Chrome Rims, Winter, and Magnesium Chloride

[spacy9]

I haven't had Chrome rims before in Winter so this is new to me. The manager of the place where I take my car to get washed every week asked me if I was going to take my 20's off for the Winter. I said that I hadn't planned on it since they have Pirelli all season tires on them. He said that if I didn't take them off, and didn't wash them every day, that the magnesium chloride that Colorado uses on the roads in Winter would eat them up? Anyone know if that is true or not. I've done a little looking on the web and it does seem to have some merit:

Use as an anti-icer

A number of state highway departments throughout the United States have decreased the use of rock salt and sand on roadways and have increased the use of liquid magnesium chloride as a de-icer or anti-icer. Magnesium chloride is much less toxic to plant life surrounding highways and airports, and is less corrosive to concrete and steel (and other iron alloys) than sodium chloride. The liquid magnesium chloride is sprayed on dry pavement (tarmac) prior to precipitation or wet pavement prior to freezing temperatures in the winter months to prevent snow and ice from adhering and bonding to the roadway. The application of anti-icers is utilized in an effort to improve highway safety. Magnesium chloride is also sold in crystal form for household and business use to de-ice sidewalks and driveways. In these applications, the compound is applied after precipitation has fallen or ice has formed, instead of previously.

The use of this compound seems to show an improvement in driving conditions during and after freezing precipitation yet it seems to be negatively affecting electric utilities. Two main issues have been raised regarding the anti-icer magnesium chloride as it relates to electric utilities: contamination of insulators causing tracking and arcing across them, and corrosion of steel and aluminium poles and pole hardware.

[zozoka1212]

Any type of cloride damage the car no matter what. Out of Magnesium cloride and sodium cloride the magnesium cloride is friendlier to the car. Still damages the cars.After all we talking about type of salt rocks. Last winter I was stupid enough to throw some salt on the driveway by bare hand also my hand was wet showeling snow. I did not realize how stupid idea it was for about 2-3 minutes. After my hand was burning like crazy for the next 10 minutes. Basically that's what happening to your car.

zozo

[MagicM]

I think you should go buy some cheap steel rims and put on some blizzaks. Pirelli know how to make good "SUMMER" performance tires, but when it comes to ALL seasons, and especially snow/ice you're better off driving on the metal of your rims.

[Q45tech]

Remember many States mandate a tire with the ice and snow rating symbol in winter suitable for severe service in cold temperatures.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/types/snows.shtml

http://csp.state.co.us/faq_detail.cfm?FAQ_ID=32