[hiperco]

Upgraded my 2015 Ashen Gray with the OEM polished wheels. I like them. Sorry the pics aren't as high quality as I would have liked.

One installed :

Both installed:

 

[Sly Bob]

Looks great. I like the polished wheels but not what the salt does to them in the winter. I have the polished wheels and am thinking of powdercoating them next year but not sure what colour to do them, it's a white car. Thinking white to match the car or gloss black to match the trim.

Can't decide, maybe buy a can of spray paint and experiment.

 

[ClarksonCote]

Looks great. I like the polished wheels but not what the salt does to them in the winter.

Has the salt caused permanent damage to them? I have polished wheels but swap them out for winters on separate wheels, so I haven't noticed much. I'm curious to know if there's a permanent effect though, should I decide to not put on my winters.

 

[Sly Bob]

Yes the salt gets under the clear coat and causes corrosion of the aluminum forging. Starting to look unsightly and it's not only Volt wheels that do this. All polished wheels have this adverse reaction to salt and when it gets in between the tire and the rim they start leaking air quite badly.

 

[hiperco]

I don't think that's normal or typical for polished wheels. We have polished wheels on a GMC Acadia that have seen several winters and there is no sign of anything like that.

 

[Sly Bob]

Oh it's typical around here, have had several cars that have exhibited the same thing as have many people I know. All depends on how much salt they use in your area on the roads in the winter I suppose and here they use lots.

 

[Dutch]

If you don't keep the brake dust rinsed off the polished rims it can really tear up the clearcoat and then the problems begin.

I've got a friend who uses this on his Thunderbird, I've never tried it myself.
http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/g15009-hot-rims-brake-dust-barrier/

 

[Fyodor]

If you don't keep the brake dust rinsed off the polished rims it can really tear up the clearcoat and then the problems begin.

I've got a friend who uses this on his Thunderbird, I've never tried it myself.
http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/g15009-hot-rims-brake-dust-barrier/

True, but less true with a Volt. I have very little brake dust.

 

[Sly Bob]

Brake dust. Who uses brakes?