hmmm ill try that, thanks, any particular grit reccomendation?

 

Yup; somebody stripped the paint and clear-coated them. I had some old Marvics (magnesium) I did this with.
I'd probably suggest using either a paint/finish remover liquid for metal/aluminum, or the old fashioned way of a medium wire brush wheel. I know there's a liquid stripper for metal/aluminum. Check with a reputable paint store or at a machine-shop-oriented auto parts store. I'm sure 3-M very likely makes some. (Do some research online.)
If you decide to go with the wire brush wheel, be prepared to do some serious polishing (increasingly finer grit wet-dry paper; steel wool, etc.) after you get the old crap off. If you're going to paint them after taking off the old finish, this will require a bit less tedium. If you're going to chrome them, get the smoothest finish you can, because the chrome will only "magnify" what's underneath.
And, yes, take the tires off the rims and do the job right. You'll be glad you did, later.
Good luck!

 

Take the tires off, take the wheels to a professional powdercoater. let them prep then powdercoat the wheels. No tedius work for you; no uncertainty if it got done properly. Your bike will look bitchin again! Yes, you'll pay a little more to have all the work done, BUT... you have to weigh out what your time is worth versus the cost of you doing it wrong then STILL having to have it done professionally to get it right again. Plus, if you have it done correctly the FIRST time, that means less down-time for your bike. "Do it right, do it once" is my motto and don't kid yourself that you can do it better than a professional powdercoater. You'll be back out riding sooner.... rather than later.

My $.02,
Daryl

 

good luck either way