Polishing chrome wheels

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

1SilverBullet2

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2015
Posts
1,567
Reaction score
612
Location
North Dakota
Ram Year
2014 Big Horn 8 speed
Engine
5.7 Hemi
I haven't done much detailing besides washing and a little waxing with any of my vehicles. I know the chrome clad wheels on my truck could use some polishing but I looked at mothers mag and wheel polish and it said don't use on chrome. How come? What do you guys use for a chrome polish? I'll also be polishing the front and back bumper and exhaust tips.


Sent from the howitzer
 

Pull Ya

U.S. MARINE VETERAN
Supporting Member
Military
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Posts
15,787
Reaction score
23,056
Location
Cedar Creek, Tx
Ram Year
2015
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Your "chrome" wheels are plastic. Wash them up and put a good coat of wax/sealant on them.
Jay
 
OP
OP
1SilverBullet2

1SilverBullet2

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2015
Posts
1,567
Reaction score
612
Location
North Dakota
Ram Year
2014 Big Horn 8 speed
Engine
5.7 Hemi
I know they're plastic that's why I said chrome clad. I'll try waxing them then thanks Jay


Sent from the howitzer
 

MADDOG

Not RamForum Staff
Supporting Member
Military
Joined
Dec 26, 2011
Posts
14,443
Reaction score
9,877
Location
Arizona
Yeah, you don't "polish" chrome. You clean it and wax it.
 

lukedukem

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Posts
391
Reaction score
193
Location
Victoria, Tx
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 5.7
aren't there some guys who have removed the plastic cover and painted the rims?

Luke
 

Pull Ya

U.S. MARINE VETERAN
Supporting Member
Military
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Posts
15,787
Reaction score
23,056
Location
Cedar Creek, Tx
Ram Year
2015
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Yes, but I can't think of where the threads are????????
Jay
 

Westwind1124a

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2012
Posts
657
Reaction score
235
Location
Maine
Ram Year
2024 ZR2Hd
Engine
6.6 Duramax
mine were so bad in the spring that I had to use wheel cleaner and claybar at the same time to get all of the **** off of them. It did work though
 

Nobrigz808

Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2016
Posts
32
Reaction score
11
Location
Oahu, HI
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Hemi 5.7
mine had some pretty bbad water spots on them that didn't come off with normal washing. i used chemical guys heavy metal polish on a microfiber towel and very light buffing by hand... cleaned them up really nice. then topped it with a sealant.
 

Jonv8944s

Junior Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2016
Posts
20
Reaction score
1
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Hemi 5.7
anyone have a link to what these wheels look like without the plastic/chrome cladding on them? Sounds interesting.
 

Slick61

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2016
Posts
74
Reaction score
40
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Hemi 6.4
I've used Meguiar's "Plast-X" to thoroughly clean the plasti-chrome wheels... then slapped a coat of wax on them.
 

mcheath

Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2015
Posts
42
Reaction score
36
Location
Central California
Ram Year
2014
Engine
3.6
Actually they are real chrome. ABS plastic is the base material, then copper is electroplated on, followed by nickel. After that the chrome plating is applied, typically in three layers.

Chrome can be applied to many surfaces with this process, which is the same method used to chrome plate steel. Plating ABS plastic gives the exact same finish but with greater longevity, no rust issues, and lighter weight.

Polish your chrome clads as you would any chrome. I've used plain old Turtle Wax rubbing compound with a buffer to remove water spots and their ordinary wax as well.

I really like the modern chrome plated ABS, no rusting like chrome plated steel always does.
 
OP
OP
1SilverBullet2

1SilverBullet2

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2015
Posts
1,567
Reaction score
612
Location
North Dakota
Ram Year
2014 Big Horn 8 speed
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Does a guy go ahead and use metal polishing on the bumpers or do I need to wax them too?


Sent from the howitzer
 

Tango111

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2016
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Ram Year
2016
Engine
5.7
On my 2013 which had the chrome clad wheels, I used Never-dull. worked perfectly with minimal effort. It's sold at Wal-mart


T111
 

Slick61

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2016
Posts
74
Reaction score
40
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Hemi 6.4
I really like the modern chrome plated ABS, no rusting like chrome plated steel always does.

There is a downside tho... the ABS is far less impact-resistant. My Ford Edge has chrome-clad wheels... when getting the tires rotated, the tech spun the wheel & leaned it up against the wheel studs. I ended up getting a big ding in the wheel (right through to the ABS) as a reminder. And the perimeter tire-balancing weights tend to mar the finish as well.
 

Pull Ya

U.S. MARINE VETERAN
Supporting Member
Military
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Posts
15,787
Reaction score
23,056
Location
Cedar Creek, Tx
Ram Year
2015
Engine
5.7 Hemi
I think that if you need to clean anything off them that a clay bar would do a good job. I would be hesitant to use anything that is very abrasive as you might end up with lots of small scratches you have to try to polish out before you wax/seal them.
Jay
 
OP
OP
1SilverBullet2

1SilverBullet2

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2015
Posts
1,567
Reaction score
612
Location
North Dakota
Ram Year
2014 Big Horn 8 speed
Engine
5.7 Hemi
I'm gunna wash them tomorrow and try throwing some wax on them and see what they look like.


Sent from the howitzer
 

Kytow

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2016
Posts
444
Reaction score
174
Ram Year
2013
Engine
5.7
I use blue magic on the chrome clad with great success.


Sent from somewhere with confusion.
 
Top