Alloy Wheels Refurbishing With Spray Cans For Less Than €20

[Auris 1.6 vvt-i]

OK, since some people here expressed interest in the process of refurbishing my 16-inch wheels, I decided to put up a little how-to, although there are many out there...

So, I purchased a set of 16-inch wheels to put winter tyres on them. I was looking for a set of cheap alloys in decent shape, as I didn't want to invest too much money in them and eventually I found a set of pretty decent HRS' that had seen some curbs, but nothing major, as you can see from the pictures...

So, I thought since they were in pretty good shape, I'd just buy a single spray can and fix only the edgies. Well, that was the initial plan... However, when I thought of it, I decided it was going to be impossible to find the same colour paint in a spray can, plus I didn't really like the colour anyway. So I decided I'd repaint the whole wheels.

All it took were 2 400-mililiter cans of primer, 2 cans of paint (if anyone's interested, the colour is RAL9007 - graphite), 2 cans of lacquer, about 1 meter of sandpaper 320 grit, a sheet of sandpaper 1000 grit and another one of 2000 (that I didn't even use) and a small amount of putty with аluminum powder, that I had from my previous wheels refurb. Total of all this was €20!

First I started sanding the clear coat of the wheels, so the primer and paint would be able to get some grip. You don't need to sand all the way down to the metal, no need to even remove the paint - just the clear coat. This is what they looked like after the sanding:

Took me about 4-5 hours to sand them down. Once sanded, I mixed some putty with solidifier and apllied the mixture to the curbed edges (you can use old credit cards if you don't have other tools). Gave the putty 24 hours to cure and then sanded it with wet sandpaper 1000 grit, so it got nice and smooth. When all was done, I took the sanded wheels to a selfservice carwash and washed them thoroughly with sponge and car soap - LOTS of car soap. This is what they looked like after the carwash:

Once I got home, I started the last prep before the spraying - wrapping all parts, I don't want painted, in papers:

Well, we are a step away from spraying... Put all 4 wheel close to each other, but leave some room between them, so you can walk arround all of them. Spray all 4 simultaneously, otherwise you will need much more primer, paint and clear coat as you can't appraise how much have you sprayed. Spray from 20-25 cm distance. Don't try to cover everything in a single pass or you will get the primer/paint running. Take your time, spray 2-3 light coats of primer and allow 5-10 minutes between coats, then do some more heavy coats, till all two cans of primer are gone. Eventually, this is what you have to end up with:

Half an hour later, primer has cured enough to spray the paint. Before you start painting, make sure it is smooth, otherwise, when painted, all imperfections will get more visible. Touch the primer and if you are not happy with its smoothness, wetsand it with 2000 grit. If you sand after the primer though, you will need to wash the wheels again, otherwise any ash or dust that remain on the wheel will make the paint peel off.

Once you are happy with the smoothness, proceed with the paint. Again - don't try to spray the whole thing in a single coat or the paint will start running. Start with 2-3 light coats, then go heavier, but be careful not to get the paint running. In the process of spraying, if anything sticks on the paint - a hair, ash, fiber... DON'T TOUCH IT! No matter how tempting it is to remove it right away, don't do it, as you will ruin the whole paint which is still wet! Let it cure, then wetsand it with 2000 grit and it will be gone without a trace. When done with the paint, give it a couple of hours to cure, then apply a couple of light coats of clear coat. Again... 10 minutes brake, then a few more coats of lacquer. Here is the final resut:

And this is what they look like in sunlight:

Sorry for the poor quality of some of the pictures, mates, but the light in my underground garage is not very good and all I had with me while painting them, was my phone. The pictures really don't do them any justice - they look way better in person! Couldn't get a good glance of the paint, so here is a picture of my old wheels, that I refurbished with the same paint:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OJzsrQ7OYSjhkcJtjtmG-nIdCWEIL1w6-i4CZwWWhwxtEQbO6hs3BqEjhdd33pIJLQKTpM2zZb7AYQGakCt6aXV_3mkciXR3hR0mOrVPhHNHah3c2oMgQdN8vjBUATYq2F01nOheP_kdA-K-sV9AGL4QfnYTITLtekT2cFWcgpa6OhKlMzUkJ8YTLoNNGpJXEEoLEs07Lg1iWTzzZQHr_mBU6KguW_2re82xcY7oVc7h6c--gwKkr9s9Q5n3Kj-S9HxxYyLiHVOKj0MWe3s57OA_fpwqgEk-sACAwsY4hteczXf5kBficnt0XQvYgG2Qmr-QmCxCnfrVJxs4ySho_TWvlYB-iHdbzqo8OQUC1v99KY34vi_Z0lE9UseGJOzywmqr4tpGxyNn8zRnryR2ok2Qd-_Byb-36G00gSMjkdlwFeryP0mTKzeCn-wUWRAiuw6IEXjR6y4TgFjcD_u-C9h9MwKiwvpwqx7ByufDx2IX9Kmil0KC2ec-zSwPtoiAuobX4hahPdngIgLjqd-FLbIR_JOHDHx5K6J7M76g9sM=w858-h643-no

