You may have heard that your Lexus, BMW or Infiniti can be customized with a wide range of wheel finishes and coating options. A wide range of aftermarket wheel coating companies has sprung up in response to the growing demand for wheel customization among luxury vehicle owners.
Most aftermarket-wheeling companies use physical vapour deposition (or PVD) to coat their wheels. It is commonly known as PVD Chrome. Although it was originally developed for aerospace applications, it has been used for decades to replace traditional chrome plating in automotive applications.
Many aftermarket wheel coating companies claim their PVD chrome is the best-in-class. It’s no surprise that luxury car owners believe this to be true. However, industry testing and our experience paint a completely different picture.
As we have said in earlier blogs, wheel customization is largely dependent on the preparation of the underlying substrate (i.e. the underlying alloy wheels). This is the target where the material will be placed. For luxury wheels, this target is the aluminium alloy wheel-how that wheel is prepared before application makes a huge difference in how the material is bonded.
Traditional PVD chrome companies and powder coat companies use thick coatings, sometimes as thick as a penny, then layered onto the wheels. To make adhesion possible, the wheels are roughened up a little. It takes quite a bit of coating material to create a smooth surface. These coatings are more vulnerable to chipping because of the thickness of the coating and the fact that it sits on top of the wheel but doesn’t bond with it.
It might seem that thicker coatings are stronger and more durable than thin ones. The exact opposite is true.
Our ICE (TM) ultra-thin finish technology at Wheel Craft connects to the fibre of the underlying metal; it ties directly to it instead of a coating that merely rests on it. Our ICE finishes are thinner than a piece of paper and create an inseparable bond across all wheel surfaces. This protective glove offers ultimate protection against:
- Brake dust can cause brake dust to ignite
- Alloy wheel corrosion
- Car wash chemicals
- Salt and seasonal street chemicals
What’s the best decision when considering custom wheels for your Lexus, BMW or Infiniti?
Factory wheels are the best
Our custom wheel finishes are made specifically for factory-installed original wheels. As the name implies, Factory-installed wheels are made specifically for the vehicle in which they will be installed. Automotive manufacturers spend a lot of time, money, and testing to ensure the perfect fit between chassis and wheel. We don’t believe that installing aftermarket wheels is a smart move.
Price
Wheel Craft’s custom wheels and rim finishes are comparable to what dealers charge. Online distributors can sell wheel coatings, but the quality is often poor, and there is rarely any warranty support. Wheel Craft offers the best quality at an affordable price if you own or lease luxury vehicles.
Cleaning and maintenance
Your vehicle must always look its best in every condition. Wheel Craft custom wheel finishes will make your vehicle look great. Our custom ICE finishes are easy to maintain. You only need soap, water, and a soft sponge or car washcloth to clean them. That’s it! There are no expensive chemicals, four-step processes, or scratching of clear-coat… soap and water.
Warranty
All Wheel Craft wheels installed by an authorized Wheel Craft partner come with a 5-year limited warranty. This warranty protects against corrosion, chipping, colour separation, brake dust burns, and damage from road salt and other car wash chemicals.
Ease in installation
Wheel Craft makes it easy to get your custom wheel finish.