Rep Power: 266

OK so I only have a few pictures of this all, but il try to get most of it through in text. I also tried to include a few jokes in here so you would enjoy the read. Mods feel free to sticky this, I didnt see one like it in the exterior section.

So you want to repaint your wheels, but dont want to pay the "pros" to do it for you, and powdercoat is out of your price range, start here. A few basics before we start

1. Have a clean working environment. Nothing sucks more than having leaves and other crap sticking to wet paint, because even if you take it off, itl leave a mark.
2. Use wheel paint. It is specifically formulated (dont know how) for the job, and costs as much as any other spray can, so do yourself and those looking at your car the favor, and do it right.
3. PREP PREP PREP!!! I cant stress this enough. If you dont take the time and effort to properly prepare your wheels for the primer and paint process, the coats will not bond properly to the surface, and will start to peel/crack quickly. A friend of mine didnt do it right and after 200 miles, the paint was already chipping.

Here we go.

Materials:
1. (1) deck of playing cards (youll see how this works in a bit, it will save you money too)
2. (2) cans of primer. If you are painting steel wheels (steelies), and they have surface rust, get the primer that is usually labeled "fights rust" or something along those lines.
3. (2) cans of paint. Like I said before, use wheel paint. Its in the same aisle, and requires no extra effort to use.
4. 800 grit sandpaper
5. Cardboard or sometihng to paint on...dont want to get paint all over the driveway do you, you messy little painter
6. (x) cans of clearcoat. Depends how much "gloss" you want your wheels to have.

Safety:
1. Painters mask - I didnt use one
2. Goggles - I didnt use them
3. Gloves - I didnt need to use them, but if you are working with any kind of paint stripper, you should, and not the rubber ones, it will eat through them.

Notice:
For my card trick, you do not need to unmount the tires and then have them put back on...around here that saves ~$50 plus a bit of driving. If you already have them unmounted...sorry

PREP WORK!!!

OK so you have all of your materials from the parts store, and are wearing your painters mast, goggles, and gloves (<< ).

Lets start prepping. This may take a while, but it will be worth it. Firstly wash the wheels, and not just with water, with soapy water and a sponge and a brush. Take your sandpaper and start sanding away at the wheel. Be sure to get into the nooks and crannies as well, and if you have surface rust like I did, take an extra minute on each section. You probbably wont get the rust completely off, but what we need is a flat paint surface. If you followed my instructions and got rust-fighting primer, it will take care of the rest. Take a pause every few minutes and either vaccum the debris off of the wheel or blow it off (wear goggles and a dust mask for this kids, i dont want you getting rust particles into your face). When you think you are done, run your bare hand over the wheel and see if it is flat. If you can feel bumps and things, you need to keep working.

Done? Congrats, the hard part is over, have a beer and look at your ugly wheels for the last time.

Final prep work. Warning: if someone sees you, they may think you are retarded.
Remember the paying cards? Get them now. Insert the playing cards between the wheel and tire, either vertically or horizontally. Make sure they are in firmly, having them fall out will be bad. So, here is what you should have so far.



Primer:
Your arms might be sore from sanding by now, but its all over. Lets primer! Lay down the wheel on cardboard or whatever you chose, and get the can. Follow the instructions on the back as far as shaking it and all. I recomend spraying a bit of it on some paper or something first, because in the first few seconds, a mix of air and paint will come out (more air)..we dont want this on the wheel. Hold the can 6-12 inches away from the wheel, and spray.

The cards will block primer (and paint in the later step) from spraying onto the tires...see a nice way to avoid mounting and unmounting. I used fast dry primer, and when they said fast, they meant it. I was able to cover the entire wheel in just a single coat. Here is me at work. Note the cardboard protecting my driveway from getting grafiti.



Take your time with this. Let them dry according to the instructions on the back of the can, and in the meantime, have another beer, or 2 because it will take a while. or

Primered:

\
Yea, I got lazy and painted the valve stem too. Notice that I only got a little bit of overspray on the tire, but it came off within 100 miles. Notice that there are no runs on the wheel. When it is drying, keep it laying on its back. I stood it up for the picture when it was dry. To make sure its dry, look at it, if it isnt glossy, run your hand over it gently, you should have no primer on your hand when you take it off.

Wetsanding:
This step is optional, I didnt do it because I wasnt that **** about it. You can take some 1200 grit sandpaper and while using soapy water, sand the wheel at light pressure. I didnt take the time to do it because these are my winter wheels, and I didnt care enough. If you do this, dry them with a towell or whatever, and give it about 20 minutes in the sun to get em completely dry. What a great opportunity for more beer.

Paint:
You came all this way for the golden moment. Lets get these babies finished up. Get your paint. Follow the instructions on the back of the can as far as shaking and distance. Spray for the first few seconds onto paper so you get the air out first.
Get your cards again, and put them back in. Make sure the primer on them is dry too, if not, use a second deck. Get to work. Spray 6-12 inches away from the wheel. Most paints are not as fast drying as primers, so you will need to use light coats to make it come out good. Have the wheel laying down on its backside, and get to work. See back of the can for dry-time instructions...not tired of beer yet? Have one on me!

