Cleaning the backside of a chrome plated wheel

[Bunky]

I have some chrome wheels (assume cast aluminum) and I wanted to clean the side facing the car. The inside has picked up some stains and a few blobs of tar.

The appearance side is nice chrome but the opposite (inside) side (starting at the rear of the spokes is a matte silver/gray finish. I think this is also a plating as opposed to a paint since one spot seems to have flaked like a poorly plating surface does and I saw some exposed copper. If it is painted, it is not clear coated.

I have used a little ONR (water restrictions) and Meg's All Wheel Cleaner (only sparingly since I did not have a lot of water to rinse them). It did help but not with the stains or tar.

What can I use on these rims? Polish, APC, wheel cleaner? BTW, I plan to show the dealer the flaking and try to get it replaced under warranty.

[Bunky]

Re: Cleaning the backside of a chrome plated wheel

Help.

[VonLego]

Re: Cleaning the backside of a chrome plated wheel

Could you post an image of what you mean? (may be difficult if webmaster is still sick)

If you're literally trying to clean the back part of a wheel that you can't see, likely your only bet is to remove the wheel from the vehicle.

[Don]

Re: Cleaning the backside of a chrome plated wheel

The appearance side is nice chrome but the opposite (inside) side (starting at the rear of the spokes is a matte silver/gray finish. I think this is also a plating as opposed to a paint since one spot seems to have flaked like a poorly plating surface does and I saw some exposed copper. If it is painted, it is not clear coated.

In order to save money, most major manufacturers only chrome the front of the rims, leaving the back side semi-finished. That's how the rims on both my Cavalier and Suzuki were finished. It took Megs Hot Rims, several assorted brushes and a lot of elbow grease to get the back sides clean.

Having a plating company re-chrome your rims would be the other option.

[Bunky]

Re: Cleaning the backside of a chrome plated wheel

I have removed them from the car. I just wanted to confirm if the "semi-finish" to use the terms here is a plating or what. The surface is fairly smooth but not like the chrome side.

Can I use a Mag and Alum polish or should I stick with general purpose wheel cleaner?

[Don]

Re: Cleaning the backside of a chrome plated wheel

I have removed them from the car. I just wanted to confirm if the "semi-finish" to use the terms here is a plating or what. The surface is fairly smooth but not like the chrome side.

Can I use a Mag and Alum polish or should I stick with general purpose wheel cleaner?

You can, but I think the surface is going to be rough enough that trying to use any type of polish will be difficult.