Hey guys, I have seen alot of you paint your own rims.. Can you give any tips on preping the rim and did you do it with tires on or off?

 

I havent done it but Im very certain they media blast them to scuff the surface so they paint will stick. Powercoating is much better and Im sure they do that with the tires off.

 

I did mine 2 weeks ago and i used this DIY write up by ORT.....its perfect step by step instructions.


https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen-...20s-black.html

 

If you are just changing colours and they are not too bad a shape a thorough scuffing with an abrasive pad will do, then shoot. If they are a real mess then more work is needed with sandpaper, etc, to get them smoothed out and rust free. It is easiest with no tire mounted. If you take the short cut route, at least break the top tire bead and make a couple of cardboard inserts to fit........rectangles with semi-circular cut-outs that over lap to cover the tire. Nothing looks worse than overspray on the tire.

No bead breaker? Try this tried and true method: With wheel flat, run a 2 X 6 on to the tire up to the wheel. Drive a vehicle up the 2 X 6 and your bead breaks damage free.

 

i painted mine. all i did was mask off the tire by taking blue tape, tearing a piece about 5 to 6 inches long, sliding it in between the rims outer lip and the bead. go all the way around, then cover the rest of the tire with newspaper or just tape. then primer and paint. i used engine enamel spray paint. you can get it from any auto parts store and it comes in a boat load of colors.

 

i taped mine with masking tape, sanded, primered, painted and clear coated. I have the crappy plastic covers, and the paint wont last as long as on a regular rim. But it buys me sometime time to save some money for the rims and tires I want. good luck

 

I did mine with out tires on the rim. and I sanded, taped the hell outta them, primed, painted

 

they look good to man. If i didnt have these gay *** plastic covers I would have gone with powder coating.

 

mine are the same way, in that i have the dumb plastic chrome covers. the paint chips every once in a while, but i just whip out the spray paint and give it a once over. im not keeping these rims on here for long, so like you said its just to buy some time...

 

I painted mine with the tires on. The short version of the process is to clean them, sand, masked them off and then do the painting process. Did them back in October and they are still holding up great.