Painting Wheels

[xxthat girlxx]

Okay! I'm doing this post. Pictures and all. Can you believe it?!? (I still can't believe I actually got my wheels painted and on before it really snowed... :rolleyes:) Thanks for everyone's patience and repetitive PMs to get me to pull through!

I really didn't like my stock 2004 WRX wheels. I bought a set of 00-01 RS (6-spoke) RS wheels and sold my stock ones. The RS wheels came with bald tires on them and they needed to be unmounted. And my WRX wheels had the tires that needed to go on the RS wheels, so those also needed to be unmounted.

This is me removing the valve stem core. It is really easy to do and quite fun. Once this is removed the tire will not hold air.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/valvestemcore.jpg


Once the air is out you put it on the mounting (in this case unmounting) machine to break the seating of the tire. You pull the handle on the right to do so and you repeat it 2-3 times for each side.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/mounting%20machine.jpg


The red arm fits under the lip of the wheel and when the wheel is rotated, the tire comes off.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/unmount.jpg


This is me breaking off a wheel weight.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/wheelweight.jpg

[xxthat girlxx]

Because I have a few seasons left on the tires I will be mounting back on, I had to do some skips and jumps in the process to do what I could to protect the d.i.y. paint job.

To prep the wheels for paint, they had to be:

1) washed

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/washedwheels.jpg


2) sanded

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/sanding.jpg


3) washed again (no picture of this)



Next the tires were mounted. This is just after I put in the new valve stem.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/new%20valve%20stem.jpg


This is me lubricating the tire to be mounted/seated.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/lubricatetire.jpg


Next, I mounted the tire. The red arm works to push the tire down over the lip of the wheel.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/mounting.jpg


Next you add air to seat the tire.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/seatingtire.jpg

[xxthat girlxx]

After they tires were finished being mounted I brought them to be balanced.

This is the paint station I created in the basement of my apt. building.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/paintstation.jpg


I used painter's tape and newspaper to block off the tires. Some people use notecards.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/tapedofftire.jpg


This is after 3 coats of primer. I was so happy up to this point. I thought they looked great! All the hate I had during prep/sanding had melted away.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/primer.jpg


This is where things got hairy. The pink paint wasn't going on well. I think it was due to the cans getting too cold. This is after one coat.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/onecoat.jpg


Two coats...

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/twocoats.jpg


And I can't remember if this photo was after the 3rd or 4th coat of pink.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/threecoats.jpg

[xxthat girlxx]

After 3 or 4 clear coats went on and dried... I finally had my pink winter wheels. :D I'll get around to getting a better picture. And the pink wheels are a VERY VERY close match for my pink vinyl. So over all, this is so far a success.

http://www.subiegirls.com/sarah/painting%20wheels/pinkwheels2.jpg


I'm not sure how well I really prepped the wheels to be painted, so now it is a waiting game. The pink had to grow on me but over all, I like them.




Here are links to the threads I used to do this project:

NASIOC (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1663297&highlight=paint)

NASIOC #2 (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=756477&highlight=paint+stock+wheels)

MN Subaru (http://mnsubaru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35417)

[StripesRX]

Very nice writeup!

Looks like we both have the same Mechanix gloves :D lol

[xxthat girlxx]

Thanks Amy! I may go a size too small next time. I hate how easily they stretch out. :(

[jessickascarling]

WOW i love how the wheels make your ms rally piggy pop. lookin' good!

[Lperkins88]

LOVE IT! love the blue and pink combo... nice write up too...
i've been thinking about painting my wheels pink too

[SassySTi284]

Okay! I'm doing this post. Pictures and all. Can you believe it?!? (I still can't believe I actually got my wheels painted and on before it really snowed... :rolleyes:) Thanks for everyone's patience and repetitive PMs to get me to pull through!


I have no idea what you're talking about:rolleyes: hehehe...looking good!! Gotta know what paint brand you used and if they make my color:cool:

[Bugichic]

Nice job.. Im actually in the process of doing hot pink stockers as well. I hope mine come out as great as yours.

