Opinions on wheel painting

[brianhuntRVA]

I picked up some duplicolor exact match titanium silver to repaint my mirror housings. Paint is flaking off. Next project after that is to repaint my wheels because of flaking there too. So I was wondering what people's opinions were in terms of using that exact same paint on the wheels. So the wheels would match the body exactly. Obviously a typical wheel paint is silver anyway but probably not an exact match.

Also open to suggestions of other colors for the wheels that might look good. I have the grey cladding and for some reason in pictures I've seen before gunmetal and black wheels just don't seem to look. Post up pictures though if you have gunmetal or black and you like the look.

Thanks in advance and thanks to @JoeyG for his mirror painting writeup.

 

[CXS]

Don't use Duplicolor on your wheels, the heat breaks it down. I know because I used it and had to repaint a year later. Use paint specified for wheels or motor than is intended to withstand the heat. You probably won't be able to match as nicely but it will last.

 

[mizak82]

Plastidip Anthercite grey.

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[Ratubbs]

I painted my wheels on my 350Z the same color as my car with Dupli-Color and it looked awesome and lasted 2 years that I know of , it still looked good when I sold it back in January.


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[ZebRuaj]

Painting anything comes down to prep work and following directions. I've had rattle canned rims end up looking professionally done and lasted years without flaking or chipping.

Or you can always plastidip it if you just want a quick fix.

The other forums I was a part of were able to narrow down a color code for OEM rim paint finish. Not sure if anyone was able to do such for T4R finish.

 

[snowboardwcu]

i am in the works of getting my spare fixed up. seems the previous owner didn't rotate the spare in (its v8) because the tire is brand new and rim looks like a peeling corroded POS.

i have a buddy sand blasting it. once thats completed i'll take a look at what the 'finish' looks like and decide whether or not to paint it. another buddy does body work and offered to paint/clear them once they're blasted.

i anticipate they will come out looking acceptable. hoping they look different (something other than run of the mill 4th gen rims) and stick out. i'll try to take some pictures of the process and report back.

haven't decided on a color yet. anyone have recommendations to match with the nautical metallic blue? i feel like black doesn't match well and a deep silver would.

 

[S p a r k y]

i am in the works of getting my spare fixed up. seems the previous owner didn't rotate the spare in (its v8) because the tire is brand new and rim looks like a peeling corroded POS.

i have a buddy sand blasting it. once thats completed i'll take a look at what the 'finish' looks like and decide whether or not to paint it. another buddy does body work and offered to paint/clear them once they're blasted.

i anticipate they will come out looking acceptable. hoping they look different (something other than run of the mill 4th gen rims) and stick out. i'll try to take some pictures of the process and report back.

haven't decided on a color yet. anyone have recommendations to match with the nautical metallic blue? i feel like black doesn't match well and a deep silver would.

Plasti-dip your wheels, then spray paint over, if you don't like the first color, just spray over it with another color! Done this several times and I always end up with rustoleum hammered grey!

There is a dark bronze under the grey in this picture!

 

[NinjaOne]

Painted mine with engine paint, gloss. Love it

Like CXS said, wheels can get hot (especially if you get a frozen caliper). Make sure the paint is rated for high temps

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[theMayor]

Plasti-dip your wheels, then spray paint over, if you don't like the first color, just spray over it with another color!

^ THIS. I love Plasti-dip.

Also... Go Vols!

 

[brianhuntRVA]

Thanks for all the input. I really like the gunmetal look on other colors than mine. And even on titanium 4runners that don't have the cladding. But with the cladding it's blah. No contrast maybe.

@CXS is it possible bad prep work caused your issue? I have had 2 frozen calipers so I do see how this could be problematic.

I just found that rustoleum has a wheel paint in "steel" which looks like it might be a bit darker than the typical silver but not as dark as gunmetal. Need to find a can and see it in person.

I don't quite get the idea behind painting over plastidip though. I will never go back to the current color in all it flakyness and I can paint over paint just the same without the plastidip beneath.

 

[S p a r k y]

Thanks for all the input. I really like the gunmetal look on other colors than mine. And even on titanium 4runners that don't have the cladding. But with the cladding it's blah. No contrast maybe.

@CXS is it possible bad prep work caused your issue? I have had 2 frozen calipers so I do see how this could be problematic.

I just found that rustoleum has a wheel paint in "steel" which looks like it might be a bit darker than the typical silver but not as dark as gunmetal. Need to find a can and see it in person.

I don't quite get the idea behind painting over plastidip though. I will never go back to the current color in all it flakyness and I can paint over paint just the same without the plastidip beneath.

Well if it takes you 15 different paints to get the color you want, you don't want 14 different layers.

 

[brianhuntRVA]

Well if it takes you 15 different paints to get the color you want, you don't want 14 different layers.

Gotcha, easy way to peel off and do another color. I barely have time to do this once so whatever color I pick is what is staying.

 

[CXS]

@CXS is it possible bad prep work caused your issue? I have had 2 frozen calipers so I do see how this could be problematic.

I did a good job prepping before the primer, never had a frozen caliper and I'm over 200k right now. I just repainted this year with wheel paint. It's white but the paint doesn't match real well. That's not a big deal go me since I wheel a lot and the wheels take some abuse.

Maybe there's a difference between stock alloys and my FJC steel wheels, I have no idea. I'm just cautioning folks that longevity may be a false hope but won't tell anyone not to try.

 

[having fun]

I'd say if you do, definitely scuff your rims up with sanding. Mine 17s, has the silver inner spoke and clear coat top surface. Went with a good primer, flat black and clear coated over them. Came out like a semi gloss.

Been like this for 3yrs at least, still looks like when I painted, except for the scrapes and gouges from hitting rocks and boulders.

 

[LOBO79]

VHT wheel paint is a good product to try.I used it on my wheels when I painted them and it went on well, I was actually impressed considering it was spray cans.

 

[truc.karl]

Duplicolor wheel paint is not a bad product. Just remember to prep well your wheels so that the paint won't chip easily.