I have worked with two different sets of two piece lock ring wheels, both painted professionally for high dollar car restorations, and the rings were chrome plated. The paint was thicker than it needed to be, not that there was a problem with fit, but more of a problem with squishing and chipping it.
Very carefully I was able to mount tubes and tires on all of them without chipping the paint or the chrome. It would have been simpler if they were powder coated.
Cut up some antifreeze jugs into about 2" X 5" strips, a few dozen strips, and use them as pads between the lock ring and the wheel, and between tools and ring or wheels.
Grigg
