paint durability

[TX Ranger]

I'm planning on painting these painted steelies on my '02 Ranger. I know the process, but my main concern is durability...

1) when balancing and the lead weights are hammered on, is this a guaranteed scratch?

2) when mounting new tires, more scratches?

3) fading?

4) paint brand choice?

my steps:
1) demount tires
2) scuff rims
3) paint prep cleaner
4) primer/filler
5) scuff
6) two coats semi-gloss black (duplicolor? heard good things)
7) two coats semi-gloss clear

TX Ranger

 

[--weezl--]

get a paint store to mix up your stuff for you... if you get a decent amount of hardner, it should be fairly durable... though with mounting, you shouldn't have too much of an issue... certain mounting machines will NOT scratch your rims... though the standards i wouldn't worry about personally, as for the weights, if you adjust the hook properly, you won't scratch them... that or you can do sticky weights...

 

[jeffhestand]

if i were you i would check out the por 15 website. lots of durable paint for wheels and such.

 

[Surrey]

generally speaking, the higher the gloss, the more durable the paint is.

 

[Earl43P]

I liked the Duplicolor wheel paint. Several shades of silver available too.
Not a fan of the clear though.

Have the tire mounter use adhesive weights on the inside of the rim.
If they "don't do that", go elsewhere.

 

[Surrey]

I liked the Duplicolor wheel paint. Several shades of silver available too.
Not a fan of the clear though.

Have the tire mounter use adhesive weights on the inside of the rim.
If they "don't do that", go elsewhere.

Totally. If they cant do that, run like hell - that shop is retarded. Pretty much all nice rims need to be balanced with sticky weights, 'cause standard weights make $4000 wheels look really bad/scratch the surface, and most nice rims dont even have the lip to hammer a standard weight onto.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

if your worried about just the outside lip you can always ask the shop to static balance them vs the dynamic balance with puts the weights just onthe inside lip of the rim and not the outside.

 

[strvger]

also, i'd use enamel rather than lacquer paint. more durable imho.

and, POR 15 is not paint. it is a rust converting coating and does best when applied over surface rust. also, it needs to be painted over as it is very UV sensitive.

 

[Sweersa]

I have two sets of OEM steel rims. Both were sandblasted then powder coated where my dad works. One set is for the winter and has held up two years fine. The others were recently done. I have the adhesive tire weights to prevent scratching the regular wheel weights cause which causes rust on the rims on the newer summer set.

 

[TX Ranger]

Wow guys, thanks for all of the feedback! You guys rock. Glad I joined.

I'd have to agree with the higher gloss' durability, but as far as looks are concerned, semi-gloss is as glossy as I'm going to get I think.

Again, that's for the responses.