I picked up some used clear-coated aluminum wheels for the winter and I can see that they already have some corrosion under the clear coat. I have had this happen to some other wheels in the past and in about 5 years they were completely corroded. (Largely due to neglect on my part . . . well, it was my wife's car and I can't convince her to drive through a car wash every now and then instead of always driving by them . . . and I didn't do it myself)

So anyway, I want to prevent this if I can --

- I'm thinking I'll give the wheels a good coat or two of good auto wax / polish before I put them on the car; any specific suggestions on this?

- any ideas about what to do about the corrosion that is already under the clear coat to keep it from spreading? Dig it out and then re-clear coat?

thanks in advance for any and all suggestions

 

Poorboys wheel sealant. Apply it after a good cleaning and polish and again before you put them away and that should do the trick.

 

I use Wheel Wax http://www.wheelwax.com/ it is especially made for wheels, although any good car wax will be better than doing nothing.

 

I have been trying to figure out what to do.
The wheels have no road rash, but they were driven in winter.
My friend says they look fine, but I can see the corrosion and it bothers me.
.
I am inclined to strip the clear and polish the wheels before I put on tires.
What I really want to know is the best way to do this.
.
I have found some info on the web and it seems that good paint stripper and then a good polish should clean them up.
Then a good rattle can clear coat in a low dust environment should finish it off.
I just haven't gotten to it yet.
Any info would be appreciated.

 

I would look at getting some aircraft stripper and removing the bad finish, then painting/coating them to your liking.

 

just wax them. probably base model wheels. once u use wheel cleaner it ruins them

 

Wrong.

You can go as far as claying your wheels if you choose. A painted wheel can be treated very similar to a painted surface. Clay, polish, wax and/or sealants work on wheels as well. Wheel cleaner will not "ruin" a wheel.

 

A finished wheel.... some bare metal wheels can oxidize with certain chemicals/cleaners...

 

Yes, bare metal are susceptible to corrosion. If they're clear coated (as the OP said), then he should be fine.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

I am running out of time . . . always too much to do and not enough time to do it . . . so I might have to take the "anything is better than nothing" approach and use whatever I have in my shop already, but will get the good stuff for my good wheels for when they go back on in the spring.