I have the later 7 spoke SE rims and on one of them the plastic coating is starting to flake and peel off (only about 3 inches so far) Are the wheels OK without the plastic or does it have to be re-done or striped back completety? (11/99)

This is what happened to mine. They need completely stripping and repainting. They aren't quite as shiny afterwards but not far off. ISTR about 130 quid all in including tax, valves, balancing, etc.

I got the tyres and the wheel work from Alba Tyres in Leeds. 0113 275 1974. Call them for a price in future and wave this at the person you get to do the job. (11/99)
Anyone come across a company called "Wicked Wheels". They've got a short write up in this month's Car&CarConversions; wheel refurbishment at your home (their vans have a shot blasting cabinet, mini spray booth and oven), £30 thereabouts per wheel. I've not had a chance to check if they have any N.Ireland operators, but can anyone vouch for them? (12/99)
A mate of mine with a Porsche 911 had his wheels done by Wicked Wheels. His came up like brand new - cost him about 160 all in. He was very happy, as he had been quoted over 400 by a specialist Porsche place. (12/99)
I wasn't sure how good a job they do, nor what guarantee they offer as the pictures in the article show them spraying a wheel with the tyre fitted... (12/99)
My local Mazda dealer uses them - and I saw them doing a Ferrari wheel there (it's where Beckham buys his Ferrari's). Don't know if that's a recommendation though! (12/99)

.. hum .. oven + tyre = unhappy tyre... ..

nope .. the only way to do it is to pull tyres off, shotblast, coat, oven, put tyres back on and rebalance ... cost me 120 GBP a year ago in Glasgow with a dark grey sparkle finish... looked better than new and didn't show the dirt... but I did get porosity .. little pin prick holes from bubbles in the castings ..I filled these with silver touch up paint. (12/99)

I decided it was about time I cleaned my alloys last weekend and looked in our garage for something to do it with. My husband has this stuff by Wonder Wheels and I read the instructions (something to do with being female possibly) and it said 'Not suitable for un-lacquered, forged anodised wheels ... un lacquered & polished finished alloy wheels'.

Okay, so how do I know if mine are, or are not un-lacquered? I was in my local Mazda garage today by chance (duff battery this morning - ouch! 100+) and even they didn't know if mine are un-lacquered or not. They didn't seem to know anything about alloy wheels at all (Dunham Mazda in Luton). They are Mazda wheels, 14", have seven spokes with a sort of dish effect in the middle with the Mazda sign in the centre. (The car is 1994 1.8iS). (12/99)
I use Wonder Wheels on both our cars & its fantastic. Most alloys are lacquered, a coating to protect the wheel. If you've got really smooth wheels they'll be lacquered. If their rough they may need a coat of lacquer, available from Halfords (12/99)
How good is this stuff, and how'd you go about using it exactly? How much does it cost? (12/99)
Its really good, costs about 5/6 quid from Halfords. its a clear solution that you apply by brush (like a pastry brush - just ask your mum ). You agitate it for a couple of seconds then blast it with clean water. Finished!! It removes really ground in brake dust without all that scrubbing. (12/99)
I use WonderWheels to clean them, and have used the stuff on various cars for quite a while, with excellent results. You just apply with a small brush and agitate, then wash off with soapy water (leave for a while and repeat if necessary). (12/99)
I can't answer the question regarding the lacquered or not nature of the wheels, but i can confirm that the wheels are the same as mine and I've been using Wonder Wheels for 18 months with no ill effects, in fact quite the opposite - it really is a "wonder". (12/99)
I used this on one car with 14" original alloys like yours .. worked fine .. had to do it a couple of times and use an old tooth brush. They came up really well for a 8 year car. Note the stuff is basically a weak acid so flush with lots of water if you get it anywhere and at the end of the job. Lacquered tends to mean polished wheels like you see on some Roadster .. got a spare set like that in the garage .. looks like chrome or stainless steel and tends to have white creeping tendrils of corrosion!! .. you can see the yellowing clear coat of lacquer if you look hard. Anodised is more like the top of the engine .. not a painted surface but an oxidised aluminum coating .. the fancy red bits that 'Revs' owners fit that look metallic are aluminum with red anodising .. you can add colours to them.. But for you .. it is OK. (12/99)
Original question was: has anyone with a 10AE noticed pitting in the alloys? (3/00)
I spoke to one of the service guys [at the Mazda dealers - ed] about the corrosion on my 10AE wheels. He had a look and said that he didn't see a problem with them being replaced (!). He's taken some photo's and they're going to send them off to Mazda UK, but he said that they do get wheels replaced under warranty quite a bit (steel wheels going rusty etc) so he didn't see a problem. (3/00)
I had corrosion on 2 of my alloys, after reporting this to [the Mazda dealer - ed] about a month before the warranty ran out they took photos and after a wait (don't hold your breath :) ) they replaced both. In fact they also did the exhaust at the same time under the warranty as well. I was going to ask if I could keep the corroded ones, but forgot. Good in case of a damaged one. (3/00)
I've received a very interesting e mail from Mazda Japan via the local main distributor regarding a problem with the chrome alloy wheels on the 10AE. My 10AE is suffering from Alloy 'rust' on the wheels. It is a white powder which is under the chrome surface and is causing the chrome to flake off. Mazda Japan are aware of the problem and are looking into it. I'm attempting to claim under warranty but the dealer is saying it may be months before it is resolved. Has anybody else suffered the same disease and if so has it been resolved? (6/00)
I had some corrosion under the laquer on my alloys (not chrome) and these were changed under warranty but it did take time (couple of months) Hope you get it sorted out soon (6/00)
Yup - same problems here. Raised with the dealer at the beginning of the year, and I chased them once so far and they said they were still waiting for a solution. I am going to take it up with the dealer again when it goes in for its service in a week or two. (6/00)
The difference in the situation with the 10AE is that all the wheels have the same problem. Whats stopping Mazda from just replacing the wheels under warranty is that they don't want everyone coming back again the same time next year. They're trying to change the design / manufacture of the wheels so that they don't suffer from corrosion as badly before replacing everyone's wheels. (6/00)
ust received a fax from (my local Mazda dealer - ed) about the chrome wheels on the 10AE model. Apparently Mazda Japan have found that the oxidation white powder is being caused by a reaction between the chrome and the lacquer. Japan says that the new wheels will be available to be ordered SOON. What soon means is anybodies guess. Can anybody verify this!!! (7/00)
Confirmed with my dealer yesterday that replacement wheels have been released. As soon as he gets a part number, he'll get me a new set. Cool, get rid of all the kerb marks from when I was still learning to drive the car. Wonder if he'll let me keep the old set for spares :) (7/00)
Just thought I'ld let you know that a friend of mine with a 10AE has just had her replacement alloys fitted. They were replaced on the warranty today. Apparently the wheels are slightly different. I have had a look at them and the finish has changed slightly, they appear to me to be less chromey. (11/00)
Please can you ask your friend if they can find out the part numbers as my local Mazda garage says it will be at least 6 weeks before they are available in the UK! (11/00)
I have just spoken to [the] Mazda [garage] and they have told me that the part number for a 10AE alloy wheel is:- 9965J66050 Hope your dealer can order you a set. (11/00)
possibly lacquered to protect them from the elements?? (11/00)