Cant find the answer! Chrome Wheels

Skogz16 · January 20, 2022

Hey all, new here and hoping this forum is helpful now and for the future.

I have a 2014 Silverado that as of this morning now has 2018 Sierra 20" Chrome wheels and to be clear, despite the picture i provided, these are FACTORY OEM wheels, not aftermarket replacements. I want to take care of the wheels, especially since i live in PA and salt on the roads this time of year is a common occurrence.

My dilemma is, i cant for the life of me find a straight answer as to what these wheels "are" which will decide what the right polishing products I should use. I am attaching a picture so there is no guess work.

Are they chrome clad? Are they just straight chrome? Are they PVD Chrome? Are they clear coated (paint)?

Ive found a lot of topics about wheel cleaning, specifically about Chevrolet wheels but i cant get a grip on these particular wheels. The difference comes down to... do i use a chrome polish, or do i use a polish for paint and a clay bar.... no matter what, i plan on putting a wax on afterward... but i need to know what these are first before i pick a product type.

Really appreciate any help i can get here.

Edited January 20, 2022 by Skogz16

shakenfake · January 20, 2022

I believe that they are clear coated over the chrome if I remember correctly but they may just be straight chrome

newdude · January 20, 2022

Two versions of that wheel from GM.

Polished Aluminum which is no chrome just polished and topped with a clearcoat.

The other is Polished Chrome which is what you've got. They are not clad, they should be chromed aluminum or PVD.

I would wash them good, maybe polish them a bit and use a wheel ceramic coating either applicator style or spray style like this: Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating™ Basic Kit - Adam's Polishes (adamspolishes.com)

Don't waste your time with wax.

Avoid cleaners with any of the following:

Ammonium Bifluoride (fluoride source for dissolution of chrome)

Hydrofluoric Acid (directly dissolves chrome)

Hydrochloric Acid (directly dissolves chrome)

Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonic Acid

Sulfamic Acid

Phosphoric Acid

Hydroxyacetic Acid

Ideally, since I see a total of two sets of wheels in your picture (the new Denali takeoffs and your originals), why not just run the Denali's in the spring/summer/fall so they won't ever see salt?

Skogz16 · January 20, 2022

Thanks newdude! That narrows it down to just PVD or chrome... has the internet told me correctly that chrome polish is not good for PVD wheels, do you know? Im hoping to narrow it down completely so i can choose the right polish. Once i get that, then I will check out the ceramic sprays, ive heard of them but never used them. Based on your comments, i take it you think they work better, longer?

Youre spot on with the original wheels. End game is to have summer and winter wheel/tires. I desperately needed tires for my original wheels, got a good deal on these denali wheels and tires (take-offs, low miles, less than buying new tires for my original wheels) so i scooped them up and threw them on. Next year ill try and get a set of tires on the old wheels but for now, need to protect these as best i can.

djw88 · January 20, 2022

the GM Chinese chrome wheels are awful. they don't last in the salt even if you take care of them. I got rid of my badly pitted chrome 20s for some AT4 wheels. They were so bad they wouldn't hold air. Where the bead seats it was just destroyed.

newdude · January 20, 2022

22 minutes ago, Skogz16 said:

Thanks newdude! That narrows it down to just PVD or chrome... has the internet told me correctly that chrome polish is not good for PVD wheels, do you know? Im hoping to narrow it down completely so i can choose the right polish. Once i get that, then I will check out the ceramic sprays, ive heard of them but never used them. Based on your comments, i take it you think they work better, longer?

Youre spot on with the original wheels. End game is to have summer and winter wheel/tires. I desperately needed tires for my original wheels, got a good deal on these denali wheels and tires (take-offs, low miles, less than buying new tires for my original wheels) so i scooped them up and threw them on. Next year ill try and get a set of tires on the old wheels but for now, need to protect these as best i can.

Yea ceramics will hold up for years if applied correctly. Simple washing with soap and water will remove everything off of them.

Skogz16 · January 20, 2022

14 minutes ago, newdude said:

Yea ceramics will hold up for years if applied correctly. Simple washing with soap and water will remove everything off of them.

Awesome, appreciate the insight..

Now i just need to know whats a safe polish for these wheels.

sk · January 20, 2022

Everything newdude said is right on.

Those are actually OEM GM wheels off the Yukon Denali. I put them on my 2015 Silverado right after I bought it. I have cared for mine just like newdude says and they still look brand new.

Oh yeah -- I am in PA as well.

Skogz16 · January 20, 2022

can y

38 minutes ago, sk said:

Everything newdude said is right on.

Those are actually OEM GM wheels off the Yukon Denali. I put them on my 2015 Silverado right after I bought it. I have cared for mine just like newdude says and they still look brand new.

Oh yeah -- I am in PA as well.

can you confirm if they are PVD or straight chrome?

do you use polish? if so, what kind?

dieselfan1 · January 21, 2022

Why do you need to polish them? Aren't they new?

As far as the salt in the winter,

You have to keep them clean.

If you keep them clean you dont need polish .

Every time you wash it spray some type of ceramic on them.

I use Meguiars Hybrid Liquid ceramic wax.

You have to do this often or they will corrode.

I wash my truck 3-4 times a week in the winter.

It works my wheels still look new after 1 1/2 winters in Minnesota

Skogz16 · January 24, 2022

On 1/21/2022 at 8:29 AM, dieselfan1 said:

Why do you need to polish them? Aren't they new?

As far as the salt in the winter,

You have to keep them clean.

If you keep them clean you dont need polish .

Every time you wash it spray some type of ceramic on them.

I use Meguiars Hybrid Liquid ceramic wax.

You have to do this often or they will corrode.

I wash my truck 3-4 times a week in the winter.

It works my wheels still look new after 1 1/2 winters in Minnesota

Thanks for the help. They are new, but not sure what has or hasnt been done to them in the 3-4 years they were sitting in the guys garage. So i just want to put a fresh polish down and then ill put one of these ceramics on them to keep them nice and wash in between. thanks

I did get the answer on if they are clear coated or not, the answer is yes they are, for anyone in the future looking for that answer. So dont use chrome polish, just a paint safe polish is recommended for use.

thanks for the help everyone