The methods used to refinish and restore automobile rims vary, depending on the material of which the rims are made. A number of different techniques are available to people looking to restore chrome, aluminum and steel rims. The one you use will depends on the nature of the damage to the finish of your rims.
Evaluate the material of which your rims are made. Chrome rims are notoriously difficult to restore, especially when they're scratched. Since the surface will eventually corrode, you should take your chrome rims to an expert at a custom-plating shop and pay to have them professionally repaired.
Restore aluminum or steel rims yourself. Depending on the nature of the damage to the rims, you'll need to buff away rust by using steel wool (on steel rims) or sanding aluminum rims down with wet sandpaper.
Refinish aluminum or steel rims by removing the factory clear coating to reveal their shine. Simply sand down the rims (use steel wool on steel rims if desired) until the traces of damage begin to disappear. The time required to do this will vary, depending on the extent of damage to your rims.
Get rid of any small scratches that remain by using a buffer to polish away the damage. Use a medium-to-heavy-duty buffing compound on top of the buffer to restore a brilliant shine to your rims. Then, finish by polishing the rims with a product appropriate to the type of metal your rims are made of, or apply a clear coat to bring back a brilliant, flawless shine.
Repair oxidized rims by using an industrial-strength coating remover. Spray the product onto your rims, and wait for it to eat away at the damaged, clear finish on your rims. Repeat this as necessary, and then use a plastic spatula to scrape away the clear coat.
Enlist the help of a professional if you don't feel comfortable restoring your rims on your own. It's better to shell out a few extra dollars to someone who knows what he's doing rather than having to spend thousands to replace your rims.
