Machined Wheels and Rims

About Machined Wheels and Rims

A machined face catches light in a way paint can't, and the clear coat over it is the wear item. Winter roads and acid cleaners are what kill them.

Two brands' machined won't be the same shade, so the finish name matters as much as the color does. Tell us the car and you'll only see the machined sets that clear its brakes and fenders. Want them flush? Flip on the aggressive option.

Common questions

What does a machined finish look like in person?

A machined face is bare aluminum cut on a lathe, so you can see the tool marks under the clear coat. Most designs machine the spoke faces or the lip and paint the window behind it.

How do I clean machined wheels?

The clear coat is the wear item. Road salt, acid wheel cleaners and a pressure washer held close all lift the edges of it, and once it's lifted the aluminum underneath oxidizes white. Wash with pH neutral soap and rinse before it dries.

How do I clean a machined face?

Soap, water, a soft mitt and a full rinse. No acid or alkaline wheel cleaner and no metal polish, because the face is clear coated and polish scratches the coat rather than the metal. If the coat has already started to lift, a refinisher can strip and recoat it.

Will a machined finish hold up in winter?

It will if the salt comes off within a few days. Salt that sits on a chipped clear coat gets under it, and the face goes cloudy by spring. In a salt state a painted finish is the easier winter set.

Do you check fitment on machined wheels?

Yes. Tell us the year, make and model and you'll only see the machined wheels that clear your car's brakes and fenders, stock or aggressive.