Well, I defended the faux chrome wheel covers on the HL Limited.... and I still think they do have their pluses - as long as you don't let *anything* touch them.
Their main downfall is that they aren't separate from the wheel itself.... if that was the case, they would obviously be cheaper to replace if you run up against a curb, or if the aggressive profile took a rock hit.
So.... When I rotate tires, I always inspect my wheels before handing the vehicle over to the tire store - so that I can make sure there was no damage beforehand in case I noticed something after they tossed them around.
I bought my first set of replacement tires a about three weeks ago .... I inspected my wheels as I always do before giving it to the tire guy... and then inspected them after the tires/wheels were balanced and installed.
Discovered a small 'gouge' out of the fake plastic chrome on one wheel, and two *very small* dings in two other wheels close to the lugnut area of the wheel. I believe the 'spin-lock' nut they use to attach the wheel to the spindle of the balance machine contacted the wheel... or knocked into it when they were about to spin the retaining lug on their balance machine. In any event.... I discovered the small dings.... and pitched a fit because I expressely told them to have the tire tech be very careful when changing/balancing my tires/wheels.... I told them those rims cost $700 apiece! They noted that on the work order.
Now... admittedly, the dings were small and you had to get your nose on the wheels to see them. But I told the guy that if that happened every time I had my wheels rotated, it would eventually add up to a nasty looking wheel. He offered to replace two of the wheels.... said the small tear in the 3rd was too far away from the lug area - and must have been a stone hit. I agreed... so they are supposedly getting me a couple of replacements. Haven't heard a word back in over two weeks though. Gotta call them. They didn't make a dime on that tire purchase.
So... long and short of it is: These faux chromee wheels are very fragile and it doesn't help that their profile has the wheels protruding away from the tires. My bad...... I would NOW prefer to have had the choice of an Aluminum wheel.
Their main downfall is that they aren't separate from the wheel itself.... if that was the case, they would obviously be cheaper to replace if you run up against a curb, or if the aggressive profile took a rock hit.
So.... When I rotate tires, I always inspect my wheels before handing the vehicle over to the tire store - so that I can make sure there was no damage beforehand in case I noticed something after they tossed them around.
I bought my first set of replacement tires a about three weeks ago .... I inspected my wheels as I always do before giving it to the tire guy... and then inspected them after the tires/wheels were balanced and installed.
Discovered a small 'gouge' out of the fake plastic chrome on one wheel, and two *very small* dings in two other wheels close to the lugnut area of the wheel. I believe the 'spin-lock' nut they use to attach the wheel to the spindle of the balance machine contacted the wheel... or knocked into it when they were about to spin the retaining lug on their balance machine. In any event.... I discovered the small dings.... and pitched a fit because I expressely told them to have the tire tech be very careful when changing/balancing my tires/wheels.... I told them those rims cost $700 apiece! They noted that on the work order.
Now... admittedly, the dings were small and you had to get your nose on the wheels to see them. But I told the guy that if that happened every time I had my wheels rotated, it would eventually add up to a nasty looking wheel. He offered to replace two of the wheels.... said the small tear in the 3rd was too far away from the lug area - and must have been a stone hit. I agreed... so they are supposedly getting me a couple of replacements. Haven't heard a word back in over two weeks though. Gotta call them. They didn't make a dime on that tire purchase.
So... long and short of it is: These faux chromee wheels are very fragile and it doesn't help that their profile has the wheels protruding away from the tires. My bad...... I would NOW prefer to have had the choice of an Aluminum wheel.