Blasfemia!!!

 

I guess it would depend on your budget, I would prefer chrome over polished aluminum for the care and look factor, as some have said it's a personal choice.

On taking care of polished aluminum, clear coated is easier but the clear coat sometimes gets a clouded look in spots if moisture gets under it and can flake off as well. The bare polished is suceptible to damage from products like Westley's Bleche-Wite tire cleaner and I learned that one the hard way, if you use something like that to clean the tires with polished bare don't spray it on the tires put it on something else and apply it or you'll be polishing again. Just my 2 cents.

 

chrome is the way to go, as they say, chrome dont get ya home...but it sure will get ya laid!!!

 

It's typically a clear powdercoat. It's a smooth finish but subdues the polish somewhat. Looks cool but not like chrome. Like John said it's bad about getting moisture under it and then it really starts to look bad. If you were going to the expense of having it powdercoated, you'd be better off having it chromed.

He's dead right about the Bleche-White too. It works great for tires but will discolor bare aluminum fast.

Another option for polished aluminum would be something like Zoop's Seal. It's a polish/protectant kit that is supposed to last for two years.