Anybody know what could cause this wheel scratching?

[2010GMCYD]

2 of the 4 wheels had this chipping/scratching on them when I bought my Yukon. Never saw this before. It doesn't chip off more with a fingernail. Any idea what might have caused it?

I'm considering either 1. buying 2 OEM (or replica OEM) wheels to replace them, 2. rechrome the 2 bad ones, or 3. plastidip all 4, probably black. Any thoughts on those options?

 

[2010GMCYD]

Forgot the pic!....

 

[OR VietVet]

Drove thru a freshly grown "barb wire field".

Hell, I don't know.

 

[2010GMCYD]

Drove thru a freshly grown "barb wire field".

Hell, I don't know.

Lmao. Looks like it, right? Just 2 wheels, weird.

 

[Brandon2489]

Do you by chance get your vehicle serviced at a dealer or some other place that offers a complementary car wash? Reason I ask is they usually use a wheel acid to clean the wheels. Over time it causes etching then the coating starts to flake off. Just a thought. Strange it is on just 2.

 

[adventurenali92]

It looks like some sort of pitch or tar stain.

 

[OR VietVet]

I immediately thought of tar but he said could not scrape off with his fingernail but now I see "it does not chip off MORE" with a fingernail. Kind of confusing.

Just two wheels? Wheelie thru the fresh grown barb wire field? Again, Hell, I don't know.

 

[2010GMCYD]

It looks like some sort of pitch or tar stain.

Nothing on the wheel. The black is under the chrome.

 

[2010GMCYD]

Do you by chance get your vehicle serviced at a dealer or some other place that offers a complementary car wash? Reason I ask is they usually use a wheel acid to clean the wheels. Over time it causes etching then the coating starts to flake off. Just a thought. Strange it is on just 2.

The Yukon is new to me but maintenance history does show service at a dealer. Your idea about the acid sounds reasonable but yes, odd that it’s only 2 wheels.

 

[Brandon2489]

It's possible somebody had tar on the wheels before you and used a type of acid cleaner to remove it. While it removed the tar its possible it removed the coating as well. Especially if it was only on 2 wheels.

 

[adventurenali92]

Nothing on the wheel. The black is under the chrome.

It's possible somebody had tar on the wheels before you and used a type of acid cleaner to remove it. While it removed the tar its possible it removed the coating as well. Especially if it was only on 2 wheels.

Knowing that’s it’s “under the surface” so to speak I’d venture a guess that it’s the chrome surface pitting off. It’s very common with GM chrome wheels.

 

[2010GMCYD]

In this pattern though? Just really odd looking

 

[George B]

If those are chrome alloy wheels and not chromed plastic clad wheels you are safe to take some gum out carb cleaner on a rag to that. Chrome is not laid over black. That looks like tar to me.

 

[Tonyrodz]

If those are chrome alloy wheels and not chromed plastic clad wheels you are safe to take some gum out carb cleaner on a rag to that. Chrome is not laid over black. That looks like tar to me.

Or possibly black paint.

 

[Brandon2489]

Are these black spots raised or do they make an indentation in the chrome? That might help narrow it down if it's flaking or something sitting on the surface.

 

[swathdiver]

Forgot the pic!....

Maybe a cat or critter did it? Do the wheels smell? Nothing worse then when a cat pees on a car.

 

[2010GMCYD]

If those are chrome alloy wheels and not chromed plastic clad wheels you are safe to take some gum out carb cleaner on a rag to that. Chrome is not laid over black. That looks like tar to me.

I assumed these were chrome alloy but maybe not (I'm not knowledgeable enough about the difference in wheel types). Here's a better pic of the issue. It's definitely not tar or a substance over the chrome. It's chipping or scraping off.

 

[George B]

I assumed chrome alloy too but the other pic makes me think not. They might be painted.

 

[2010GMCYD]

I assumed chrome alloy too but the other pic makes me think not. They might be painted.

Maybe the other 2 wheels that are fine ARE alloy. So how do you get paint to look like chrome? I thought that was almost impossible.

 

[George B]

It looks like those might be polished alloy wheels that have been “repaired”. By an aftermarket company.

Please take more photos of the wheels for us.
how long have you owned the truck and where did you buy it?