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Paint wire wheel, not the tires...

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198686d

Jedi Trainee
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So, what's the best way to do this. I sure don't want to remove tires. I know I have to remove the wheel. perhaps make a shield (?) out of something to cover the tire?

Really appreciate your help.

dave in University City, MO

60 AH Bugeye
04 Mini S
04 Vespa ET4
 
I recently painted the wires on my wife's GT6. We removed the wheels from the car and thoroughly cleaned the wheels and tires with VERY strong caustic cleaner. The cleaner removed loose old paint and all the grime and brake dust. We then allowed the tires to dry.

We applied masking tape carefully around the joint between the tire bead and rim (both sides). Then we applied newspaper over the tire and used more masking tape to secure it to the first layer of tape around the bead. We used silver wheel paint from Eastwood and the results were very nice.
 
spritenut said:
A piece of aluminum flashing rolled around the tire/rim edge and taped together where the ends meet makes a perfect mask.
Click to expand...

I have used similar methods (poster board instead of flashing) on steel wheels. If you try this with wires, remember that a lot of overspray will pass through the spokes and collect where you don't want it on the far side. Of course, you could "Vaseline" the tires so the overspray won't stick.
 
You can let the air out of the tire and this will usually let something slide down between the tire and the wheel. If it doesn't then use a large screwdriver to get some room in there and put some cardboard or something like that in between the wheel and the tire before you paint. It will take several pieces overlapping to go around the whole wheel.
 
Lay the wheels down, put liquid dish detergent on the tires (it does not matter if it drys, paint the rims and when the paint is dry, wash off the detergent and any paint on the tires and you are home free.
 
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