XD wheel corrosion question

Infinity · 02-09-2010, 05:57 PM

I like the look of the XD Monster wheels, and it appears many others like the looks too. Any who I live in the wonderful winter wonderland of michigan and have polished many aluminum wheels throughout the winter months to keep them clean and I dont want to mess with it. The black wheel is appealing to me for this reason. The question I have is about the shiny bolts/details on the black wheel. Are they stainless steel or are they chromed and rust with contact with the salt(how do they hold up in salted conditions). Looking for a low maintenance black wheel, I know the best option is a completely black wheel, but I like how those details accent the wheel. Thanks for any replies.

Infinity · 02-09-2010, 06:05 PM

Here is a picture highlighting the details I am talking about

**bills1974** · 02-09-2010, 06:15 PM

No corrosion...they're plastic

Infinity · 02-09-2010, 09:34 PM

Thanks! I could not find that information, so I figured it wouldnt hurt to ask.

Fredy · 02-19-2010, 06:48 PM

The bolts are plastic??

I too am looking for a low maintenance wheel. I currently have MotoMetals 951 and they did not make it through the winter w/o peeling and chipping chrome

They suck!

TitanTotaleration · 02-20-2010, 08:27 AM

Fredy, do you have the black mottos or chrome i wanted to get them and live in pa and love driving in the snow so those would be out of the question for me, in a sence it would be cheap but smart for the bolts on the XDs to be plastic

Fredy · 02-20-2010, 10:44 AM

TitanTotaleration,
Save your money! The Chrome is peeling off the wheels and the plastic center cap. At first they started to pit and now they look horrible. I had contacted MotoMetal and they would not warranty them at six months of use!! WTF? I am considering going to a painted/powder coated wheel since they will be easier to keep clean. And if they get crappy I can have them re-coated if need be.

I saw a set of the XD Rockstars on a Ford this morning and the wire housing holding the cemter cap in place was all rusted. So I am I little put off by that.

I am also considering the Ballistic Jester Wheels, they look pretty good.

If any one else can chime in on their experience with wheel finish quality it would be greatly appreciated!

Infinity · 02-20-2010, 12:26 PM

Fredy,

Did you have all chromed wheels? I am quite aware that chromed metal will rust and pit with salt and other accelerates on the road. I had plastic center caps on my old polish aluminum wheels that started to flake chrome after a couple years but those are replaceable. The plastic bolts on the xd wheels should be replaceable, just pop them out and put new ones in.

Fredy · 02-20-2010, 12:58 PM

Yeah, they are all chrome, no paint or machine work. MotoMatals 951's.
I was very disapointed with quality and customer service.

I was looking to get Polished wheels but winters in Jersey suck, they use salt on the roads and I commute 500 miles a week so my wheels get some wear. I rarely have time to really polish metal wheels so I figured Powder coated wheels would be best. The wheels on my motorcycles are Powder coated and clean up real easy (I am bad about keeping those clean too

)

Infinity · 02-20-2010, 01:26 PM

Salt will eat through chromed metal like a hot knife through butter, no matter how good the quality is. Polished aluminum will get oxidized with salt but it can be polished off. You can only polish chrome so long before you wear through the plating, or the rust eats it off. That is why I was curious if the bolts were chromed metal.

You are correct that painted or powder coated wheels would be best for maintenance on salted roads. There is stuff you can put on polished aluminum to slow down the oxidation but it is not fool proof and your maintenance time goes up.

**bills1974** · 02-20-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredy

TitanTotaleration,
Save your money! The Chrome is peeling off the wheels and the plastic center cap. At first they started to pit and now they look horrible. I had contacted MotoMetal and they would not warranty them at six months of use!! WTF? I am considering going to a painted/powder coated wheel since they will be easier to keep clean. And if they get crappy I can have them re-coated if need be.

I saw a set of the XD Rockstars on a Ford this morning and the wire housing holding the cemter cap in place was all rusted. So I am I little put off by that.

I am also considering the Ballistic Jester Wheels, they look pretty good.

If any one else can chime in on their experience with wheel finish quality it would be greatly appreciated!

I've had my Rockstars on for a little over two years now and they still look brand new...

What wire housing are you talking about that holds the center cap on? It's a plastic center cap held in by long stainless screws...unless someone modded the wheel with something, there is no exposed metal...

Fredy · 02-20-2010, 04:29 PM

bills1974,
It looked like thin wire (sring like) that was holding the center cap in place. As if it were just held in by sring pressure? It could have been modded I dont know, it was the first time I had looked at these wheels close up.

I see you live in Florida so I guess your wheels are gonna hold up much better than if they were exposed to our crappy winters up here in Jersey.
I'm jealous!

**bills1974** · 02-20-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredy

bills1974,
It looked like thin wire (sring like) that was holding the center cap in place. As if it were just held in by sring pressure? It could have been modded I dont know, it was the first time I had looked at these wheels close up.

I see you live in Florida so I guess your wheels are gonna hold up much better than if they were exposed to our crappy winters up here in Jersey.
I'm jealous!

The wheels are very well made IMO...

Even though I live down here, I'm near the ocean so there is always corrosion from the salt air...I don't know what that guy did to his wheel, but there is definitely no exposed metal

Fredy · 02-20-2010, 06:55 PM

Great thanks, NOW because of YOU!! My decision is even harder!!

No seriously... I kid you

Its either this wheel or the Jester???????

**bills1974** · 02-20-2010, 07:05 PM

I do love the Jesters as well...what color is your truck?