I was wondering because I just bought some wheels yesterday and I put them on last night. They looked spotless I checked each one. I took it to work today and I just checked them out and they have little nicks and scratches. Is this from the rocks in the freeway. Is this inevitable?

This sucks they arn't noticeable unless you stick your face in them.

But I know they are there.

Thanks Gilbert

 

Yes, inevitable. Sucks, don't it?

 

YES it makes me die a little

 

Yeah it sucks... and lately I've had road tar from the people re-paving the streets in Chino. It's a b1tch trying to scrape it off without scratching the wheels.

 

hey Gilbert, chips are pretty unavoidable. I have a set of rims on my daily driver IS300, i see new chips everytime i wash it. What i do is get the lips repolished by a shop every year, it all goes away.

Enjoy the wheels man, and you can polish off scratches with 3M rubbing compound/swirl remover... i find it to actually work better than Mother's wheel polish.

 

Scrape it off? Don't do that !!! Use lighter fluid then wash with clear water and towel dry right afterwards. Works great and you don't have to use anything but an old towel.


You can also use bug and tar remover that is found at the local auto parts store. It doesn't seem to work as good IMHO. You can get ligher fluid for like .77 at the store. The bug and tar remover goes for ~$4.95.

Just make sure you rinse off any chemicals you put on your rims right afterwords with water.

 

lighter fluid eh... what about 3M adhesive remover?

 

Thanks alot Stanley for the wheels I love them I will post pics as soon as I get a chance.

 

Turtle Wax Scratch And Swirl Remover also works well on wheels and the car itself....I tapped a yellow pole with my CS Z recently....I thought for sure I'd need to get the area repainted...The Turtle Wax S&S Remover was able to remove the yellow paint and minor scratch marks.....the stuff is amazing!

 

my wheels have little scratches everywhere from regular driving..can't avoid it..just don't curb em!! someone dripped a little brake fluid on one of my rims too watch out for that..

 

32,000 miles on my wheels. They're not the same as the day that I bought the car.

 

my volks have some nice nicks and scratches...and like some of the others...i will be getting them either refinished before the shows start up again or replaced...but yeah-guaranteed nicks will occur...

 

I actually had that stuff start to melt the clearcoat on my wheel. I find lighter fluid doesn't cause a reaction to the plastic coating. Been using it for years. No problems. I have tried other chemicals and they seem to not do the job as well and eat at the coatings.

 

I have 8 years and 50K on these with not a scratch, blem or haze:



Another preventative measure is crystal guard the wheels. Glass impregnated compound that hardens the clear coat.

 

Thanks for your tips... I'll definitely give it a try next time. I wouldn't say I "scratch it off"... I'd say more of picking it off like a scab since it's a bit sticky and dry.

 

what is that what do I buy where?