[xxthat girlxx]

^I will post what paints I used.

[Bugichic]

Thanks! I have my wheels sanded and ready to go =) I was just waiting to buy a set of blizzak's before i did them.

[hqp921]

Hey, I painted my wheels too (http://www.subiegirls.com/forum/showthread.php?t=446). ;)

Actually... that thread's for SassySTi284. ;)

Wheels look great - how are they holdin' up?

- HP

[xxthat girlxx]

So far so good HP. As you said, we'll have to see how they really come out. I think I've been more careful around curbs with these wheels than I am with my BBS goldies! :eek:

[SubyGirl8330]

great write up sarah!

[Jonathan]

While this project was clearly a success, there are other better ways of painting your wheels.

In a "perfect world" I would sand, prep, prime and paint my wheels BEFORE mounting the tyres, wheel weights or valve stems. Yeah, I understand you were rushed for time and didn't have a spare set of wheels available to swap.

While it is very easy to criticize the work that others do over the internet, I think overall you did excellent work, and the result is very nice. So please don't take the above comments in the wrong way.

And just to show I am not perfect either, I have to admit that I made mistakes too. On the advice of "friends" I went a little overboard on painting an older set of WRX wheels. I had a local vocational school dismount my old junk tyres and media blast the old silver paint off before I used a "self etching" primer, and a special "surfacer" before sanding and painting them with special high temperature VHT brand wheel paint. It was somewhere at this point that I discovered the hard way that in several sections the kid who did the media blasting missed a few spots, and the self etching-primer / surfacer doesn't bold well to painted surfaces. My gold paint came off in several small sections. While I have sanded the areas where the paint came off and repainted them with the same gold paint, I lack confidence that I found all the "bad spots" and am so discouraged that I haven't bothered to mount tyres on these wheels yet. They have been sitting in a spare room of mine collecting dust for a few years now. Perhaps some day soon I will be sufficiently inspired by the work that you and others have done to just have the wheels I did mounted with some spare snows just to see what they look like.

[xxthat girlxx]

As I said in my write-up, I had to do things a bit out of order b/c of time. Oh wells.

[im_so_blue]

my friend melanie got the same color on her rims on her white winter beater rs

wish she'd post on here to add her input. I don't know if she still has those rims or not i do recall she seemed not quite sure about em :p

[michellelynn]

what made you mount the tires before you started painting?

any specific reasons to do so?

i just got done stripping the paint off my wheels (tireless), i am worried about too much over spray where the bead of the tire presses against the rim

[Jonathan]

What made you mount the tires before you started painting?

Any specific reasons to do so?

I just got done stripping the paint off my wheels (tireless), I am worried about too much over spray where the bead of the tire presses against the rim.
I agree with you, michellelynn. Unfortunately for xxxthat girlxxx (Sara) she was rushed for time and didn't have a second set of rims to use, so it was basically one quick trip to the tyre store, and then paint the wheels.

[xxthat girlxx]

I agree with you, michellelynn. Unfortunately for xxxthat girlxxx (Sara) she was rushed for time and didn't have a second set of rims to use, so it was basically one quick trip to the tyre store, and then paint the wheels.

Jonathan... did you read my thread?!? You're answer is wrong, you wrote my screen name wrong AND you spelled my name wrong!! :rolleyes:

what made you mount the tires before you started painting?

any specific reasons to do so?

i just got done stripping the paint off my wheels (tireless), i am worried about too much over spray where the bead of the tire presses against the rim

I mounted the tires first because 1) I didn't want to chip the paint mounting the tires and 2) I didn't want to chip the paint having them balanced.

I thought I had a few seasons left on these tires, but I got a radial crack on a couple of them this season so it looks like I'll need new snows next year. :( I'll have to figure out what I'm doing for wheels color. :eek:

[Jonathan]

Jonathan... did you read my thread?!? You're answer is wrong, you wrote my screen name wrong AND you spelled my name wrong!! :rolleyes:Yikes ! I guess I owe you an apology. Sorry about that Sarah.

