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What's the best method for protecting diamond cut alloys?

I own a Honda CR-V with black painted alloy wheels that feature diamond cut faces. I had the wheels Smartguarded by the dealer and I wash them weekly to keep the brake dust off them. However, I have heard that road salt and stone chips to the lacquer can cause problems.

Do you have any advice regarding these types of wheels? Is my weekly washing and paint protection coating likely to be enough, or is removing the wheels in winter and replacing with winter wheels the only answer?

Asked on 11 February 2016 by James

Answered by Honest John
Where alloy is simply polished and lacquered it is always vulnerable to the lacquer getting chipped by small stones and grit in road dirt, especially when the roads are salted. You could try waxing them with a good wax such as Autoglym Hi Def, but they will still be vulnerable. The best protection for alloy wheels is paint and then lacquer.

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