[Cyker]

Wow, those came out real nice!

[Wayne2015]

Fantastic bud! :)

Brilliant tips too ref washing after a sand + and don't touch hair etc but wait to dry then sand :) :) :)

Just want to ask: if the putty strong / hard enough to refurb the kerbed or missing chunks on alloys?

[Auris 1.6 vvt-i]

Thanks. The putty I used is really strong! Once it has cured, the wheel is as good as new.

[Speed_Chaser]

Good job and nice write up! Waiting for pics of the installed wheels. I would consider doing something to the center caps. Paint them same colour or some other maybe.

[Auris 1.6 vvt-i]

Hello, Alex and thank you. I will post pictures when I buy the tyres and install them... For winter tyres I have chosen a Finnish brand

Nokian WR D4, which are supposed to be one of the best winter tyres and the first winter tyre with class A wet grip.

Regarding centre caps, I was prepared to paint them in the same colour if they didn't look good, however I liked the result, so I gave up on painting them. I had to paint my old Dezent caps as the colours didn't match and wasn't impressed by their look after repainting them.

[TomdeGuerre]

Great post about the wheels Svetoslav, can't beat plenty of pictures.

Just thought I'd mention, when I have wheels with the tyres off I always spend a bit of time cleaning up the inner parts of rims ie cleaning up with solvent to get rid of old rubber, wire brushing and using emery cloth to get rid of corrosion then I give them a brush or spray with aluminium paint. It helps to keep down any air leaks around the rim.

[Wayne2015]

Hello, Alex and thank you. I will post pictures when I buy the tyres and install them... For winter tyres I have chosen a Finnish brand

Nokian WR D4, which are supposed to be one of the best winter tyres and the first winter tyre with class A wet grip.

Regarding centre caps, I was prepared to paint them in the same colour if they didn't look good, however I liked the result, so I gave up on painting them. I had to paint my old Dezent caps as the colours didn't match and wasn't impressed by their look after repainting them.

I can vouch for Nokian WR tyres are the BEST winter tyres u can buy :)

I got all season Michelin CrossClimate on mine at the moment :)

[Auris 1.6 vvt-i]

Great post about the wheels Svetoslav, can't beat plenty of pictures.

Just thought I'd mention, when I have wheels with the tyres off I always spend a bit of time cleaning up the inner parts of rims ie cleaning up with solvent to get rid of old rubber, wire brushing and using emery cloth to get rid of corrosion then I give them a brush or spray with aluminium paint. It helps to keep down any air leaks around the rim.

Good call, Tom.

I did it with sandpaper - dry 1000 grit.

[Auris 1.6 vvt-i]

I can vouch for Nokian WR tyres are the BEST winter tyres u can buy :)

I got all season Michelin CrossClimate on mine at the moment :)

I am sure they are! Who if not Finns would know how to make good winter tyres...? :lol2:

[Auristi]

Hi

What is your winter tyre size? Is it 205/55/16?

I am from Finland and we have to to use spikes on our tyres, so I am going to get new Nokia Hakkapeliitta 8 for my Auris....http://www.nokiantyres.com/winter-tyres/nokian-hakkapeliitta-8/

[Auris 1.6 vvt-i]

Yep - winter tires are 205/55/16 and spikes are forbidden here

[tonino]

Lol these Nokians are amazing! Love the snow and winter tyres, there is nothing more relaxed then driving a well equipped car in snowy conditions. Good choice for the tyres.

[JarnoSe]

I am from Finland and we have to to use spikes on our tyres, so I am going to get new Nokia Hakkapeliitta 8 for my Auris....http://www.nokiantyres.com/winter-tyres/nokian-hakkapeliitta-8/

No we don't ;) there's also the non-studded option. I have 205/55R16 Continental ContiViking Contact 5 now. I need to change them pretty soon, since they getting under 6mm, and the legal limit is 5mm.