Steel Wheel Painting?????

[DANTIP]

I had a local paint shop mix one pint of paint code 521 (1972 white) for my steel wheels and they put it in spray bombs for me.

The wheels I have are very clean with original paint but have enough scratches to warrant paint. Do I try to paint the wheels before having tires mounted then touch-up after mounting?

I have seen other people do a great job of wheel painting with the tires mounted but I think painted balancing weights would look silly. I want a very original look with as little hassle as possible.

Any thoughts?

[ChevLoRay]

In my opinion, have them soda-blasted, then paint them. Balancing would be done after the tires are mounted. I have done it other ways, but this would look better.

[leddzepp]

Have them balanced on the inside so you don't see the weights.

[chevy_mike]

You can also mark the tire where the weights are, remove them, mask of the tires, paint the wheels (after cleaning and scuffing) and then put your weights back where they were.

[john02fxdl]

This is what I recently did. I sandblasted my steel wheels first, mounted my new tires second, but don't fill them with air OR bead them to the wheel. Mask off the tire, paint the wheel (front and back). Let it dry, install valve stem, blow up the tire(make sure the beads seat) and balance. If you do it in that order, the wheel won't get scratched. There are two types of balancing methods for wheels, static and dynamic. Static is weights on inside only, dynamic is on both, your choice.

[special-K]

You can have your wheels powder balanced.I paint mounted wheels using 4" strip of metal I wrap arond the edge of the wheel.Works great! You can always paint the weights bak to silver grey.

[leddzepp]

Good thread...lots of great ideas here.

[4x4toy]

I like this stuff, Have it in my 2005 GMC tires. Internal tire ballancer. No more ugly weights.
http://www.innovativebalancing.com/
I have also used this stuff too.
http://www.imiproducts.com/equal/tire-balancer.aspx

[Hottrucks]

I have done both but the way of choice would be to paint your wheels first then have the tires mounted, the new machines don't even touch the rim think about the guys buying rims that cost $1000 each, then static balance them (weight on in side of wheel you could even use the sticky ones and hide them behind the centers) that should get you what you want and most tire shops could do it

On a side note I have found that rustolium industrial spray bombs hold up great but only come in basic colors. Just give them plenty of time to dry before you mount them.

[1970cstblazer]

I say blast them and powder coat them white..

[SacramentoJoe]

You can also mark the tire where the weights are, remove them, mask of the tires, paint the wheels (after cleaning and scuffing) and then put your weights back where they were.

That is what I did. I recently had the tires rebalanced and need to do some touch up.

[my67chevytruck]

Originally Posted by DANTIP

I had a local paint shop mix one pint of paint code 521 (1972 white) for my steel wheels and they put it in spray bombs for me.

The wheels I have are very clean with original paint but have enough scratches to warrant paint. Do I try to paint the wheels before having tires mounted then touch-up after mounting?

I have seen other people do a great job of wheel painting with the tires mounted but I think painted balancing weights would look silly. I want a very original look with as little hassle as possible.

Any thoughts?

with the technology these days, the tire tool never really touches the rim. I think i would clean or blast them , then paint them. give me 3-4 days or so to make sure paint is fully cured. I would then have the tires mounted (talk to a manager and alert them of your concerns so a New tech doesnt do this), and balance them dynamically (weight on inside only). if the installer is cautious , you shouldnt have any issues.