Any tips for painting wheels?

[1MITCH1]

I have the five spoke wheels painted the same color as the truck (Ply Blue). Normally they are covered with mud,but when they aren't they look quite ghetto. Any suggestions for getting paint to adhere well?

 

[Gordo]

Ive no experience with painting wheels but if they are aluminum I would use a good etch primer first. Gordo

 

[KevinNY]

Just give them a light sanding and go to town with the spray can. If you do a coat or 2 each day for a couple of days you will build up a nice finish. There are fancier spray cans of wheel specific paint if you want a "nicer" finish.

 

[landrovered]

Paint them when the rubber is off so that you don't look stupid with overspray on your tires.

 

[RoverLee]

How did your rims end up blue?

 

[Rugbier]

No need to dismount the rubber, just deflate and that will give you enough work area for the lips.

Mine are sanded, primed, and painted 8 coats. My were done with a spray gun, and extra hardener was placed in the mix. ( they are painted front and back )

once you have that base, if you scratch them they are easy to touch up with an air brush.

 

[1MITCH1]

How did your rims end up blue?

The British painted them that colour. a.k.a. factory

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Ron]

USE PRIMER FIRST. I bought some disco steelies off someone here who did not sand or use primer and almost all of the paint fell off right away. I bet they did not even use a proper cleaner to remove the grime.

 

[reedjos]

I have a 94' LWB that originally came with the chrome finished wheels. When I got the rig the tires had been mounted/dismounted so many times that the chrome was peeling around the bead area where the tire seats and every week or so I'd have another flat tire.

A local shop sand blasted & powder coated them gloss black for only about $50 per tire, and even fixed the cosmetic blemishes while they were at it. It was expensive, but far cheaper than a new set of alloy wheels and they did an excellent job. I'd reccomend powder coating to anyone who wants a professional, durable finish.

 

[Velocewest]

Just give them a light sanding and go to town with the spray can. If you do a coat or 2 each day for a couple of days you will build up a nice finish. There are fancier spray cans of wheel specific paint if you want a "nicer" finish.

x2. Mine are painted with Rustoleum semi-gloss black, and I didn't even sand. I just wiped them down with lacquer thinner and painted them on a hot summer day. A couple years later and they look fine, and I hit them with the pressure washer all the time.

 

[1MITCH1]

x2. Mine are painted with Rustoleum semi-gloss black, and I didn't even sand. I just wiped them down with lacquer thinner and painted them on a hot summer day. A couple years later and they look fine, and I hit them with the pressure washer all the time.

Great thats what I wanted to hear!