Appearance & Detailing Interior & Exterior Appearance Modifications

just how hard is it to maintain polished wheels??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 1, 2006 | 08:52 PM
  #1  
NBMgreg's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: PHX az
Default just how hard is it to maintain polished wheels??

i always read people talking about how polished wheels suck, they take forever to clean, etc etc...then there are some who say it is easy.

i just want to know what i would be getting myself into if i were to get a set of TT2's... my car is a DD, and i want to know exactly what im looking at, like how often will i need to take a powerball to it? how long will it take? what about after a year or two, how will upkeep be?

alot of people tell me to go chrome, but the only reasonable chrome wheel to look at in 17's would be ZR1's, which 3 people already have where i live, and none have TT2's yet.
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2006 | 08:54 PM
  #2  
Z28LS1camaroguy's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,905
Likes: 0
From: Northern Kentucky
Default

polished wheels would be the same in terms of cleanin as Chrome would be, you dont want to use some of that crappy black magic wheel cleaner or spray on cleaner. what you want is a metal polish, you rub it on until everything is off then wipe it off and it leave a clear film over the wheels surface and keeps them cleaner longer, and shines them up alot better aswell.
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2006 | 09:13 PM
  #3  
NBMgreg's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: PHX az
Default

ive always read about the mothers power ball, do you use the metal polish with that thing? what about aluminum polish? i also heard that glass cleaner works great as a quick clean, like during the week, in between polishes
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2006 | 09:18 PM
  #4  
Z28LS1camaroguy's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,905
Likes: 0
From: Northern Kentucky
Default

Yeah the mothers powerball definantly works good and is a faster way, and it uses the mother polish so on average depending on if the car is a daily driver and if you like your wheels super clean you should be looking at cleanin them every weekend.
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2006 | 09:42 PM
  #5  
NBMgreg's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: PHX az
Default

ya my car is a DD, but i clean it at LEAST once a week, and it is garaged, so maybe it wont be that bad, who knows, i might enjoy the extra work, i love washing my car and detailing it, and enjoying the results, so maybe it wont be much more cleaning than i already do
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 12:00 AM
  #6  
Z28LS1camaroguy's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,905
Likes: 0
From: Northern Kentucky
Default

oh with the powerball it wont even take 10 minutes to clean all four wheels, that thing is a great product and shines em up real quick.
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 12:44 AM
  #7  
luckyou03's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 0
From: Memphis, TN
Default

i'd get the mini powerball the big one can't reach alot of stuff
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 09:51 AM
  #8  
00NBMCamaro's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
From: Sugarland , TX
Default

its really not all that bad. I have Smoothie II and they are daily driven but garage kept. And I do minimal amounts of polishing. the important thing to remember with polished wheels like TTII's and SII's is they have such large lips that brake dust will collect and then you get some water on there it stains the aluminum.

Overall maintaining is not bad and if you do wash you car once a week you will have no problem. Polish them up good and put a coat of wax / zaino and you will be good to go for about a month.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 10:29 AM
  #9  
steveo346's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,124
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio,Tx
Default

Polish By Hand.....aluminum Is A Very Nice Metal And When Taken Care Of It Shows Just How Good U Take Car Of Your Car And What Kind Of Person U Are
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 02:13 PM
  #10  
RollTideTA's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,535
Likes: 1
From: The Houndstooth
Default

my polished wheels = PITA
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 02:43 PM
  #11  
nasty99WS6's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 0
From: upstate ny
Default

^^ x2. I am very particular about my car, and IMO, it IS a pita to maintain polished aluminum rims. But, when they are properly taken care of, they look great.
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 10:14 PM
  #12  
spy2520's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,513
Likes: 1
From: Waldorf, MD
Default

Originally Posted by luckyou03
i'd get the mini powerball the big one can't reach alot of stuff
i second that, th big one kinda sucks for alot of wheels, but it still works, anybody know what that other one is? its yellow and small like the mini-powerball but it is only available on the mothers website or something...
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2006 | 03:30 PM
  #13  
linegtdt52's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Default

have any of you guys had bad streaking or spots on your aluminum wheels? i just goy a set and its all over them. what do you guys reccommend? tried using power ball got plenty of black dirt on the powerball but couldnt get streks out? please help
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2006 | 03:54 PM
  #14  
Sprayed1998's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,001
Likes: 0
From: Sugarland Texas
Default

clear coat them and it will not only look better but save you alot of hassle
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2006 | 04:36 PM
  #15  
phantomzer0's Avatar
TECH Veteran
15 Year Member
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,381
Likes: 2
From: Lockport, IL
Default

doesn't clear coat cut the shine down alot?
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2006 | 05:03 PM
  #16  
linegtdt52's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Default

OK! but you know you need to clean the wheels before you clear coat then. Here is what I did: i stripped the clear coat off the wheels so I could get the scratches out and get a better luster when i polish them. The problem is I have streaking and pitted
or water spots on the wheels. I need to get these things spotless before I reclear them. Just wanted to know if any of you guys have ventured into this unchartered territory yet? Maybe someone has some pointers
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2006 | 07:43 PM
  #17  
NBMgreg's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: PHX az
Default

ya people say clearcoating takes away the shine, and gives it a yellow glow... look into zoopseal, it doesnt take away shine, and lasts about a year if you maintain the wheels
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2006 | 09:00 PM
  #18  
pjb's Avatar
pjb
TECH Resident
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 994
Likes: 0
From: MD
Default

somebody mentioned glass cleaner - it will dull the polished finish (OK on chrome).

clear coats will almost always dull the finish, usually yellow and chip/peel and look like crap. just use a power ball or hand polish with mothers billet and you will bling.
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2006 | 10:22 PM
  #19  
NBMgreg's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: PHX az
Default

so you are suggesting NOT using glass cleaner? it was silver02t/a who suggested it, and imo, he has some of the shiniest polished wheels on here.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2006 | 02:30 PM
  #20  
pjb's Avatar
pjb
TECH Resident
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 994
Likes: 0
From: MD
Default

most people will agree that the ammonia in most glass cleaners will dull the polished finish and make it "milky" looking.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:14 AM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE