Polishing rims is hard dirty work. You can remove the clear coat and do them but I would not even attempt it without the right buffing compopunds and a good 3 hp buffer. I would suggest taking them to a platers and just tell them you want them polished although to have them chrome plated is not that much more money. You are paying for the polishing mostly and not the plating. If you have a good polish job you will not have any problem keeping them that way even without clear coating. Just use a good wax on them and they will stay shiny for a long time.. I have polished a lot of wheels and belive me it is dirty work.
