posted by FasNuf

Thats weird, I mean why wouldn't you clearcoat a wheel after brushing or polishing it to keep it from oxidizing? Especially at the price they are, I would've expected that they were.

I don't know, they probably do. All I know is when I talked to Paul at PK and asked to have them polished, if they would clear them really well so I wouldn't have to polish them all the time to keep them looking good. Was just guessing as I never had polished wheels before, and remember the "old school" wheels where you were constantly having to polish them to keep them shiney.

[Rock-It Man]

Road salt gets under the clear coat and causes corrosion. Inevitably, stone and sand strikes cause breaks in the clear coat and then salt moves in.

It has happened to all my daily drivers with aluminum wheels here in Massachusetts, but not to the 2010 Camaro that I keep garaged during salt season.