Does anybody have any experience painting wheels? I am curious as to what is involved...just sand, primer, paint? Can I paint my wheels with the tires on them? Here is a pic of my wheels...one is really rusty and paint is missing. They are 14" wheels and my tires are 227/70/r14 and are fairly new so I don't want to get 15's...plus, I can get some super swampers next..lol

BTW I'll be painting them black!

 

I painted my steelies (same kind you got but 15") like so:

Sanded off old white and grey paint with 250 then 350 grit.
Washed everything off
Wiped with alcohol
Hit them with 3 coats of black wheel primer
4 coats of Duplicolour flat black wheel paint
then 3 coats of duplicolour SUV clearcoat (wheel paint clear sucked)

They look pretty good. Have stood up to the elements great! almost a year and they are like the day I painted them.

 

I painted some with tire mounted. Just took some patience and masking tape. I had a set of severly oxidized aluminum wheels. All I did was hit them with some wheel cleaner, mask, paint with Duplicolor wheel paint. They hold up ok. I have to repaint mine since they don't like hitting rocks or loosing a bead in the mud.

Since your wheels are painted steel and have rust sand paper is too much work and you will never get it flat again. I'd use a wire wheel on a the rust and then use Rustoleum hammered finish and spray it on thick. It will have more texture but it will mask the inconsistencies better. And be a lot less work.

My suggestion anyways.

 

To the original poster: Follow the above advice. Also, a helpful tip for painting your wheels with the tires mounted is to wedge index cards between the tire and rim. Overlap them and there should be no overspray.

 

Ah, thanks for you help. I'm wondering what color I should paint them...thanks!

 

i painted my Outlaw II's black...with dupli color caliper paint..because i was told that it will hold up good...and for some reason...the people at autozone didnt know that duplicolor makes wheel paint...so they gave my mom the wrong thing...and said it should work...o well...it holds up pretty good....until a pressure washer gets to it...then it chips like a bitch...how do i prevent this...i think its because i didnt primer them...i did sand them good...but not primer...could that be why..or do you guys just handwash yalls wheels...thanks for the input!...sorry bout the hijack

 

I have used vasaline on the rubber to prevent overspray. It is a lazy way to do it.

 

Thats actually pretty smart way! I might have to give that a try!

Anyway, Camo31"???? its all cool...I don't mind.

I did however buy sandable primer AND duplicolor wheel paint. Not sure when I am going to do this, but it sounds like fun! I am going to take before and after pics...if I do it of course!