I've seen advertised on ebay stock RL wheels which have been chromed, offered as an exchange (you send in your old wheels upon receipt of the new ones.) Does anyone have experience with the durability of this type of finish, particularly in winter driving?

I live in Denver and don't want wheels larger than 17 inches because:

(1) I don't think you can buy an 18-inch or larger tire that will fit the RL that's good in snow;
(2) I don't want to change wheels and tires each fall and spring;
(3) On previous cars with low-profile tires, I've nicked the wheels' edges on curbs.

I've seen pictures of RL's with the chromed 17-inch stock wheels which in my opinion look much better than the silver, rather drab, finish.

 

A good snow tire (not a mediocre all-season) wears way too quickly on hot summer streets anyway. You shouldn't run them in the summer, and for that reason I fine switching from my nice 18s in the summer to my 17s with snow tires in the winter.

 

I agree wholeheartedly. My experience is that a good all-weather tire, especially on an all-wheel drive vehicle like the RL, will perform quite well in winter. My goal is to avoid changing tires and or wheels with the change of seasons, and the chrome 17's appeal to me for this reason. My concern is that since the outfits that sell the stock wheels in a chrome finish are simply taking stock silver wheels and applyin the chrome that the finish may not hold up.