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How should a wheel look like when it is dipped?

When a rim is chrome dipped is the whole rim suppose to be chrome or just the front part where the rim can be seen while driving? If there are brown spots on my rims that can not be taken out with chrome polish does that mean they were incorrectly chrome dipped?

Thanks a lot for your help,

Afrim Delisi
- Morton Grove, IL, United States
2003

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Wheels are not 'dipped' in chrome in the sense that strawberries are dipped in chocolate. They are immersed into a number of electroplating vats, the last one of which contains chromic acid from which chrome is plated out. Electroplating, especially chrome electroplating, flows to the highest current areas such as projections. You should not expect chrome coverage on the back of the wheel, although you will see splotches of brightness evidencing that the wheel has been through a few plating steps.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003