Lots of good stuff about wire wheels; I won't repeat it. I'll only chime in
about chrome.
Chroming steel causes something called hydrogen embrittlement. I'll spare you
the details, but the upshot is that it makes the steel more brittle, and
weaker. This is not particularly desirable for high stress use, like wire wheel
spokes.
It also makes the spokes somewhat heavier. Unsprung weight is bad.
The last thing is that chrome tends to flake with time. Then you get ugly
patches of rust on the unchromed metal.
Go for the stainless. It won't shine as brightly as chrome, but it will leave
you with a stronger wheel that looks better longer. (Yes, stainless is somewhat
more brittle than normal steel, too... if you want the strongest wheel, go
painted.)
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