Torque and Chrome

How to get paint off chrome wheels?

I have 18" Giovanna wheels that are chrome but the previous owner painted orange on them to match the car. Now the paint chips away every time it gets washed and looks terrible. How can I get the paint off, but save the chrome underneath?

Public Comments

1. How about cellulose thinners
2. paint remover but take care not to get it on the tyres
3. http://programacaovbnet2005.blogspot.com/
4. You can put acetone, paint thinner, etc. on a rag and rub it off. Don't apply directly to the rims but saturate a portion of the rag instead. Anything you use, if applied to the wheel directly will tend to evaporate quickly and be wasted and dry out your tires. You are not going to damage the chrome, it is a thin layer of chromium (metal) bonded to the underlying steel, solvents will not hurt it. Just make sure it is not high-polished aluminum (which can resemble chrome) with a clear-coat otherwise you will take the clear-coat off too. Either way, there is nothing that will be able to take off paint, but leave the clear-coat since they are essentially one in the same. If unsure, use a magnet and if it sticks, it is chrome-plated steel, if not, it is polished aluminum possibly with a clear-coat. Steel wheels are also noticeably heavier. Whatever you do, do a small test spot first. Use a good chrome polish afterwards to make future cleaning easier. Good luck.
5. If it comes off really badly every time you wash the car (it probably does if they painted over smooth, bare chrome), you could try pressure washing the hell out of them. Otherwise use a paint remover.