Need some advice on whether or not I should get chromes for my E. I was told that if I were to put chromes on my E I'd have to take them off in the winter as the snow would ruin them. I live in a townhouse and don't have the room to store rims, so I would have to keep them on all the time. Is it true that you can't (or shouldn't) run rims in the winter snow?? So often I see pics posted by you guys/gals in the warmer states and the chromes on your cars look awesome. Need your help on this one - should I or shouldn't I put chromes on my SOP..:-? :-?

I've struggled with the same dilema. I would love to put wheels on the cars (not necessarily chrome, but nicer than stock) but Pittsburgh has snow, salt, and lots of potholes in the winter so I am hesitant to upgrade the wheels because I really don't want to have to deal with storing and swapping wheels all year.

Yes chrome deteriorates in the weather. It doesnt sound like a good combo for you Rube.

Yes chrome deteriorates in the weather. It doesnt sound like a good combo for you Rube.

I-w, you have just bummed me out...........:-( :-(

Instead of chrome go for something close to it but a bit more weather resistant.
Look for wheels that are mirror machined (http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findWheelDetail.do?yr=2006&wd=17&c=3&pc=58087&rw=8.5&bp=5-114.3&vid=009660), silver stainless (http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findWheelDetail.do?yr=2006&wd=17&c=3&pc=61812&rw=7&bp=5-114.3&vid=009660) (this one also (http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findWheelDetail.do?yr=2006&wd=17&c=3&pc=68633&rw=7&bp=5-100&vid=009660)), or maybe hyper silver machined (http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findWheelDetail.do?yr=2006&wd=17&c=3&pc=63309&rw=8&bp=5-114.3&vid=009660).

In my humble opinion, I think chrome on the Element will make it look too bling-bling -like a mini-Escalade.

Even if you kept your stock EX alloy wheels, you'd do well to remove them for the winter because salt will cause corrosion. You can keep your snows (you do have snows, don't you?) on a set of steel rims and not have to put your tires through the trauma of being mounted/demounted twice a year.

Instead of chrome go for something close to it but a bit more weather resistant.
Look for wheels that are mirror machined (http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findWheelDetail.do?yr=2006&wd=17&c=3&pc=58087&rw=8.5&bp=5-114.3&vid=009660), silver stainless (http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findWheelDetail.do?yr=2006&wd=17&c=3&pc=61812&rw=7&bp=5-114.3&vid=009660) (this one also (http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findWheelDetail.do?yr=2006&wd=17&c=3&pc=68633&rw=7&bp=5-100&vid=009660)), or maybe hyper silver machined (http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findWheelDetail.do?yr=2006&wd=17&c=3&pc=63309&rw=8&bp=5-114.3&vid=009660).

Thanks Empire - Took a look and saw a couple I really liked. Gotta check on the funds department and see if I can swing them and some new tires (though I only have 30M on my present ones). Hope to have some pics of my other mods soon.....................Thank again....

if you have a company there near you that does powder coating they have a powder that is called almost chrome and it is very close. check it out and it will last a lot longer with no work at all.

Mark

if you have a company there near you that does powder coating they have a powder that is called almost chrome and it is very close. check it out and it will last a lot longer with no work at all.

Mark

Thanks ya - I'll check it out...

Mmmmmm, powdercoat.

I wish I could chrome my entire E. It would be like the advetisements for Superman II back in the day...

Personally I don't think it's a big deal to swap out your tires twice a year. It takes me about 10 min. to swap mine out. I would think someone you know could store your extra set of tires for you that you were not using.

To me, it's worth the time and effort to have the chrome on the E.

If not, I'd definately go with the powdercoating.

Personally I don't think it's a big deal to swap out your tires twice a year. It takes me about 10 min. to swap mine out.
It only takes you 10 minutes to dismount your tires from one set of wheels and then remount, inflate, balance, and install them with another set of wheels?
He's talking about having only one set of wheels and tires year round.

Well ok, maybe 15-20 min. & that's just swapping out one set of wheels & tires for another set.

My advice is if you really want chrome, get a whole set of rims & tires for summer and the stock set for winter.

Reflective Chrome Powder Coating:

http://www.k-series.com/Images/PC/vc3.jpg



Steve