OK, I'll start off by saying I was dumb to leave my wheels on over the winter. Now that I've gotten that out, I need to get them refinished. The clearcoat is peeling in places on the lip on some of them, likely from the salt and other road crap.

I'm wondering what is the best way to restore them. I've talked to a few places. One said he could like sand down the affected area and reclear it, blending it in with the undamaged part of the wheel. However, I'm worried about the rest of clearcoat on the lip possibly being damaged and starting to peel later.

Another place said he could just take off all the clearcoat and polish the lip. Of course the latter is more expensive, but I'm just wondering if it will make the wheel more or less vulnerable to damage or wear? Obviously there won't be a clearcoat to ruin, but what about the bare polished metal? Not that I'm planning to have them on through winter again, I just don't want to have to pay for this crap another time.

If anyone has recommendations on places (DC/MD/VA, etc.) or processes, much appreciated.

powder coat them.

I would, but that would probably cost more. So far I've gotten quotes of ~50/wheel for the sanding and reclearing verusus ~70/wheel for the clear removal and polish. Any idea how much powercoating usually runs? I'd guess more expensive, and if I had that done, I'd lose the polished lip since that is the part thats marred and needs to be fixed.

i just got a quote for powder coating my wheels for 100 per wheel. that includes stripping off the paint and then the powder coating. he said morre like 50 per wheel if i wanted to do the stripping myself. i just decided to paint mine instead. it was cheaper for me and i plan on getting chrome wheel in the summer.