[michellelynn]

I mounted the tires first because 1) I didn't want to chip the paint mounting the tires and 2) I didn't want to chip the paint having them balanced.

I thought I had a few seasons left on these tires, but I got a radial crack on a couple of them this season so it looks like I'll need new snows next year. :( I'll have to figure out what I'm doing for wheels color. :eek:

i was just curious because i do not have tires yet. we are painting them pink now and we were worried they would get scratched when we get the tires mounted. i think we are going to put the pink spray on, get the tires mounted, then put the clear coat on! you did a good job

[xxthat girlxx]

i was just curious because i do not have tires yet. we are painting them pink now and we were worried they would get scratched when we get the tires mounted. i think we are going to put the pink spray on, get the tires mounted, then put the clear coat on! you did a good job

After mounting them myself, I think the pink would have been okay. Don't think I could say the same about getting them balanced though.

Good luck painting and don't forget to post pics!

[michellelynn]

primer:

http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/46279/2925661100058360726S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2925661100058360726XZIkCf)

http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/46439/2402851360058360726S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2402851360058360726RqKJjo)

first coat:

http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/42796/2012968710058360726S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2012968710058360726cUVZZl)

http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/44842/2251317790058360726S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2251317790058360726IOygzL)

2nd & 3rd:

http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/43308/2064983120058360726S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2064983120058360726PwrhFW)

http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/43562/2971329100058360726S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2971329100058360726UEiwRK)

http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/44892/2070852710058360726S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2070852710058360726DfMPCe)

ill post more when they are on the car :)
these are not clear coated yet either

[MoN]

These are going to be a real nice combination w/ the color of your car. Cant wait to see them on!

[ylime]

i dig it

[michellelynn]

actually, i decided i'm waiting until winter is over to put them on, but i promise to post pictures once they are on!

[michellelynn]

all done! :)

http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/43827/2107442550058360726S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2107442550058360726HWJANa)

http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/43703/2854143460058360726S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2854143460058360726WIgqiY)

http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/46852/2498421210058360726S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2498421210058360726zomKqr)

[hqp921]

Looks good, now you've got this Miami Vice paint scheme... haha.

- HP

[xxthat girlxx]

Looks good!

[MoN]

Uggh! Dam job blocking pics! Iv been dying to see how these were going to look cuz I really like the color scheme!! Gotta wait till I get home now.... :mad:

[michellelynn]

thanks everyone!!
i should take better ones though. the sun was going down when we put them on, and today it is dark and cloudy. it is also going to rain the next week according to the forecast?

[Pearl07STI]

Very nice they look pretty good...

[MoN]

I'm thinking about painting my stock outback wheels black too, but am concerned about paint chipping and peeling, seeing as I'm really not planning on touching them up regularly.

How are everyone's wheels looking after having ridden on them for a while?

[xxthat girlxx]

My pinks held up pretty well I have to say.

You don't like the gold wheels to match the gold on your car?!? :(

[MoN]

My wheels aren't gold.. pshh i wish lol, they're silver.... Ed said I should paint them gold but I think the gold on gold would be a lil tacky... i dunno. I wanted to tint it out and paint the wheels black, but now im undecided if I want to paint them at all... Black would be hard to keep up with cuz every little chip would def stand out... I should photoshop some gold wheels on it and see how it looks :D

[WhtRexGrl]

If you do paint them black - a sharpie will be your best friend (lol)

[hqp921]

The last three replies have had pink text in their signatures.

This is me not really contributing to Mon's dilemma.

- HP

[WhtRexGrl]

That's cause were chicks...silly boy :banana:

[hqp921]

That's cause were chicks...silly boy :banana:

I know I liked y'all for a reason!



:lol:

- HP

[MoN]

lol... HP!! stop being so difficult! You painted your wheels, how were they after driving on them a few humdred miles?

[hqp921]

lol... HP!! stop being so difficult! You painted your wheels, how were they after driving on them a few humdred miles?

