Dash Rendar Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieP Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Rendar Posted December 29, 2008 Author Share Posted December 29, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colsoop Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbm Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 Bummer- I remember you waiting for these to come in. I was very tempted by them at the time too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk-rich Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 speedwells can now re-chrome wheels, but its not cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibrar Jabbar Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 speedwells can now re-chrome wheels, but its not cheap Only on outer rims on 3 piece wheels,, can't even do it on 2 piece rims at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Rendar Posted December 29, 2008 Author Share Posted December 29, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibrar Jabbar Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 The wheels might not be real chrome as the base where it has de-laminated doesn't look nickle or copper plated, I may be wrong though. As mentioned by Colin you won't get any manufacturers warranty on chrome or plated wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibrar Jabbar Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Rendar Posted December 29, 2008 Author Share Posted December 29, 2008 So I paid 2K for 'not-real-chrome'? Oh dear... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Rendar Posted December 29, 2008 Author Share Posted December 29, 2008 The only long lasting and durable finish is to powder coat in gloss black PM... Incoming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j80leo Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Rendar Posted December 29, 2008 Author Share Posted December 29, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Rendar Posted December 29, 2008 Author Share Posted December 29, 2008 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 That's cool... I realised that would be the case. The quote I've already received seems very reasonable on that front... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j80leo Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesC Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 Quick one for ya . A bit lower too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Rendar Posted December 29, 2008 Author Share Posted December 29, 2008 Nice work! I like that. Do you think that's the way to go, or would you have the dishes in black too? BTW, it was lower when I bought it, but not practical for my place of work, so I had to have it put back on stock setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieP Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 Jamie, I thought your rims were a polished metal lip? They are now, on the refurb the chrome would not take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 I used to have giovannis on mine and they were a pain to keep clean, i then curbed one of them and it snapped so I went for regular non-chrome alloys.....best thing that ever happened Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Shane_ Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 sorry to hear this mate, i have a set of chrome do luck double sixes on my supra that cost me 4400 euros (with rubber) from sumo power and bits of chrome are starting to come off on the insides of the front wheels Only ever wash the wheels with water on a weekly basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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