I just bought a set of brand new chrome A-Specs for $550 shipped. Rims, no tires. I'll be getting these soon and am kinda anxious to put tires on them and mount them. I'm from CT and winters here are pretty shitty. I know some people have problems with the chrome peeling off. Do you guys think I'll be ok and mount them or just keep my stockies for winter tires and hold off on mounting til the spring?

 

i wouldn't run them in winter.

If i were you, I would put your stock wheels on snow tires and your a-specs on summer tires and call it a day. Swap them out yourself when you need to. You'll save money.

if you pay a shop to swap your tires between stock/a-spec rims you're gonna drop 200 bucks a year which is a monumental waste of money when you could just run a set of snow tires on your stock wheels.

 

From my understanding, the "chrome" finish is actually a paint, so I don't see how it would fare any different than a normal painted wheel.

 

chrome by in large is a "plating" not paint... and will lose its luster if not cleaned regularly.

In the winter the salts/chemicals on the roads can damage them as apposed to paint which is more resilient.

If you do run them, just put a good protective polish on them before the first snow and try to rinse them when possible.

 

x2 with not running them in the winter. Put snows on the stocks. It's so much easier to just swap rims and tires that are already mounted and balanced. That way, your A-Specs stay clean.;

 

If you can pull it off, definitely keep your stocks for winter.

 

to both.

The chrome A-Specs are painted from the factory just like the other finishes offered. If the wheels were actually "chromed", then they would be considered plated like you mentioned.

Don't put any time of metal/chrome polish on the wheels, it will cause the paint to flake off. When I got my Gunmetal A-Specs, there was a piece of paper specifically saying not to use any type of cleaner besides basic soap because it would ruin the finish. Just wash them normally with soap and water.

Like others have said, I would run the A-Specs in the summer and stockies in the winter to prevent any premature wear and tear to the A-Specs.

 

noted.

 

 

 

thanks guys. appreciate all the advice. prolly will just get 4 tires and let them sit until spring don't want to risk damaging them. got a killer deal all 4 wheels and raised center caps for $550 shipped compared to the $1,400 range. Guy bought a warehouse full of them I guess. Has a bunch of sets of chrome and i believe hypersilver and gunmetal. . . When I had my old tl w chrome rims, I use to clean them with windex. that wont affect these wheels at all will it?

 

I would save the aspecs for spring/summer time and just use the stockies for winter with a set of snow tires on them...Is your TL ABP?What part of CT you from?

 

Many folks have suggested it and it's what I do. Stockies with Winter shoes in the Winter (not far from you in MA) and A-Specs with Summer shoes in the Winter.
Depending on temperatures and the season we have you can put your A-Specs on for a number of weeks before putting them away. With the mild Winter we had last year, I didn't put my stockies back on until the first week of December last year. Just saying.

 

from watertown. yes ABP

think i'll prolly just hold off. then i'll even try to wait for a buy 3 get 4th free deal on a good set of tires

 

the chrome look wheels will definitely peel ... my set was chrome and after one michigan winter were peeling, ended up getting them refinished in gunmetal, has held up much better than the chrome finish but there is still a slight peeling after one winter

 

It's your call, but I couldn't wait to get my A-Specs on my car. There is always some sort of deal going on whether its a buy 3 get one free or some sort of prepaid credit card rebate. I recently got a $70 rebate card from Michelin when I bought my Pilot Super Sports.

 

plastidip them!

 

NO WAY! lol i specifically wanted the chrome look!

 

 

^ lolol

 

I would plastidip then with the glossifier,its pretty much clear + adds the protective coating you need.

 

Where did you get them?

 

Are these the wheels you bought?

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/pts/3228302887.html

 

Will this mess up the look of the chrome finish?

no bought these from a friend I go to school with, his friend had them.

 

I use this now on my stocks, do you think this could damage the chrome finish on the new wheels? I really like this stuff cuz it does a hell of a job eating away at all the dirt n shit from the tires and rims

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_x_7030001-P_x_x?cm_mmc=ACQ-_-Google-_-enhancedRM-_-7030001&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=7030001&ci_gpa=pla& ci_kw={keyword}#utm_source=acq&utm_medium=google&u tm_campaign=enhancedrm&utm_content=7030001

 

so i want to put the rims on the car for the month left. I wanted to know what are the best size and tire you guys recommend for these rims. Besides the next 2 months, these will ONLY be useed a summer tires, so they'd be on hte car mid-march/april-november and Continental DWS have gotten great reviews all over, but like I said these won't see snow ever. Any input is great! thanks guys

 

Sorry I never replied! Ill check out that link you posted when I get home from class.

As for tire size, either 235/40/18 or 245/40/18 will work. 245 will give you more wheel protection from curbs but if you ever want to slam the car, 235s will be best.

 

^ I'll never slam the car. I live in CT and the roads suck the car would get all messed up slammed so that's not in the plan. Just want a tire that's good in summer and rain that rides like a caddy

 

CLtotheTL32 I know you said 235 or 245, and I read that too so would those sizes be ok with the car? I do want to protect the wheel, but I don't want to throw anything off really either. The .whatever MPH under is not a big deal, but I don't want to cause any other future damage. This is what came with the rims

 

anyone?

 

225s will work just fine. 235 might be a good choice if you want extra rim protection. Also, it wouldn't be a bad thing to have a larger contact patch on the road.

 

See that's what I don't get. It says 225, but everyone is saying 245. I do want the rim protected as much as possible. Idk what to dooo!

 

 

do you think that 245 will be an issue, i doubt it if everyone is recommending them right?

 

I dont think you ever mentioned the width of these Aspecs?
Do you have a link to them?

 

part # 08W18-SEP-200c this is what is behind the wheel. 8x17 1/2 J < idk what the J is for

 

Oh, they are 7.5" width? That's why they recommend 225.

 

yup! need 8 inches

 

so stay awake from 235 and 245? I still want wheel protection

 

anyone?