Results 1 to 17 of 17
  1. #1
    Junior Member Firebird98's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    51

    Mystic Teal
    1998 Firebird

    Trouble with chrome wheels

    I've got some 17" chome ZR1 Corvette wheels on my Firebird and the chrome on the inside of the wheel is starting to peel off therefore causing my tire to leak air. Does anyone have a solution to this problem? Or do I just have to get new wheels?

  2. #2
    Just a farmboy V8MUSCLE's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Montpelier, VA
    Age
    37
    Posts
    521

    Pewter
    2000 Pontiac Trans Am

    i had a similar problem, all i did was on the inside of the rim i put one of those tire patches on it. i doubt it will hold forever but its working for now.

  3. #3
    Junior Member RonBurgandy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Bullitt co. ky
    Posts
    38

    Maple Red Metalic
    2000 Trans Am

    Mine did the same except dont leak air. I just got tired of hearin it scrape the caliper. just keep pealin it of in my case.

  4. #4
    Member RedSmokey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    CA (sacramento)
    Posts
    226

    Black
    F250

    Tire shop i used to work at all these old ladies would bring in there caddy's doin the same thing. I just would throw a $hit ton of bead sealer on there... OBVIOUSLY not a permanent fix but would last a damn long time. just my .02

  5. #5
    Junior Member Firebird98's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    51

    Mystic Teal
    1998 Firebird

    Alright I guess I'll just try and see what I can do by trying to patch the leak, the wheel is going to keep leaking so I guess I'll be on the lookout for some new rims. I really liked mine though... Maybe I'll get some ones off of another Corvette to give me the same look, but should I go with chrome again? Or should I get some alluminum or black rims to prevent the problem in the future? The chrome ones looked really good on my color car, it's such a hard decision

  6. #6
    Junior Member Blackbandit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    55

    Black
    98 Trans AM

    I'd stick with chrome...looks the best...and do you know for sure if the leak is coming from the peeled off chrome...I don't think the tire would leak because of that.. that is just a chrome plating over the steel rim.. could all peel off and not have a leaky tire.

  7. #7
    Junior Member Firebird98's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    51

    Mystic Teal
    1998 Firebird

    No, it's def coming from the inside rim cause when I wash my car you can see bubbles coming from the rim, but peeling all the chrome off of the inside of the wheels is not such a bad idea, that might work
    Last edited by Firebird98; 04-10-2009 at 01:24 PM.

  8. #8
    Junior Member Firebird98's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    51

    Mystic Teal
    1998 Firebird

    Maybe I can find some chrome wheels that are only chrome plated on the outside and not the inside of the rim

  9. #9
    Junior Member Blackbandit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    55

    Black
    98 Trans AM

    Quote Originally Posted by Firebird98 View Post
    Maybe I can find some chrome wheels that are only chrome plated on the outside and not the inside of the rim
    Yes by, I might have to start looking too for some rims...Mine are peeled off on the inside too but no leaks....Didn't think it could leak from there...I guess over time and so much corrosion.

  10. #10
    Junior Member Firebird98's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    51

    Mystic Teal
    1998 Firebird

    Yeah, cause I think my rims are 10 years old, so I guess they've done a pretty good job for how old they are

  11. #11
    Something Diabolical... chuckie669's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    2,677
    2000 C5 Torch Red

    Quote Originally Posted by Firebird98 View Post
    I've got some 17" chome ZR1 Corvette wheels on my Firebird and the chrome on the inside of the wheel is starting to peel off therefore causing my tire to leak air. Does anyone have a solution to this problem? Or do I just have to get new wheels?

    Hmm... Never heard of this. I've heard of people with ZR1's polishing them so they are just polished aluminum. Aren't these wheels aluminum and not steel as someone else posted.

    Guess I'm just not understanding where they could be leaking from.

  12. #12
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Warner Robins, ga
    Posts
    9

    red
    2002 Trans Am

    Chrome rim leak

    Quote Originally Posted by chuckie669 View Post
    Hmm... Never heard of this. I've heard of people with ZR1's polishing them so they are just polished aluminum. Aren't these wheels aluminum and not steel as someone else posted.

    Guess I'm just not understanding where they could be leaking from.
    I took my '02 T/A with the factory 16" rims to two different shops before the source was identified. I had one leak around the valve stem from the chrome plating bubbling (fixed with a wire battery terminal cleaner and a little bead sealer). After that was repaired there were some issues getting the bead to seat...chrome peeling on the inside of the rim...liberal use of bead sealer fixed that one.

  13. #13
    Member RedSmokey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    CA (sacramento)
    Posts
    226

    Black
    F250

    I think the leak he is saying is where the bead of the tire touches the rim, the chrome will flake and bubble, causing the seal on the bead of the tire and wheel to leak. I would just do like somone else said, peel what you can off of it and then goup up a bunch of bead sealer in there, it works...

  14. #14
    400rwhp::370rwtq Lucky 13's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Little Elm, TX
    Posts
    342

    Black
    2002 T/A WS.6 -- ASC#12

    take it to a tire shop and have them use a wire wheel on an air dremel and buff all the chrome off the inside lip and it will seal up just fine, we did it all the time at the shop i worked at

  15. #15
    Junior Member Firebird98's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    51

    Mystic Teal
    1998 Firebird

    Yeah, I guess that's what I'll do then, I'll let yall know how it turns out
    1998 Firebird, 17" chrome ZR1 rims, 275s front and back, magnaflow exhaust, LED green accents on exterior, blue neon accents in interior, new Sony sound system; replaced all stock speakers, two 12s, two tweeters, Xplod 1600 watt amp, and Xplod radio head unit

  16. #16
    Member Qwk Vet's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Kentucky
    Age
    69
    Posts
    104

    Mag Red
    1999 Covette

    Quote Originally Posted by Lucky 13 View Post
    take it to a tire shop and have them use a wire wheel on an air dremel and buff all the chrome off the inside lip and it will seal up just fine, we did it all the time at the shop i worked at
    I would use a scotch bright like they put on a die grinder and buff inside the lip on ur wheel and should fix it.

  17. #17
    Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Bonner Springs, KS
    Age
    39
    Posts
    402

    NBM
    99 TA

    Mine started peeling and I was worried about the same problem...they can leak due to the chrome peeling on the inside, if it starts corroding the metal underneath as well (this usually takes sometime). As far as wheels without chrome on the inside...the only ones I could find are 3-piece wheels, but they tend to be alot more expensive (cheapest ones I found were 750/wheel). The guys at the shop say they see it happen alot if you drive during the winter, due to the salt. But if you dont drive it in bad weather, then your new rims should not have the same problems.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Chrome z06 wheels
    By 2000essess in forum Wheels and Tires
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 09-12-2009, 06:35 PM
  2. 99 Chrome Z28 rims & TA Chrome wheels w tires
    By 95GreenZ28 in forum Parts For Sale / Trade
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 06-17-2008, 07:30 AM
  3. Chrome WS6 Wheels
    By TopForm11 in forum Appearance Section
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 12-15-2007, 10:56 PM
  4. msr chrome wheels
    By conny9784 in forum Parts For Sale / Trade
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 10-15-2007, 06:02 PM
  5. New Chrome Z06 Wheels On My WS6??????
    By Honboy1 in forum Firebird / WS6
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 01-24-2006, 05:22 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •