How to Re-Coat Your Rims

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re-coat your rims

How to Re-Coat Your Rims

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Step 1 of 9
Original OEM aluminum rims.

Original OEM aluminum rims.

Step 2 of 9
Remove and prep all rims at once to speed up the process and ensure to color is consistent across all four wheels.

Remove and prep all rims at once to speed up the process and ensure to color is consistent across all four wheels.

Step 3 of 9
Prep wheels by cleaning with grease remover.  Give wheels a light rough up with 120 grit or finer auto sandpaper. Use thin auto masking tape or pin-striping tape to mask around rim edge.

Prep wheels by cleaning with grease remover. Give wheels a light rough up with 120 grit or finer auto sandpaper. Use thin auto masking tape or pin-striping tape to mask around rim edge.

Step 4 of 9
Protect the rest of tires with newspaper and thicker masking tape.   Give rims several light dustings with the Duplicolor spray paint.

Protect the rest of tires with newspaper and thicker masking tape. Give rims several light dustings with the Duplicolor spray paint.

Step 5 of 9
Second coat should start looking to cover most of wheel surface.

Second coat should start looking to cover most of wheel surface.

Step 6 of 9
Third and fourth should do the trick and cover the entire wheel in a consistent color.

Third and fourth should do the trick and cover the entire wheel in a consistent color.

Step 7 of 9
Plastic centre caps can be coated with same wheel coating spray paint.

Plastic centre caps can be coated with same wheel coating spray paint.

Step 8 of 9
Lug nuts as well.

Lug nuts as well.

Step 9 of 9
Follow same light dusting spray steps with  clear coat for gloss finish. If you want matt finish don't use clear coat. The Duplicolor paint is an enamel so doesn't need a finish coat for protection.

Follow same light dusting spray steps with clear coat for gloss finish. If you want matt finish don't use clear coat. The Duplicolor paint is an enamel so doesn't need a finish coat for protection.

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12 Comments
Supplies

Duplicolor wheel paint

Duplicolor wheel clear coat

Duplicolor grease and wax remover

CJ Carey

If you want black rims I suggest plasti dip, it works great stronger than paint and if you get tired of it or want to resale just peel it off. Plus it protects your rims from salt and scratches

CJ Carey 2 months ago

Terrence Lall

Anyone know how it holds up to a tire change? As in when I need new tires and they throw it on the machine?

Terrence Lall 3 months ago

Kirk Boivin

Not a bad guide. I used the duplicolor metallic finish, but due to the finish being so thin, I decided to put a few layers of clear coat to protect the finish. It's made it through a full season, so it works.

Kirk Boivin 5 months ago

Martin Agerhäll

Can this product be used with other rim materials aswell? E.g steel rims?

Martin Agerhäll 12 months ago

Daniel Ott

Been wanting to do this to my motors knackered alloys, now I can! Thanks

Daniel Ott 12 months ago

Colton Goertzen

Amen to that!

Colton Goertzen last year

Nick Pritchett

Finally a Snapguide for men! Something that isn't food, clothes, hair and many other not-so-manly activities!

Nick Pritchett last year

Brendon Vollmer

U could have saved some prep time by putting Vaseline on the rubber instead of masking paper.

Brendon Vollmer last year

Aidan R

How many coats would you recommend ?

Aidan R last year

Tommy Payne

How does it stand up to the tire changing rack?

Tommy Payne last year

Lou G

Yes! But it's also allot cheaper and more customizable. The key when spray painting is to build up your paint with multiple thin coats. There are some very good clear coats you can apply to the finished paint job for added durability.

Lou G last year

Aidan R

presumably less durable than powder coating??

Aidan R last year

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