The one thing I was not happy to hear about ceramic coated tips was: if I went with a lighter color and I used an abrasive pad to remove the exhaust soot it could damage the ceramic coating.
Thats why I went with the media blast option.

I guess if your tips are black you wouldn't clean them with an abrasive material.

 

A scotch pad works fine if need?That isn't abrasive enough to affect the ceramic coating.So you just media blasted your tips with no finish on them?

 

yes just 5 min per set and I got the color to nearly match my GT Silver wheels.
After 3 months have washed car twice and used scotbrite pad around lip to get any black soot off to keep that nice matte patina look.
I have been asked 3 times which tips and where I got them.