Are these Chrome or Aluminum Rims?

**Finally** · 06-26-2008, 04:33 AM

I bought my 2000 SS back in October and is has c5 z06 rims all around. But I can't tell if they're polished aluminum, or chrome, or some other coating.

They're dirty and I need to clean and polish them, but I don't want to mess them up with the wrong cleaner/polish. The previous owner said that they're chrome, but I'm not willing to trust that 100%. The plastic center cap is definitely shiney enough to look like it matches a chrome wheel, but I'm just not sure.

How can you tell what they are?

... I might be able to upload a pic later today or tomorrow

**Insert** · 06-26-2008, 05:54 AM

throw up the pic, kind of hard to guess by describing the wheel. but a general rule is if you can see your reflection its probably chrome.

**Y2KPewterSS** · 06-26-2008, 07:41 AM

Take some Mothers polish to them. If you get a black residue, they are aluminum. If no black residue, they are chrome.

**Chris(NJ)** · 06-26-2008, 08:24 AM

Testing w/ a metal polish is a good way to check, just be careful b/c if it is chrome, you dont want to scratch it w/ an abrasive product.
If you need a chrome polish or metal polish, check out the english custom polish lineup.
http://www.glimmerglassdetailing.com/meandchpo.html

**LS2Tuner** · 06-26-2008, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by Chris(NJ)

Testing w/ a metal polish is a good way to check, just be careful b/c if it is chrome, you dont want to scratch it w/ an abrasive product.
If you need a chrome polish or metal polish, check out the english custom polish lineup.
http://www.glimmerglassdetailing.com/meandchpo.html

Thanks for posting a link.

Not sure how long it will last though. . . . . . . . .

**Finally** · 06-26-2008, 10:06 AM

I have a bottle of mother's chrome polish on hand. Can I try it with that or do I need the metal polish? I'd hate to have to run out and buy a bottle just to check.

Oh and I've heard a lot of stuff about wheel cleaners ruining wheel finishes. Even the wheel cleaners that are specific to the type of wheel. And I guess the reason is that a lot of them have a very acidic mixture. So the way around that is to buy a "PH balanced" cleaner. Which cleaners are those? Because I looked at all the brands at Walmart yesterday and they all give that warning about not letting it sit on the wheel for too long or let it dry. I'm assuming those are the acidic cleaners. Long story short, I need a good cleaner because the last owner didn't do anything but a car wash and body wax....he never polished the rims.

**Y2KPewterSS** · 06-26-2008, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by Finally

I've heard about this method.
Is that chrome polish, or metal polish?
I have a bottle of mother's chrome

Metal polish.

**Chris(NJ)** · 06-26-2008, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by LS2Tuner

Thanks for posting a link.

Not sure how long it will last though. . . . . . . . .

Not sure how long what will last? The metal polish?

**Chris(NJ)** · 06-26-2008, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Finally

I have a bottle of mother's chrome polish on hand. Can I try it with that or do I need the metal polish? I'd hate to have to run out and buy a bottle just to check.

Oh and I've heard a lot of stuff about wheel cleaners ruining wheel finishes. Even the wheel cleaners that are specific to the type of wheel. And I guess the reason is that a lot of them have a very acidic mixture. So the way around that is to buy a "PH balanced" cleaner. Which cleaners are those? Because I looked at all the brands at Walmart yesterday and they all give that warning about not letting it sit on the wheel for too long or let it dry. I'm assuming those are the acidic cleaners. Long story short, I need a good cleaner because the last owner didn't do anything but a car wash and body wax....he never polished the rims.

Here ya go, ph balanced wheel cleaner

http://www.glimmerglassdetailing.com/p2whcl10.html

The chrome polish should work to test it out. If its bare metal you'll notice a fairly significant amount of black on the towel.

**c5z28** · 06-26-2008, 11:34 AM

if they are from a factory z06 then they are polished aluminum, if aftermarket then who knows

**96Firebirdformula** · 06-26-2008, 07:57 PM

Make sure it don't have Clear Coat what you put it might melt it off.

**Finally** · 06-28-2008, 09:16 AM

Hey good call on the metal polish test. It turns out they are in fact aluminum, not chrome.

They could very well be factory z06 rims since they've got the corvette center caps.

Thanks everyone