I am thinking about buying a set of painted aluminum wheels. I like the style and I think I will like them painted, but I have never seen the wheel except in photos on web pages. On the one web page they have both painted and chrome wheels of the type I am considering. I generally am not a big fan of chrome wheels and in most situations acutually prefer a painted wheel over a chrome plated wheel but in the photos the chrome wheels look better (to me) than the painted wheels. They also cost $300.00 per set(of 4) extra if I order them chrome plated.

I think it MAY be a situation where I would like the painted wheel better if I could see it "in person" but I won't know till I see it. Unfortunately I can't find any dealers except by mail order. If I buy the painted wheels and later decide I want to get them chrome plated, will I be able to do so? Approx. how much would it cost? Could I get comparable quality to what I would get if I bought them already chromed?

If I can get them chrome plated with comparable quality for anywhere close to $300.00 I think I will go ahead and buy the painted wheels. I could run them for a couple/few years and by that time getting them chromed might make a nice change.

Thanks, Joel

PS. The wheel I am considering is an ROH RT. If you know of any sites where I can see photos of the wheel, or better yet, where I can see, and or buy the wheel, anywhere near PA, please let me know.

Yes you can. Find a plater that does show chrome and look at some examples of his work. Shop around. It won't be cheap.

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'69 RS/SS396 pro street
427/4spd/9"

The plater has to be setup for wheels not all are. If you can get one to do it it will cost you.

69 RS Z/28 96 IMAPLA SS 82 C10 SWB 300HP 350

Aluminum can be chrome plated. I worked at Dayton Wire Wheel (of lowrider fame) a few years ago. Its sister company is Dayton Alloy wheel, and they deal only with alloy wheels, as the name implies, and their wheels were plated at Dayton Wire Wheel.

One thing you'll probably run into is that the wheels that are painted will not be polished to the same degree as the chromed ones and this is where the expense will get you. In order to have painted wheels chrome plated, they'll have to be stripped, polished and then plated. If the wheel is an intricate design, ie. many "spokes" etc, it will get even more costly.

I don't know how Dayton Alloy was set up to do business, they may or may not do retail type work. Dayton Wheel Products' number is listed as (937)438-0100 or (937) 222-3596 for Dayton Alloy.

Maybe you could reference them to a picture on a web site or in a magazine to give you an idea of cost. Good Luck!

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Bret Copsey
'68 Camaro base coupe
'92 Caprice wagon
'98 Malibu