Matte v gloss alloys?

[BUG4LIFE]

I'm planning to do a general google search, but thought I'd throw up a question on here too...

My Jag STR is booked in to have the alloys refured next week and I've decided to go dark [dark smoked chrome I believe they call the colour]. The only thing I'm yet to decide is whether it have them finished in gloss or matte.

I am drawn to the matte finish and am likely go that route...but just wondering if there is any negatives? I think I read somewhere that they can leave quite bad watermarks, so need to be properly dried after cleaning etc, for instance.

I'm not really after opinions on aesthetics, just if matte wheels are a pain in the arse?!

Thanks

[K4sper]

I have had matte black alloys and would say that they were actually impossible [for me] to get properly clean, let alone keep clean. I wouldn't go near them if I was you unless you are ready to spend a lot of time scrubbing and drying them...

See plenty of them around in showroom condition though, so probably it was just me doing something wrong / not prepared to put in the elbow grease

[nickfrog]

Gloss far easier to clean/maintain. The brake dust clings on matt or satin far easier.

[alec.e]

As above

Gloss finishes repel dirt better

[Crumpet]

I had my diamond cut Jag wheels done in satin grey - so almost matte.

They’re basically the colour of brake dust so they always look clean - or dirty, depending on your point of view! I like them.

[BUG4LIFE]

K4sper said:

I have had matte black alloys and would say that they were actually impossible [for me] to get properly clean, let alone keep clean. I wouldn't go near them if I was you unless you are ready to spend a lot of time scrubbing and drying them...

See plenty of them around in showroom condition though, so probably it was just me doing something wrong / not prepared to put in the elbow grease

I already spend an hour+ cleaning the wheels on my STR [probably more to do with struggling to find time to clean my car frequently], so don't mind putting in a bit of effort...my three wheel brushes currently do a good job of getting the grime off the gloss silver alloys! Drying would be an extra job to have to do, if required, so could be a pain.

The plan is to have the car professional detailed, so sealing/ceramic coating would I guess help with the leaning process?

Edited by BUG4LIFE on Thursday 16th June 08:59

[BUG4LIFE]

Crumpet said:

I had my diamond cut Jag wheels done in satin grey - so almost matte.

They’re basically the colour of brake dust so they always look clean - or dirty, depending on your point of view! I like them.

How do you get on cleaning them mate, compared to gloss?

[Crumpet]

BUG4LIFE said:

How do you get on cleaning them mate, compared to gloss?

Absolutely no problem at all. Every couple of weeks I just use a spray of Wonder Wheels, a wheel brush and cloth and they come up like new. The only thing that leaves marks is tyre shine so I just apply that carefully with a cloth. Otherwise no problem at all and much easier than diamond cut / silver gloss.

[Blanchimont]

I've had both. I find satin works well with lighter coloured cars, and gloss works well on darker cars.

[BUG4LIFE]

Blanchimont said:

I've had both. I find satin works well with lighter coloured cars, and gloss works well on darker cars.

Ignoring your opinion on the looks...how did you find cleaning/maintaining them? Was satin/matte more work to keep tip top?!

[nickfrog]

Satin is different to matt though. It's basically in between matt and gloss, both in appearance and ease of maintenance. I had satin black on the Megane and it was OK, just not as easy and brake dust friendly as gloss.

[Blanchimont]

BUG4LIFE said:

Ignoring your opinion on the looks...how did you find cleaning/maintaining them? Was satin/matte more work to keep tip top?!

Less overall I think. Matte wheels can hide the odd bit of missed brake dust, and looks to accumulate less and look less dirty. Gloss there's no hiding it.

[Afromonk]

Matt anthracite on the RS4, brake dust clings like a magnet, even had to get snazzy new microfibre gloves to do a decent job of the wheel lol.
I vote satin or gloss.