A_L_Hubcaps

You're right, I wasn't even thinking about that type. GM and Chrysler use those too, on pickup trucks. They use thin, pressed-on stainless steel faces that are a direct flush fit against the underlying steel wheel (so the same wheel style is usually offered in both silver painted and chrome clad). These don't have problems with peeling/corrosion because the "chrome" faces are really stainless steel. That wouldn't work so well on a wheel where the face design doesn't perfectly conform to the underlying wheel design. If you look at those chrome-clad alloys from the back, you'll sometimes see that there's thick plastic or even foam filler between the actual wheel and the chrome face. As a hubcap dealer I would be happy with that arrangement But seriously, they don't have to use "bang-on" retention. They could bolt under the lugs, or they could use the locking lug caps like GM (and previously Ford) uses to retain its wheel covers. Those only fly off when you install them wrong. -Andrew L

Just a few pieces of information... All of the "Chrome Clad" (Ford and Chrysler term) or "Chrome Tech" (GM term) wheels that I have seen are cast aluminum wheels with a chromed plastic face glued to the wheel. The face is not removable (or at least, is not meant to ever be removed). There is no steel anywhere in these wheels. I haven't seen the MKX wheel up close, so maybe something is different with that one, but I'm speaking in general. The reason these chrome clad wheels exist is twofold. (1) Directly chroming a cast aluminum wheel is a very expensive process. Typically, on cars that had optional chromed aluminum wheels, the option cost was $500-800 just for the upgrade from regular aluminum to chromed. (2) Chromed alloys had a lot of problems with peeling in the bead seat area causing persistent air leaks. With the chrome clad wheels, there is no plating in that area (because just the plastic face is plated) and this problem does not occur. What I think they should do is just change the design so the chromed faces are easily removable. That way, when a problem like this occurs, just the face can be replaced and not the whole wheel. GM's "Fascia Spoke" wheels (which ARE steel wheels under the plastic covers) are like this. The face is just like a normal wheel cover that is easily replaced. -Andrew L

Are you in the wheel business on the supplier side? If so I would be interested to talk to you. Drop me an e-mail (A_L_Hubcaps@yahoo.com). -Andrew L

Resident hubcap dealer here...In Ford speak, a "design wheel" is equivalent to GM's "fascia spoke" wheels. They're steel wheels with covers, but the wheel is a skeletal 5-spoke design rather than a solid disk, so you don't see the wheel through the openings in the cover. Ford's been using them on the Euro Focus for a few years now. -Andrew L