I was cleaning the rims on my '10 XLT with the chrome clad wheels, and noticed the front rims have a light brownish stain on them. I am assuming this is from brake dust. How do I get this off the wheels without ruining the finish. I think this is just a chrome plated plastic. Any ideas??

 

A non-acidic, pH balanced wheel cleaner such as P21S or Sonax Full Effect would be your best bet. Since the wheels are chrome I would recommend using the softest brush possible, and that would be a Natural Boar's Hair Wheel Brush.

 

Thanks Nick. I will try these products.

 

I thought my wheels on my 08 were toast after this winter. I tried using dish soap, gereaser etc. and they had a brown stained look from the winter roads. I applied a small amount of Turtle Wax chrome polish to a microfiber cloth and rubbed it all away and got my bling back.......

 

So, on an 2011 F150 XLT with Chrome package...are the wheels best described as chrome clad aluminum? I haven't looked close enough yet, they aren't a chromed plastic wheel cover are they? They look like this.

 

Same wheels as me. Those wheels are chrome on aluminum I believe...if not, its def not plastic.

I get the same brown/rustish stains..soemtimes on the same exact step bars as you have.

I use a tad of metal gloss polish and it comes right off..its just a pain to have to polish the wheels each time I wash it.

Mequiars makes a good wheel cleaner that is safe for all wheels..

 

It's very possible that they are chrome clad aluminum. More and more automotive manufacturers are making the switch.

A real easy way to determine if they are chrome clad is to tap the face of the wheel a couple times with your knuckles. If it sounds hollow, more than likely they are chrome clad. If it sounds solid and doesn't produce anything noise at all, you have good ol' fashion chrome wheels.

 

Sounds like plastic when you tap the edge...Apparently after reading some on this, it is in fact a chrome plated plastic cover bonded to the aluminum wheel. Arrgh.

 

You might think chrome clad seems like a cheap alternative, but they'll hold up much better to the environment. No pitting either.

 

I think you are right...it is just a surprise I guess.