Originally Posted by
Unca_Sam
The only 'abrading' I've done on chromed steel rims is to use aluminum foil and brine to polish rust specks off of the chrome. Roughing up the sidewall does improve braking; there are steel 27" rims that feature a serrated texture to the sidewall, but with cheap aluminum rims getting more common on entry level bikes, they fell out of favor. Roughing up a smooth rim only removes the chrome plate, and makes the steel susceptible to rust.
I've been a motorcyclist for 55 years.
When the Japanese introduced disc brakes they were chrome plated steel which, to say the least, had the same 'delay' in the wet. Things have developed since then, but the Italians introduced us to cast iron discs which stopped convincingly, rain or shine. The iron surface rusted, even sitting in the garage, but that was regarded as acceptable in return for predictable stopping power.
Polished chrome has no 'grain', like a glass surface. No wonder it provides terrible wet performance.
Is bare steel any better?....if so I'd accept rust.