Chrome over Aluminum Wheels

[JHastings]

I just bought a set of what I thoght were the 17" polished aluminums, but when I picked them up, I found out they were chrome over aluminum. Does anyone know what the aluminum looks like if I rip off the chrome cover? Is it polished or worth taking them off to polish them?

Thanks,

Jamie Hastings

 

[Bertram65]

You sure they are aluminum under the chrome covers? The Dodge chrome wheels have a plastic chrome skin glued to a steel wheel.

 

[JHastings]

I am sure. The guy I bought them from has a lift/lower shop and he sells tons of take offs so I compared them to the polished aluminums side to side. The wheels are aluminum, but the skins are some plastic or tin cover. The rear of the wheels look identical to the polished aluminums, but I am not sure about the fronts. He said they are what come on the new 06'.

Jamie

 

[Rosco]

Bertram65,



Jamie's correct about the wheels. The '06 Laramie wheel is an aluminum wheel with the chrome clad cover glued on it. Personally, I think Laramies should have polished aluminum wheels not glorified hucaps .

 

[Bertram65]

Bertram65,



Jamie's correct about the wheels. The '06 Laramie wheel is an aluminum wheel with the chrome clad cover glued on it. Personally, I think Laramies should have polished aluminum wheels not glorified hucaps .

Wow, that is bizarre, I agree I would much prefer polished aluminum over chrome, they must have figured it was cheaper to put plastic covers on the aluminum wheels instead of polishing them, I think the 1500s with 20" wheels are like that too.

 

[BigGunZ]

Ditching the chrome can be a problem if the wheels are cast aluminum. Cast AL is porous and doesn't polish well. With the chrome removed corrosion will likely set in. If the wheels are forged, they'll polish nicely. All that said, I doubt they're forged if they're chromed.

 

[JHastings]

Thanks for the help, looks like I will be keeping the covers on.

Jamie Hastings