Aftermarket Wheel Issue

[KnurledNut]

Not sure what's up with my wheels. They are aftermarket aluminum. I've always just washed and waxed them. Lately I noticed what appears to be a coating that's failing. Do they need a scotch brite cleaning? Professional refinishing? No corrosion, no scratches on the aluminum. The pics suck, but it's 95 gazillion degrees.

I didn't want to do anything until the RF brethren had their say.

 

[mikeru]

I would contact customer support for the wheel manufacturer and see if they can suggest anything. To me that looks like the kind of damage we get here from the magnesium chloride the state road department uses on the highways in winter as a deicer. Hopefully that's not what it is on your wheels.

 

[Nick@GotExhaust]

I agree, contact the manufacturer and send them pics and see what they recommend. How long have they been on the truck and how many miles?

Do you use a lot of "tire wet" or something similar? I have seen some of them cause damage to the finish of some wheels, especially aftermarket chrome when it slings or drips on the wheel and let there.

 

[KnurledNut]

I agree, contact the manufacturer and send them pics and see what they recommend. How long have they been on the truck and how many miles?

Do you use a lot of "tire wet" or something similar? I have seen some of them cause damage to the finish of some wheels, especially aftermarket chrome when it slings or drips on the wheel and let there.

Truck has 107k miles. Wheels have been on 6-7 years. No tire treatments. Just wax.

No magnesium. I'm in Florida. Never driven on the sand or standing salt water.

 

[hemihustlin]

I would use something like this. I usually have a tube of autosol lying around but these days the only chrome i have left to polish is my exhaust tips haha
but im far from an expert in polishing chrome so maybe someone will have better advise!

 

[chopperman1]

Looks to me like the clear coat over the polished aluminum is starting to break down. No fixing that shy of strip and refinish.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

It looks like a top coat finish wearing off to me.
With 6 to 7 years of use, I'd reach out to the manufacture of them and ask their opinion and what can be done to restore them.