Refurbishing Wheels

[andy757]

I am looking to have a go at refurbishing the tatty wheels on our Rav4 and wondered if anyone would have any tips on how to strip the old paint off without damaging the tyres. Is there a good paint stripper that you guys would recommend ?

[firemac]

If you're going to the trouble of stripping the wheels completely, I'd suggest removing the tyres & valves and getting them bead/soda blasted in order to get a good base for a proper re-paint. Many years ago I re-painted the steel wheels on a Cortina in-situ but it was not a satisfactory result. And alloys need more care than steelies.

Alternatively you could get them done professionally. We had the wheels on both our previous 4.2s done by these guys and the service and finish were superb.

http://www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk/locations/derby-burton/

[andy757]

They don't need to be perfect when finished. I just want to give them a spruce up as the current paint is flaking off. My idea was to strip the paint, apply a grey primer, then apply silver paint and lacquer.

[redlew]

I've just had mine refurbished by http://www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk/locations/leeds/ . I looked into the various possibilities including the ones that come to your house but that seemed to involve the tyre being peeled back .Having seen the machinery at the premises, I 'm glad that I decided to have the job done at a site.

My main motivation for getting the job done was that corrosion was meaning that two of the tyres were leaking air.

Good luck if you go down the DIY route/

[Will E Reckit]

Unfortunately, the alloys on my Rav were also corroded badly on the inside, around the tyre bead, causing leakage of air from the tyres. If you are having to re-inflate the tyres regularly, it's best to remove the tyres/valves to do a full refurb.

I wouldn't trust any chemical paint strippers as being safe near tyres so as 'firemac' says, bead blasting is the best option.

Standard automotive grey primer is not good on alloys and it is best to use a proper etch primer designed for use on aluminium. It is readily available from famous auction sites and of course, automotive paint suppliers.

John

[pmb]

Interesting. I may use the same place as redlew , two of mine are leaking air and I'm having to check and usually top them up weekly. In fact measuring the pressures is on my job list for today. What sort of cost was it?

[andy757]

I'm nowhere near any of the locations for thewheelspecialist hence why I'm looking to do the job myself. The wheels just need smartening up and don't need to be pristine.

I guess I could strip the paint with a heat strip gun, then rub down and prime ready for paint. Seems the better option rather than using paint stripper gel or similar.

[Tod4]

I've done my own on other cars. I wouldn't go near your tyres with any chemicals especially paint stripper. I masked off my tyres, bead blasted the rims then sprayed them and they came out well. My RAV wheels are flaking paint and I can't be bothered to do it myself this time and we have a local company who do them for £40 a wheel.

[Grumpy stumpy]

Mine were badly corroded and I had mine done at autocare on gisleham industrial estate lowestoft at £55 a wheel, grit blasted and then powder coated , now like new and still look new some two years later, if you are going to paint yourself to do a good job tyres have to come off in my opinion. Problem is once they start to corrode the outside may be tarted up with a bit of paint but they will start to deflate overtime on the inner rim but once all corrosion blasted away and redone be like new.

[Pogle]

PMB if you are in Yorkshire speak to Metal Magic in Barnsley which is where I had mine done. They do a full refurb on alloys - tyres off, bead blast then build up, paint and top quality lacquer, tyres back on and wheels balanced. They also do a drive in service with a 24 hour turn round although you have to book months in advance. About £60 a wheel for the drive in jobby but the wheels are like new when done.

[pmb]

PMB if you are in Yorkshire speak to Metal Magic in Barnsley which is where I had mine done. They do a full refurb on alloys - tyres off, bead blast then build up, paint and top quality lacquer, tyres back on and wheels balanced. They also do a drive in service with a 24 hour turn round although you have to book months in advance. About £60 a wheel for the drive in jobby but the wheels are like new when done.

Thanks for that. I am between Huddersfield , Wakefield and Barnsley so that would be nearer I suspect. The alloys themselves are fine (imho) apart from the loss of air. Some months ago there was a Rav4 visiting my next door neighbour and I was stunned to see how bad at least one of the alloys was with bubbling. I have none of that.

edit: just had a look and it is one junction down the M1 from me and this side of Barnsley town centre.

[redlew]

£288. They fitted new valves and balanced the wheels, In at 08.00, picked up at 17.00 hrs .

Nice guys to deal with