Question on painting steel wheels
 

Got some 15 inch steel smoothies and GMC hub caps. I'm going to paint them black. Are you supposed to paint the portion of the wheel that is covered by the tire? To be honest I have never painted raw steel wheels before.

Re: Question on painting steel wheels
 

It's probably easier to get paint everywhere, I did. Paint is not only decorative, it protects, prime and paint.

Re: Question on painting steel wheels
 

Thanks. I just did not know if it would affect the tires ability to seat correctly.

Re: Question on painting steel wheels
 

if you have raw steel you want paint everywhere, even condensation from the air inside the tire will cause the rim to rust.

I usually buy my smoothies from summit, they come grey primered, so you dont have to paint them inside and out.

Re: Question on painting steel wheels
 

Be sure to use some durable epoxy paint.
When you pop the caps off, you want the paint to stick.
All the early wheels have some sort of commercial paint that does not come off easily.

Re: Question on painting steel wheels
 

I am planning to use an enamel.

Re: Question on painting steel wheels
 

what about powder coat?

Re: Question on painting steel wheels
 

I'll second the powder coating method. It'll probably last 10x longer than any paint. Not to mention it's durable.

Re: Question on painting steel wheels
 

I got a guy to paint mine, thinking being that they can easily be touched up I feel needed. Also had more control over the colour if that makes sense.

Re: Question on painting steel wheels
 

The ease of touch up with paint was my thinking too. My paint is not perfect on the truck so I don't want the wheel paint to be 100% either.