05MineralGrayV6

Ok guys and gals I found an awesome deal on a set of rims and tires they are the polished 18" Bullits came of of a 2007 Gt they look identical to the calispec/shelby gt rims. they have some clearcoat peeling I have read that there is polished aluminum and polished chrome wheels my question is how can you tell the difference between them? they look identical in pics. I plan on completely stripping the clearcoat off with aircraft remover of the rims if they are aluminum but if they are chrome that would ruin them. so does anyone know how to tell the difference between them?

Razorback Belle

If this is a legit question-- Chrome is a mirror finish, like looking into a mirror, you can see yourself in it...

aluminum isn't mirror reflective. You'd need to see them in person probably.

05MineralGrayV6

here is a pic of the rims notice the clearcoat damage on the left spoke im sure i can fix them if its aluminum but i dont know what to do if they are chrome

bakerjd

Polished Chrome



Polished Aluminum

It's all about the finish. The chrome has a better mirror finish just like Bowtie said and the aluminum has a nice shine to it, not mirror finish.

05MineralGrayV6

the rims are clearcoated so they wont be mirror like either way

bakerjd

Looks aluminum to me.

These are chrome bullitts

Razorback Belle

+1

Roy_R

It's not worth the effort...just buy a new set, they are so inexpensive???

http://www.americanmuscle.com/deepdish3.html

edcologne

again?!

the wheels in your picture are ford "polished" wheels, not chrome.

as far as looks they are quite different, besides:

chrome is chrome, i'm sure there are some parts on your car or your neighbors that are chrome, thats how chrome looks.
easy to clean, its a final surface finish.
(i wouldnt recommend to use the stripper on chrome but i also think it wouldn't do too much to it)

the stock ford "polished" wheels are rather semi gloss polished, have a clearcoat that is like any other paint (few exceptions) high gloss by itself and also represents a final surface finish.
(all that is why i like and got them)

"only" polished aluminum does not represent a sustainable proper surface finish (imo and in all current car manufacturers opinoins), however, it can be polished quite close to chrome but you need to keep it up constantly.

stripping them? polishing? maybe repainting? sooo much effort, time money (if professionally done) and very questionable results, get a better set if you like the polished or get chrome ones if you like these.

05MineralGrayV6

I got the rims with tires with excent tread on them only 300. 1 don't have 1000 plus to invest in rims and tires but I m pretty sure I can get these looking like new again if they are the aluminum rims