EasyRay

According to my dealer, the 17" factory polished aluminum rims are clear coated.

GDZHHR

I may be wrong but I think the only 06 that came with chrome wheels was the Spring Edition, those were 16's. My wife's has the 17" polished wheels.

Stovebolt

You can use MOTHERS Aluminum rim polish. Gooood Stuff! The Mothers Powerball is good too!

nfboy

Is that one meant for clear coated aluminum wheels? Some products are only meant for non clear coated and that was why I wanted to know whether my wheels were clear coated so I could choose the right product. Mike cleared that up for me.

DARK AGE 53

Do not use Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish, this will ruin the clear coat finish.....go with Mothers Clear Coat Wheel Polish.

SCOOT

This is correct!
The OEM 17" aluminum wheels (polished) ARE clear coated. Any wheel cleaner that claims it's *safe* for clearcoat will do. After that, detailer or wax can be used as preventative maintenance.
The SE, on the other hand, is the only HHR that came with optional CHROME wheels (which are not clearcoated... chrome doesn't need clear)- and they are 16" wheels - as Yeshua has mentioned... he knows, he has one!
All other (OEM) wheels 'should' have a *painted* machine face (which is typically clear coated) EXCEPT for any of the hubcap varieties.
Hope that clears some of the confusion...

SoCalHHR

Whatever you do , don't use a powerball, or you will scuff up the clear coat badly!

As I said earlier, we use Meguiar's "Spray Detailer" all the time and it works great.

crowbar

i would NOT use mothers, that stuff has scratched everything ive ever put it on