Painting the wheel center caps - colors, designs, ideas?

[ShooterMcGavin]

I think painting the wheel center caps would make an improvement in the look of my truck, but I haven't decided what I want to do yet. I am keeping my wheels the factory silver; the 16" split 3-spokes. I think I want to paint the center caps silver; haven't really considered going with another color, but show me something if you think it is interesting.

For the Toyota emblem, I am thinking either gloss black or gloss red. I'm not set on either one. Then, there is the question of whether or not to paint the circle around the Toyota emblem? Pictures of each would be good.

Feel free to add suggestions, and photos would help too.

Bonus: What are some methods you use for painting the recessed lettering?

 

[Scramble]

I'm not helping unless you post some pics.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

I'm not helping unless you post some pics.

Pics of my ugly center caps in crap condition?

Just for you, Scramble

 

[soupkitchen]

semi-gloss black

 

[T4R2014]

Silver paint and paint the logo dark gray... Just like they did when they were new. Red would be so tacky.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

semi-gloss black

The whole thing black? If I do the entire thing 1 color, I'm thinking it will be silver.

Silver paint and paint the logo dark gray... Just like they did when they were new. Red would be so tacky.

I think you are probably right about the red. The thing about painting the center emblem any color is that I worry about getting really sharp lines/edges.

 

[Unner]

When I had the stock wheels I painted mine with the graphite duplicolor wheel paint. Looked good to me.

Tried to link a picture but photobucket isn't working. Check out the first page of my build thread, probably some pics to be seen there.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

When I had the stock wheels I painted mine with the graphite duplicolor wheel paint. Looked good to me.

Tried to link a picture but photobucket isn't working. Check out the first page of my build thread, probably some pics to be seen there.

Thanks. I checked it out. That looks like a good option. Great build thread too!

 

[Scramble]

Pics of my ugly center caps in crap condition?

Just for you, Scramble

Nice! They're uglier than mine were! But my lugs were rusted to shit & my clear coat was pealing off.:dance:

 

[Scramble]

I painted my split 3's dark grey but never finished my center caps because I went to a 17" 4th Gen Sport Edition wheel. But here's what I did. I roughed them up with a scotch brite pad, got the loose paint off & roughed up the surface for primer. Then clean them in the dishwasher. It gets all of the dirt & grease out of the hard to clean inside. Before priming with Plastic paint primer put some tape over the metal clips. I did three thin layers of plastic primer. Then paint the color of your choice. I was going use the same dark grey of the wheel & hand paint the logos silver & then clear coat for protection. I really should finish the caps & sell the wheels. Another unfinished project sitting in my basement. :gossip:

 

[revox92]

Looks good finish Scramble. Waiting to see them installed.

 

[Scramble]

Looks good finish Scramble. Waiting to see them installed.

Thank You, I'm not installing them. I moved up to 17" wheels for the TBU. I had them professionally media blasted & then primed, painted & clear coated by me two years ago. The paint is really cured by now.:blabla: I'll do the caps this weekend & sell you the set if you want them.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Thanks for the details Scramble. It looks like they will come out nicely. Show a picture when they are done?

 

[HawkNation]

I redid my stock wheels with columbia coatings gunmetal gray powder (the original finish was terrible when i got the truck), center caps were terrible. Paint shop around here couldn't match the powder so I went satin black until I can find a decent match... Here's what it looks like

 

[Kbuch1]

Before


Black plastidip to cover up the peeling caps.

 

[Kbuch1]

After


Simply sanded the loose paint and wiped with alcohol to prep.
3 coats of plasti.
Wish I had done sooner it looks so much better.

 

[Roc Doc]

The opposite.


Duplicolor satin black wheel paint, and Rustoleum 'aluminium' for the caps.

 

[hang10]

. Plastidip


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Thanks for all the ideas. I think I will go with something simple. Probably a slightly darker silver to contrast the plain aluminum of the wheels.

 

[markymark191]

I would leave them silver or sand and repaint the whole rim gunmetal. my brother powder coated his gunmetal and they look brand new and really good!