reconditioning wheels

[zz chopper]

Has anyone out there run into this. I'm trying to make my polished wheels to look new again. Upon rubbing on them with 000 and 0000 steel wool, I find I'm rubbing thru what I might think is a clearcoat. Is there a clearcoat on the wheels? I did not think there was a clearcoat because when you use metal polish on the wheel (where I have not used steel wool) I get the typical black residue. What's on these wheels?

 

[HMAN]

Its possible someone in their infinte wisdom said "hey! how's about I spray these with clearcoat so I dont have to polish so much."
Pick up a pack of wetsand paper. Heaviest I would start with would be 1000 grit. Work your way to 3000. The finer you go the easier the final polish will be. A cotton wheel on a cordless drill will bring you to a dang near chrome finish. Ck utube for some vids on refinishing alumnium wheels.

 

[knothead]

There isnt any clear on your wheels if you are getting a black residue while polishing...whats happening is with the 0000 steel wool is cutting thru the smooth finish just like sandpaper would...you can use the steel wool or like hman said you can sand them with 3000 and then polish them back up