Clear Coating Rims

[kencobra]

Trying to decide if I want to have my wheels clear coated once I order them. What are the pros and cons of doing this? It seems that if you clear then if you get a scratch or chip you have to refinish the rim?

[Chadman27]

I've heard of yellowing over time due to UV exposure, although I am not familiar on the subject, so this could just be talk... maybe someone else could chime in.

[Schwartz Performance]

Are they polished or colored?
Clear paint or clear powdercoat?

They hold up fine as long as you treat them well, as with any other paint. Many oem polished wheels are clear coated. Over time if they chip, they can oxidize at that point and start peeling. Look at any 1995-2005 aluminum Jeep wheel for instance (just one make that comes to mind).
As far as UV, they shouldn't be any different than a regular paint job as the clear coat is the UV protection.
Hope this helps...!!!!

-Dale

[TheJDMan]

On the other hand, bare polished aluminum is a pain in the ass to maintain. You will be polishing all the time. I have had both cleared and raw aluminum wheels and I would opt for the clear coat any day.

[72Z/28]

Are they polished or colored?
Clear paint or clear powdercoat?

They hold up fine as long as you treat them well, as with any other paint. Many oem polished wheels are clear coated. Over time if they chip, they can oxidize at that point and start peeling. Look at any 1995-2005 aluminum Jeep wheel for instance (just one make that comes to mind).
As far as UV, they shouldn't be any different than a regular paint job as the clear coat is the UV protection.
Hope this helps...!!!!

-Dale

Dale what about Tecnipolish wheels like Fikses. I have accidently chipped the Technipolish coat on one of my wheels, and I was thinking about touching up that spot with clear coat. I emailed Fikse on Sunday regarding the 1 inch center caps they sent me for the front wheels, however the caps do not fit firmly and could easily fall off while driving. Also I asked about the possibility of touching up a technipolish wheel with clear coat. Unfortunately no response as of today from Fikse.

Maybe the after sales services and support are not in their policy!!!!!!

[Hydyne Motorsport]

Trying to decide if I want to have my wheels clear coated once I order them. What are the pros and cons of doing this? It seems that if you clear then if you get a scratch or chip you have to refinish the rim?

I would absolutely recommend it, especially if you have polished wheels. There are now many clear powder coats available that work great and dont yellow. Theres really no con side to it. Well, maybe the added cost of doing it...but you wont have to constantly polish your wheels which Im sure more than makes up for that. Look up clear ceramic coating or clear powder coating...theres many different products and places that do it.

[astroracer]

Leave them bare! I have to side with Dale on this one. Yea, naked aluminum wheels are a pain to maintain but at least you HAVE that ability. Clearing over the aluminum will work UNTIL you get a chip. Once the aluminum starts to oxidize you can do nothing to stop it. Like Dale said, look at any clear coated factory wheel that is more then a year old. Chips turn into spider webbed oxidized messes that eat up the aluminum and leave a dull pitted pock mark. I would rather spend a few hours a year cleaning and polishing then looking at a mess like that. Get some White Diamond polish.
http://www.whitediamondamerica.com/metal-polish.html
This stuff works and it leaves the aluminum shiney for a long time, even better then Mother's Billet Polish.
Mark

[kencobra]

Thanks all for your feedback. Looks like I have to put some more thought into this but leaning toward no clear coat or maybe just the centers. Wheels are expensive and I just want to do what will be the best for my situation.