Simoniz chrome paint for alloy wheels?

smartarsery

So I've been going about refurbing the alloys on my X-Type (17" 12 spoke) now for the last few days. They were in a right mess when I got the car a few months ago, and I further messed them up by losing the locknut and having to hack around the wheels/nuts to get them off.

The first wheel I was refurbing I kind of rushed because I needed the car the next day so it ended up with some visible scratches under the paint (I vastly underestimated how smooth the wheels had to be!), and I absolutely rushed the layers and didn't even get around to adding a clear coat. I used Simoniz Wheel Silver but it looked grey instead of silver. Pretty much the same colour as the car so the wheel didn't stand out at all. Since I needed to use the car I was happy enough to just get some paint on the wheel to see how it looked.

So I went to the next wheel, still new to this and experimenting, and spent hours and hours sanding and trying to get the bloody chips smooth between the tyre and the rim (see the before image below to see what I mean).

So as of last night I have the second wheel primed, and I picked up a can of Simoniz Chrome Paint, thinking it would give the wheels a more silver look than the paint that the first wheel has. But I just read the back of the chrome can just now and it says: "Do not over-lacquer or use on alloy wheels."

So, basically I'm wondering what's the deal, do I just do it properly this time, sand the primer coat, and go with the plain old Wheel Silver and lacquer?

Or do I chance the Chrome paint and see what happens?

Or maybe go with the silver, and sneak a bit of the chrome paint in there too, maybe a light coat?

I have no problem if I screw something up, I'm not in a rush or anything, I usually just stick the spare wheel on the car and spend a few days on each wheel, unless I need to travel far, but I obviously don't want to screw something up unnecessarily. So if anyone has any ideas/tips I'd be delighted to hear them..

This is pretty much how all the wheels looked originally, a right mess.. I don't know if the wheels just took a battering over the years, or if the previous owner done a DIY job on them, I'm thinking the latter:

Cass

Would you be better off using some filler, then sanding that? Some of the gouges look deep and to sand smooth my take away too much material. Either that or you'll find when the paint goes on you have "valleys and cliffs" in your finished item. Nothing will show these up as quick as fresh paint.

The Chrome paint, I'd avoid anything called Chrome in a can. I have a few cans of it for messing around with and they never turn out Chrome. More a matt finish albeit a little "bright", but not chrome and will not give a metallic finish, well I don't think so anyway. Also the laquer will darken down the Chrome paint hence the reason they say not to use it. It'll make it look darker and even change colour to a grey effect.

I'd try stick with the original colour or as close to it. I see a lot of lads using Mercedes or Ford moondust Silver (iirc) which seemingly closely matches most alloys that have the stock silver finish.