My "07 LT2 came with a striking set of 17" wheels. Even though the original price sticker refers to them as "polished aluminum", they appear to be chrome plated. They are corroded/ deteriorating in some areas, understandable after eleven years of Michigan salt. Are there any hints or tricks to restoring them or should I relegate them to snow tire use and buy something new for summer use?

 

There are companies that do nothing but restore wheels. If GoOgle doesn't help try going by a used car lot and asking them for their vendor's name.

 

They are polished and clear coated. A good company should be able to clean them back up and reclear.

 

There are kits available for the do it yourself kinda people!!

 

Those kits are not going to work good on a polished wheel, unless you don't want the polished look anymore.

 

Yeah, but it’s an option.

 

Any professional restoration service will probably not be cost effective, especially on a 9 year old car, when new after market wheels can be bought for ~$100 each.

I'd just coat your current ones with plasti-dip and use them for winter wheels with good snow tires on them.

 

Those polished & clear coated rims are forged aluminum. They will be much stronger than aftermarket cast ones. I have same wheels, factory option QP2.

I would strip the clear & work on polishing them back up, Get them shining nice & then you can spray clear coats on them.

If all else fails, you can plastic dip em.