Alright guys, I have an offer to take these rims, but i'm not sure they can be cleaned of this stuff on them..
it's not pitting. You can run your fingernail across it and the texture doesn't change. It loks like rust, but where the splatters are ..they are just as smooth as the chrome.? Does anyone know what this is and if it can be cleaned. All we tried was a damp rag...we didn't have anything else at the time!
Thanks,
BIGD



This stuff is on the center caps as well..
BIGd

 

Big D, this is just a guess based on what I can tell from the pics...

I see a lot of fine swirl like scratches in them, it *appears* that someone used something abrasive such as steel wool on them. If so, steel wool will leave microscopic remains of the wool on the chrome, and they will rust afterwards and start a process. Whenever I read about someone suggesting people use steel wool (even 0000) on chrome I cringe, because they don't realize it breaks apart during rubbing, and whatever doesn't get flushed off will rust onto the plating, then eventually pit.

I would try some chrome cleaner first, and see if that makes any difference. If that doesn't work at all, the only other alternative I can think of it to use a metal polish and a wheel buffing tool. I wouldn't normally recommend that for chrome, but this is a last ditch effort before you consider rechroming IMO. Best of luck.