LOL.

They're alright -- need to be touched up... I might just get them powdercoated.

Keep in mind that I used mine for wintertime, and didn't really take time to clean them properly in New England weather as well... (sand, salt, etc.).

- HP

[xxthat girlxx]

My wheels aren't gold.. pshh i wish lol, they're silver.... Ed said I should paint them gold but I think the gold on gold would be a lil tacky... i dunno. I wanted to tint it out and paint the wheels black, but now im undecided if I want to paint them at all... Black would be hard to keep up with cuz every little chip would def stand out... I should photoshop some gold wheels on it and see how it looks :D

SORRY! I haven't seen your car in a long time. And the gold on your car isn't like the bbs goldies. I think you should do it to match the gold on your car. :D

The last three replies have had pink text in their signatures.

- HP

That's the second male to question my "girly" in 48 hours. I may have to beat someone up. :mad:

[michellelynn]

I'm thinking about painting my stock outback wheels black too, but am concerned about paint chipping and peeling, seeing as I'm really not planning on touching them up regularly.

How are everyone's wheels looking after having ridden on them for a while?

i haven't been on here in forever. mine have held up pretty good. the front have a few tiny chips but you can hardly tell. it is super easy to touch up so ill just respray it when i have time!

[ylime]

i like x 100000000000000000000000000.

good job boss lady.

[ylime]

oops. forgot to comment about how i liked your write up. harhar

[shefledthescene]

my 2c on wheel painting: for me- i found it to be a lot easier to use index cards in between the tire/wheel rather than tape. didnt see anyone mention it in the previous pages so i just thought i'd throw it out there :]

[xxthat girlxx]

i like x 100000000000000000000000000.

good job boss lady.

oops. forgot to comment about how i liked your write up. harhar

Thank you! :D

my 2c on wheel painting: for me- i found it to be a lot easier to use index cards in between the tire/wheel rather than tape. didnt see anyone mention it in the previous pages so i just thought i'd throw it out there :]

I think that the links I provided used index cards. I just wanted the extra coverage to cover the tires from getting painted.

[WhtRexGrl]

I'm not sure what I'm doing yet but I know I'm painting my stockers for this winter! I may put my summers up for sale this winter too

[ChristinePurdueBTFU]

Thinking about changing my lug nuts and center caps to either white or hot pink... any suggestions?

http://i794.photobucket.com/albums/yy229/Rosco2010_2010/72466_1484031377826_1145100666_32416959_2933460_n-1.jpg

[shefledthescene]

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv315/shefledthescenePS/85975f0f.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv315/shefledthescenePS/fe82acaa.jpg

[ChristinePurdueBTFU]

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv315/shefledthescenePS/85975f0f.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv315/shefledthescenePS/fe82acaa.jpg

AMAZING THANK YOU.. i have no photo shop skills what so ever. :o

[xxthat girlxx]

I think I like the pink. But white would look too I bet.

[TrunkMonkey24]

i think the pink looks hot :)

[ChristinePurdueBTFU]

here's a pic of someone's crazy idea for winter tires.. he's a part of "Purdue Meat Up" on NASIOC (pearlwhiterex08) .. p.s. i envy his car color.



http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1201.snc4/155299_1704741340482_1296465331_31902225_5322075_n .jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1181.snc4/150394_1712074203799_1296465331_31917472_4088582_n .jpg

[ylime]

IM MAKING MINE PINK TOO! (im implying that you are too..)

[hqp921]

Mine are bright green this year (Sarah's seen 'em)... I'll take a pic and post up later, only have a cell pic on my FB.

HP

[xxthat girlxx]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1201.snc4/155299_1704741340482_1296465331_31902225_5322075_n .jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1181.snc4/150394_1712074203799_1296465331_31917472_4088582_n .jpg

Very tropical wheels....

IM MAKING MINE PINK TOO! (im implying that you are too..)

W00T!

Mine are bright green this year (Sarah's seen 'em)... I'll take a pic and post up later, only have a cell pic on my FB.

HP