I have been a journeyman aircraft and automotive mechanic for 50 years. In all that time I have never polished a wheel rim. On the aircraft side, a Boeing 737 one wheel half costs upwards of $15,000.00USD.So we go to great lengths to protect those wheels. First, a brand new wheel is acid etched, then two coats of epoxy primer, then a color coat, plus a clear top coat. Recently, everyone has started using electrostatic powder coat paint and baking it in an oven. It gives the wheel an impervious protection coat which washes off easily and lasts forever. There are thousands of colors to choose from and you can even have special colors made to order. I just bought my first powder coat gun at Eastwood for less than $100.00CDN. Powder costs about a dollar per ounce and goes ten times further than regular paint. The best part of this process - no nasty chemicals. You should look into it.
Brian