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Okay, so since i brought the car out of winter storage i noticed these marks on the wheels. They are Rota SVN's, and 11-12 months old. Wheels are always kept clean and never driven on salt or winter weather (ice, snow).

Sorry for crappy cellphone pics. I quickly snapped them tonight, ill try to get some better ones up tonight.


Driver side rear: See first picture
- strange "shadow" near the center of the lip
-approx. 1 inch in length and about 3-4 mm wide - Circled in RED
-started as a brownish color. I thought it was dirt, remained after wash.
-scratched it lightly with my nail and a chunk of the lip flaked off (circled in Yellow)



Passenger side rear: See second picture
- this one is on the very edge of the lip, no curb rash near it, and first appeared to be "tape" stuck on the rim
-approx. 1 inch in lenght, 2-3 mm wide (circled in red)
- tried washing it off, did not work
- tried peeling it off the "tape", only to realize i was peeling a layer off the surface of the lip.



So.
1)Does anyone have any idea of what this is?
2)Any ideas of what i can do to prevent further damage to the wheels?
3)Any input or suggestions are welcome.

 

It is a anti-corrosive finish and will not last forever. And no you cannot put it back.

 

Just some suggestions:
1. Take it to a body shop to have it wet sanded gently and then cleared over the entire lip again. $$$
2. Strip off the clearcoat and polish the lip to a mirror shine. $$$ Unless it's a DIY, then only $.
3. Live with it and protect the rest of the wheel by washing then sealing and waxing it. $
4. Replace that one Rota rim. $$$

 

Thanks Mr. sparco. And its actually both the rears...

I think ill live with it for the rest of this year and get some new wheels in the next year..

I must say im very disappointed though. Its not like it was a rock chip that ripped the protectant off. It came up from underneath..

 

it happens. Especially w inexpensive wheels. The polished metal is never bare unless youre dealing w a true multipiece wheel.
You can sand it off and clear coat over it like the other guy said... but i like your other idea.. sell em cheap, and buy some better wheels later on... always good to upgrade.

 

Do this:

https://my350z.com/forum/wheels-and-...king+sandpaper

 

Wow. Thanks Phreak. Ill keep that in mind. Seems like a good long weekend project.

 

Do what phreak said. Not hard just time consuming. I plan on stripping and polishing my factory anniversary wheels. Just keep them waxed and you should be good from any problems with water spots. They're really not hard to up keep

 

Quick question about phreaks method. My wheels arent chrome, and they dont have a mirror finish right now. So will doing the wet/sanding turn my "non mirror" finish to a "mirror" finish?

 

you dont want chrome. if wheels have a polished lip or something, most come coated with something. a factory polished wheel for example comes coated. im sure this is done because its easier to upkeep. uncoated polished wheels cant kinda be a ***** to upkeep but as long as you keep the car clean, and the wheels waxed, its no big. what phreak did is not meant to be done to chrome, but painted or coated polished wheels. so what youll do is sand that coating off and work up to a finer grit sandpaper like 1500 or 2000 grit. then the metal polish will get the scratches out making a shine like none other if done correctly. imo chrome and polished rims shine dont even compare to each other. no better shine then a full polished part.