Clearcoat:
I didnt do this step and personally its a waste of time for beater wheels. Follow the instructions, use the playing cards, youve read it 2 times already, are you drunk by now??


Finished!! The moment of truth is here. I did mine black, any color works.



If you feel you arent too drunk, put them on the car, use jackstands to secure the car up, and a handbrake. Tighten properly, and set the car down. Wow, look at how pretty that is. Have one of these to celebrate.

Showing them off:
Now at this point you are probbably too drunk to drive, so take a picture, post it on the boards, and give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.

 
Rep Power: 265

wheels look good, nice little diy.

 
Rep Power: 389

Does your tire say INTEGRA?

 
Rep Power: 228

haha this is funny, but i kinda want to do it now. my hubs are crap. pics of them on your car would be nice

 
Rep Power: 237

I think they are Goodyear Integrity's.

 
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havent someone did it wit index card O_o...nice diy though...

 
Rep Power: 266

Yes sir.
That would work also. Playing cards<index cards $$ wise though
As you wish.




this last one is pre-drop...for everyone debating getting lowered, DO IT!


Goodyear Integrity 185 65 14 they suck!


BTW guys I usually charge my customers 75 to do this, 125 for alloy wheels, I am giving it to our community for free. Mod said that if the thread gets enough attention, it will get a sticky, and if it gets a sticky, maybe il have the motivation to make more, as well as video DIYs when it gets to spring time. Make it happen, and I shall reward.

 
Rep Power: 240

looks nice..

 
Rep Power: 271

Wow thats alot of pointless work for steelies, you coulda bought some rustoleum gloss paint and spray ur wheels, I didnt even mask mine off I sprayed the tires too. Looked like permanent tireshine for a month. Lemme look for a picture

 
Rep Power: 263

^^dooo it DO IT

 
Rep Power: 389

^ I think hes already done it?

 
Rep Power: 228

yeah, but if you've got to sport the steelies, sport them right haha.

 
Rep Power: 0

Hmmm. Good DIY for steelies with the cards. I wouldn't do it on a set of non beater wheels, I'd rather pull the tires and get the whole lip. We're not here to bribe you for more DIYs though. If they're good, they'll stand on their own.

+1 for a nice write-up.

 
Rep Power: 266

Now THATS what i call bad practice and the kind of thing that makes honda owners look like ricers...my friend did that to his steelies with green paint and got it all over the tires it looks retarded

 
Rep Power: 271

black is black

 
Rep Power: 260

what the hell are u talking about... its basically the same **** you did??

painting steelies that are supposed to have hubcaps on them with spray paint is what gives the ricer appeal.. thats alot of work for nothing... i see no point in this or why someone would want to do this....

black is black..thats right.

 
Rep Power: 248

that is pretty much contradicting your original post of painting steelies

id rather ride hubcaps! lol

 
Rep Power: 389

Now do a DIY on painting rear bumpers to match your car

 
Rep Power: 271

yea i had no hubcaps when i first got my car, i put my hubcaps back on now. live n learn

 
Rep Power: 266

painting steelies isnt rice....spraying paint over the wheels and tires too...thats rice IMO but have it your way.

 
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hmmmm i guess i'm a total ricer then, cuz i painted my hubcaps gunmetal for winter lol

 
Rep Power: 260

he used black spray paint.. on black steelies.. i have no idea what color tires you have been buying, but the ones ive seen at walmart and ...other tire places lol have been black. soo like he said.. his tires just looked shiny.. itd be just about the same if you put tire shine on your freshly painted steelies... i dont see rice there. do you even know wat rice means? a technical assistant should be familiar with common forum words and use them properly at all times.

 
Rep Power: 271

wth is a technical assistant looool

 
Rep Power: 266

It just goes to show general lack of care for work on the car...whats the first thing that draws my attention to a car...the color and shine, then the wheels....i look at the wheels and see that it was a slop job and the owner didnt take the time to do it right....this gives me a general idea of how the rest of the car was worked on, even though it may not be true. He didnt want it done right, he wanted it done right now, that IMO is ricer mentality, but whatever.

Also, dont forget that the DIY isnt for black paint only, so some people might care enough to do it my way if they dont want silver/red/yellow/w.e tires and dont look like slobs.

 
Rep Power: 0

Personally, I'd rather rock steelies than hubcaps, unless they were spinner hubcaps.

Paint + tires = rice

If a car has any kind of mesh or bodykit, the front bumper is the first thing that draws my attention. If there's no intercooler, then the car just lost 75% of its cool points in my book.

Kudos for not gettin' your hackles up in response to the 8 rations of **** you just took.

 
Rep Power: 271

dude it steelies that you have on for winter, i could care less what it looks like, its better than looking rusted

 
Rep Power: 261

lol my steelies are rusted! thats CADSM for you...*** jdm

 
Rep Power: 266

I agree, I just like to take my time and do things properly...to each their own, and lets end this discussion now

 
Rep Power: 263

<33 i recently put my hub caps back on GOING BACK TO STOOCCCK now i need to take my exhaust off and put back stock exhaust and im STOCK AGAIN WOO!!! except for the intake i love smooth driving knowing im on hub capsnot steelies

 
Rep Power: 326

retard...Goodyear Integrity