Really like the looks of these rims but am wondering how they have held up condition wise for owners who have had them for awhile.


Have they gone through a winter? Do they pit easily?(more so than the painted ones?)

Etc...you get the idea I'm looking for


Goose

 

Are you talking about the 10-spoke or the 5-spoke?

I got the 10-spoke chrome 17s and they hold up to the elements really well. It's a pain trying to keep them clean, but that's any chrome wheel. I've also curb-checked a couple times but either I just scraped the tire or the rims are really tough, because when I checked them, there were no scratches, dents, dings, or scrapes.

 

If you're talking about the 17" high polished 5 spoke wheels, then that's what I have. I've had my HHR for going on two years and have been 45,000 miles and through two winters, and they have held up very well. There are some very minor scratches that look like swirl marks on paint, but they buff out with a good coat of wax and some elbow grease. Not completely sure the scratches are not my fault. Before I knew better I scrubbed pretty hard on them with some chrome polish, something I later found out I shouldn't do, since they are clear coated.

 

Yes the 5 spoker highly polished one...I didn't know there was an OEM 10 spoke??

I think they look really sharp with the chrome package. Glad you mentioned they were clearcoated..I would have not though they were either

Were the winters snowy etc? Just wondering knowing the amount of salt and crap they pile on the roads here in New England...


Goose

 

I think the OEM 10 spoke ones are like the ones that will be on the SS.

Looks like a 5 spoke with each spoke cut in half.

 

Goose you should buy a set of the black steel rims and swap them for the winter. You would find winter tires better too assuming you also leave the all seasons on. No chrome or aluminum wheel will hold up very well after a winter or two with salt and the like. I know this form experience here where we would have similar weather to New England and I am sure just as much salt on the roads.

 

We had a fairly harsh winter last year in Missouri. Several big snows and some ice. Around here they use a salt/cinder mixture with turns everything black, and kicks around like sand. Nasty stuff. I clean my car as often as the weather will allow during winter, but with very cold temps and lots of precipitation, I wasn't able to clean very often. I was impressed how well everything cleaned up this past spring

I wish I had known the wheels were clear coated before I started polishing them. Oh well better late than never. I just clean them now like the painted surface of the car, and in fact wax them more often, just to make sure they are protected.

 

That's good advise. I've considered doing that myself, if I had the money

 

You'd probably get a double whammy just from the sea salt that must be in the air to some degree.