For those who have chrome wheels, do you usually take off your chrome wheels in the winter and replace them with your stock wheels to prevent salt, ice, and other crap from possibly damaging them? Or would you say it's a waste of time and effort?

 

Road salt is hard on chrome wheels.

If you do decide to go ahead and run the wheels during the winter months make sure you wash the wheels often. Once a week is a good idea.

Or you can do like you posted and slip the stock wheels/tires back on till nice weather comes back.

An old trick I was taught when I was a teenager was smear the chrome wheels with grease. The grease won't hurt the chrome, it'll keep the road salt off the chrome, and when warm weather comes back you spray a little wheel cleaner on, let it set a minute or two, then hose off the grease. If you still see some residue from the greae use a little more cleaner and water.

 

I would say it depends on how you use the car, investment, etc.

If you drive alot, only vehicle, and running 16's then I would have a winter set of tires and pickup the rims from a boneyard.

If you have the nonstandard 17's for the 2004 SS or other, then either a backup set of 17's which is much more expensive or get a winter beater... I did- 2000 Chev Blazer