Winter, Salt, and Chrome Rims...January 2nd, 2004
It is officially winter. If you have limited storage space like a lot of people, then the heavy coats, sweaters, and boots were taken out of storage and now occupy prime space in your dressers and closets. The summer clothes are nowhere to be found until... summer.
Similiar to summer clothes many drivers have opted to put away their summer jewelry. No, not bracelets, rings, chains, and medallions. The jewelry I'm referring to is... chrome rims. The chrome 20s, 22s, 23s, and 24s have all but disappeared replaced by of all things, unsightly stock rims.
Why has this terrible thing happened? The simple answer is fear. Fear of ruining expensive rims by the salt used during winter months to melt snow and ice. Their fear is not unfounded. Salt eats at the finish on any rim, eventually ruining it cosmetically.
You have two options when it comes to protecting the rims on your car or truck during the winter months.
Option 1: Leave the rims on your vehicle and wash them frequently. Salt does not instantly ruin the finish on a rim. If you minimize the amount of time that salt is on a rim, then you minimize the amount of corrosive action.
This means that if you drive all day through streets visited by your friendly neighborhood salt truck, then as soon as you get home wash your rims with mild soap and water. Rinse each rim thoroughly and then Mr Corrosive Action is no more.
Option 2: Treat your rims like you treat summer clothes. Wash them. Dry them. Take them off of your vehicle and put them in storage. Nowhere to be found until... summer.
The choice is yours.
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