We offer many different chrome plating services, but our main focus and specialty is original equipment automotive alloy wheel chroming and rechroming.

One-Piece Alloy Wheel

One-Piece Wheel in process: Copper Plating

When comparing chrome plated alloy wheels between different manufacturers it may be difficult to determine the differences. But there is more than cosmetics to a quality chrome plated wheel. What you cannot see is the additional plating time and craftsmanship involved to produce a superior part. We at California Chrome Wheel take extra time and additional steps to help prolong, protect and ensure that the original finished lustre provides years of service. At California Chrome we are known to be one of the top quality platers, this is in fact due to longer plating cycles than our competitors.

Chrome Layers

For years the term triple chrome plate has been the mark for top quality chrome plating. In reality, alloy wheel chrome plating is a multi-layer of metal. Some of our competition only use two or three layers, calling it triple chrome. At California Chrome Wheel we have developed a proprietary four plate process, which incorporates the use of copper. Its this additional plating step that each wheel receives that makes the difference.

See an interactive cutaway of CalChromes layering process, starting with bare metal all the way up to the final layer of chrome.

Weld Racing

These additional steps yield a show-quality finished product that is utilized by our high-end clientele.We provide at the automotive dealership level direct to Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz. This also includes wheels manufactured by Alcoa, Weld Racing, The Tire Rack, Discount Tire Direct etc. We are known nationally and recommended through The Viper Club Forum and numerous Corvette Clubs. Our quality is remembered well after the price is forgotten.

Beadlock wheels chrome plated for Walker Evans Racing.

The Chroming Process

If the wheel requires an accessory to be processed, such as the center cap or lug nuts, these items are priced separately. Please ask for a quotation. Normal automotive, one piece wheel production time is approximately 7 to 10 work days. Sometimes production length can be longer due to circumstances such as our work load, the intricacy/design of the wheel you are sending us, or repairs that need to be done prior to chrome plating. For specialty designs such as multi-piece wheels etc, please contact us for quotations.

Chrome replacement center caps are available for many makes and models and start as low as $12.50 per cap. Please call us to see if a replacement cap for your wheel is available.

Three-Piece Wheels

If you need assistance in determining what wheel style / design you have, please refer to our wheel type guide.

For multi-piece wheels and welded two piece wheels please call for a quote. We can give you a more accurate quote depending on which service best suits your needs.

Payment is required prior to any work being performed. Payment for chrome work is accepted via Personal / Company check, PayPal, or Money Order. You may send payment along with the wheels attached to the Customer Instruction Sheet. This will help expedite processing time. If you are unsure of the work to be performed, we can upon receiving your wheels, send you an estimate once we have determined what work needs to be performed.

Front and back of wheel

When a wheel is electro-chrome plated, the entire wheel is submerged and the entire wheel receives a full plating deposit. The reflectivity and 'shiny-ness' associated with chrome plating actually comes from the polish work. This often times can be the difference between a wheel that looks good and one that does not, even though the plating itself may be identical.

At California Chrome, we use a combination of mechanical and hand polishing on the entire face and window area of every wheel that we chrome plate. The inside barrel or 'back side' of a wheel does not receive any additional polish work, because of the inherant difficulty, labor involved, and the fact that it the inside barrel is rarely seen.

Full polish on Viper wheels

For those customers looking for a full barrel polish, we do offer that service at additional cost. Usually reserved for show vehicles, a full barrel polish will take your wheel to the ultimate in reflectivity.

There is a very common misconception about chrome plaing your wheels: that the chrome plating adds significant weight to the wheels, increasing unsprung weight and decreasing performance. This myth is symply unfounded.

Below is an example of a 20" Dodge Challenger SRT-8 wheel. The photo on the left is the wheel in its factory finish, which is a typical silver paint. The photo on the right shows the same wheel after being chrome plated here at CalChrome. The weight difference between the two is barely one quarter of a pound.

Weight difference of a silver painted and chrome plated 20" wheel.

If your wheels have sustained minor curb damage (scraping), more often than not, your wheels will be able to be plated. The photos below are examples of acceptable curb damage that we are able to blend in during our polishing procedure at no additional charge.

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