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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Chrome woes


Dash Rendar
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I bought a set of Weds SA70TT wheels in chrome from Nic a little over a year ago. They arrived mid-Jan this year, and that's when I put them on the car.

 

I was in two minds as to whether to buy chromes, but I was advised that any decent chrome rims, if properly treated (i.e. regularly washed and sealed) should last a good few years, even in the British climate.

 

This is what they looked like when they arrived...

 

http://supra.just2good.co.uk/myBlackSingle/wedsWheels/weds1.jpg

 

And this is them on the car (photos taken on my birthday in April!)...

 

http://supra.just2good.co.uk/myBlackSingle/060478/side2.jpg

 

http://supra.just2good.co.uk/myBlackSingle/060478/rearWheel1.jpg

 

http://supra.just2good.co.uk/myBlackSingle/060478/frontRight3.jpg

 

Unfortunately, now (some 10-11 months after fitting them to the car), the chrome has begun flaking off. This is despite washing the wheels religiously every week (or sooner after driving through any salt), and sealing them with JetSeal109, as recommeded by various detailers, and despite only driving about 3-4K miles on them!

 

Here are some pics of what they look like now...

 

http://supra.just2good.co.uk/myBlackSingle/wedsWheels/chromeFlaking2.jpg

 

http://supra.just2good.co.uk/myBlackSingle/wedsWheels/chromeFlaking3.jpg

 

http://supra.just2good.co.uk/myBlackSingle/wedsWheels/chromeFlaking4.jpg

 

Obviously, I'm completely gutted that wheels which cost me two grand (without the rubber) have already started to lose the chrome. I'm guessing they're going to get a lot worse very soon.

 

I wanted to post this up, as I've had a LOT of people PM'ing me and asking me about these wheels over the last year or so. I would certainly warn anyone thinking about buying chrome wheels from Weds to think again. The quality obviously doesn't match the price.

 

I was thinking about having the wheels painted black once they start to look bad. I would have the whole wheel painted black except for the polished alloy dishes and the centre caps. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm guessing this would have to be done by a specialist? Are there any Photoshoppers out there with some spare time that would like to have a go and doing a mock-up for me?

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Nice wheels, thats a shame although hard to see the damage in the pics, Have you asked Nic if there is any warranty on them? chrome is normally very hard wearing, recently had mine refurbished but only due to them being curbed, the chrome was perfect after being on Pauls car for some 7 years.

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I have PM'd Nic asking him what the deal is with Weds. That was nearly two weeks back, but it has been Christmas, so maybe he's on holiday?

 

Thanks for the info about your wheels. That's quite encouraging, and further confirms my suspicions that these wheels simply aren't of satisfactory quality for the money. I presume there is some sort of warranty... but it's all in Japanese!

 

As for the damage, if you look at the pictures immediately below "Here are some pics of what they look like now...", you'll see that the spoke in the middle of the picture has lost all the chrome from about half way along the spoke. The rest of the spoke is a strange blue-metal colour.

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I really doubt you will get any kind of warranty on the chrome plating.

 

Fo what its worth i wouldn't advise anyone who is using chrome wheels in the uk to use them for anything other than show wheels.

 

those wheels will get worse where the chrome has lifted im afraid to say :(

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I'm not really interested in getting them re-chromed. I don't want to waste more money than I already have. That seems to be what I'm good at. :(

 

A long lasting black paint job now sounds much more appealing.

 

It's a shame... Not a single bit of curbing on these. If it wasn't for the chrome coming off, you could be forgiven for thinking they were still new.

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I'm not really interested in getting them re-chromed. I don't want to waste more money than I already have. That seems to be what I'm good at. :(

 

A long lasting black paint job now sounds much more appealing.

 

It's a shame... Not a single bit of curbing on these. If it wasn't for the chrome coming off, you could be forgiven for thinking they were still new.

 

The only long lasting and durable finish is to powder coat in gloss black

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Chrome are a arse to keep right you have to try to:-

 

Wash the wheels when they are cold not when you have been for a blast

 

remove all brake dust from the wheels never let it stay on the wheels as it bites into the chrome

 

wash with good wash and dry them with a towel it's hard work even with polished rims but chrome forget it

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Chrome are a arse to keep right you have to try to:-

 

Wash the wheels when they are cold not when you have been for a blast

 

Check.

 

remove all brake dust from the wheels never let it stay on the wheels as it bites into the chrome

 

Check.

 

wash with good wash and dry them with a towel it's hard work even with polished rims but chrome forget it

 

Check... I use Meguiars Gold Class, I always dry the wheels with microfibres (at least two), and then I seal with JetSeal109.

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i used to have Lambrettas and had quite a few alloy parts chromed and i fully agree with Colsoop chrome on alloy is really show stuff or Californian climate, it didn't matter how much you spent on it it never lasted that long, however saying that with what you paid for the wheels i would have expected at least a couple of years and a bit more durability as per Jamies, perhaps the alloy Weds use is not really condusive to good chroming. With regard to painting the wheels i hate to break it to you but you will need to have all the old chrome stripped first or it will continue to lift

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Check.

 

 

 

Check.

 

 

 

Check... I use Meguiars Gold Class, I always dry the wheels with microfibres (at least two), and then I seal with JetSeal109.

 

I had some chrome wheels before and in the end they got that bad they looked shit so my best addvise is to get rid why you can trust me cut your losses:(,because as soon as they go that's it

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Nice wheels, thats a shame although hard to see the damage in the pics, Have you asked Nic if there is any warranty on them? chrome is normally very hard wearing, recently had mine refurbished but only due to them being curbed, the chrome was perfect after being on Pauls car for some 7 years.

Jamie, I thought your rims were a polished metal lip?

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