When I bought my Subaru it came with an extra set of snow tires mounted on the original white wagon wheels. I have since removed the snow tires and would like to repaint and use the wheels. They are in very good shape with little rust.

 

I need information about how to go about repainting them, especially what prep I need to do and what is the best paint (type, brand) to use? I have never done anything like this before.

 

Thanks,

Steve

duplicolor makes a special wheel spray paint. theres even a short tutorial on their website on how to get good results.

 

http://www.duplicolor.com/projects/howto_wheel.html

duplicolor makes a special wheel spray paint. theres even a short tutorial on their website on how to get good results.

 

http://www.duplicolor.com/projects/howto_wheel.html

Thanks for the link! I'll check it out.

I used to paint my wheels once or twice a year to keep them looking nice.

 

First step was to sand any rust and rough up existing paint.

 

Second was to treat rust areas with phosphoric acid.

 

Third was a spot prime or sometimes just paint.

 

Forth step paint.

 

I used Kmart $1 a can gloss white.

 

Get use to it...

Glenn

82 SubaruHummer--custom rims

84 GL--nice white rims

01 Forester--factory rims

I used a wire wheel on a drill to remove all the old paint and surface rust off of the wheels. Then a good coat of primer, two or three coats of white gloss paint, followed by a coat or two of clearcoat. This should hold up for a while.

I've been wanting to do that as well,

 

What about that color changing paint that you see in shucks and stuff do you think that would hold up, and yes my xt has wagon wheels

I've been wanting to do that as well,

 

What about that color changing paint that you see in shucks and stuff do you think that would hold up, and yes my xt has wagon wheels

\

 

I doubt it. I painted a computer with that stuff, and it would scratch like crazy if I accidentally hit it with my foot...

if you don`t mind spending a couple extra bucks, i would get them powder coated, it will give them a real hard and smooth finish, i guess you could paint them 10 times with cans and its probly is cheaper than powdering 1 wheel:-\ (probly $20-25 a wheel)

if you don`t mind spending a couple extra bucks, i would get them powder coated, it will give them a real hard and smooth finish, i guess you could paint them 10 times with cans and its probly is cheaper than powdering 1 wheel:-\ (probly $20-25 a wheel)

 

This does give a very nice finish. The steel rims on my truck look better than most alloys. Glossy metallic gray.

 

Minimum if you want it to last, I would definitely do a wire wheel to clean it, and a clear coat finish of some sort over a high quality spray paint (like the $4/can type). I paint murals on various outdoor things (giant propane tanks, mailboxes, fences) and have found that for these, the wirebrushing and clear coat lasts alot longer than just slapping some paint on quickly. I have also just quick spraypainted wheels, and it lasts a year in white, maybe two in black before you need to redo it. That's in Colorado where it's pretty dry most the time.