Running wheels through the winter.
 

Ok i got a set of Rims earlier this spring. Set of ION aluminum w/clear. I love the wheels and i was wondering if anynody else runs their aluminum wheels all year around. In the past i always have switched out to the stockers. my delima is that i no longer have a set of factory wheels. I guess this thread is directed to people that live in the Mid-west and on up. The wonderful state of Indiana like to put down this liquid salt and rock salt/sand mix every winter...It downright horriable on your vehicle. :td:. Its hard to keep anything nice here. If i was smart i would get a little beater to run around in for the winters but funds are short..like always. But anyways im Leary ( spell?) about running them this winter.. What do you think?
thanks, kyle

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Makes me want to move south.. then i wouldnt have to worry about it. Any body??

Wash em real good, then get some aluminum polish/protection on em. :tu:

I guess its better off then running chrome wheels. at least aluminum you can save:w2:

I've run both clear coat aluminum and polished aluminum in the winter in WV. The clear coat held up good for a few years and then started to show signs from the salt. The polished aluminum I ran for about a month in the winter and they really looked liked crap, so I put the stockers back on.

Mine are chrome plated aluminum, I just keep them polished and don't have any problems.

Yep, it's just a royal pain in the ass...:argh:
Seems like everytime I clean my truck of the salt in the winter is right when conditions get worse and it just gets even dirtier again.

They've started spraying mag chloride up here on all the roads and it is destroying everything it touches.

Used to be just in the mountain passes but now it's pretty well all over the place.

With a polished uncoated piece of aluminum, whether it be a tool box, wheel, fender, whatever.....best thing to do is wash it off as soon as you can, but even then it's probably going to start the pitting/corrosion process.

A good heavy chrome plated piece of steel will actually last longer than uncoated aluminum providing the chrome was put on correctly. Factory wheels, etc have a very thin layer of low quality chrome that doesn't hold up to much, but some of the higher end aftermarket chromes are pretty good.

We have a chrome bumper that is over 30 years old and shows no signs of pitting, rust, or peeling (knock on wood)...but back in those days chrome was done right.

Get good with soap, wash mitts, and polish and you can keep things nice for a while but it ultimately is a losing battle. :(