Powder Coating Wheels: What to Know Before You Refinish

Powder coating wheels is one of the most popular ways to bring tired rims back to life or give a car a whole new look. Done right, it usually gives a tough, even finish that holds up to brake dust, road grime and weather better than most spray paint. The keys are good prep, fixing any damage first and choosing a finish that suits how you drive.

We refinish wheels for customers all over San Marcos and North County San Diego. Here's what we'd want you to know before you drop off a set.

Why powder coat your wheels

Wheels live a hard life. They take heat from the brakes, grit from the road and a steady coat of brake dust. Powder coating is applied as a dry powder, then baked in an oven, where it melts, flows out and cures into a hard, cross-linked film. Once it's cured, it won't re-soften.

In most cases that makes powder coat a better match for wheels than liquid paint. If you're still weighing the two, our post on powder coating vs paint breaks down the differences.

Prep is where a wheel refinish is won

A powder coat is only as good as the surface under it. Every wheel we coat is stripped and cleaned to bare metal first. That usually means degreasing, chemical cleaning to remove the old coating, and sandblasting or media blasting to take off corrosion and give the powder a clean surface to grab onto.

Wheels bring some extra prep considerations:

• Tires, valve stems and weights need to come off before the wheel can be stripped and baked.
• Old finishes like factory clear coat, paint or previous powder all have to go.
• Corrosion often hides around lug holes, the bead seat and the inner barrel, so those areas get extra attention.
• Masking protects surfaces that shouldn't be coated.

For a deeper look at this step, read why surface prep matters or see our powder coating process.

Fix road rash before you coat

Curb damage is the most common reason people bring us wheels. Powder coat will cover color, but it won't fill gouges. If a lip is scraped or chewed up, those marks will still show through a new finish.

That's why we look at damage first. Our metal repair work includes fixing wheel road rash, so scrapes and gouges can be repaired and smoothed before the wheel is coated. Because repair, polishing and powder coating all happen in one shop, the wheel can go straight from repair to finishing. Our post on fixing wheel road rash goes into more detail.

If a wheel is cracked or bent, let us know up front so we can take a look before any work is planned.

Two-tone wheels with polished lips

One of our favorite looks is a two-tone wheel: a powder-coated face paired with a polished lip. The coated face gives you color, and the polished lip adds a bright ring of shine around the edge.

This works because we handle polishing in the same shop. Aluminum holds a polished shine well, so a polished lip can look great for a long time with regular care. Gunmetal, black, bronze and silver faces are common choices, but almost any color can pair with a polished lip.

If you'd rather go all the way, full chrome plating is another option for wheels. We cover that in how chrome plating works.

Choosing a wheel color

We use Prismatic Powders, which offers more than 6,500 colors and effects. For wheels, a few things are worth considering:

• Gloss looks rich and is usually easy to wipe clean of brake dust.
• Satin and matte give a modern, low-key look.
• Metallics like silver, gunmetal and bronze tend to hide dust between washes.
• Candies give a deep, glowing color like the red wheel at the top of this post.

Think about your car's paint color, trim and how often you plan to clean the wheels. Browse the Prismatic Powders color catalog and save the exact color name you like. Our guide to choosing a powder coating color has more tips.

What to tell the shop

A little information up front helps us give you an accurate quote and avoid surprises. When you reach out, let us know:

• How many wheels and their size.
• What they're made of, if you know (aluminum or steel).
• Whether tires are still mounted.
• Any curb rash, bends or cracks, with close-up photos.
• The look you want: single color, two-tone with polished lip, or something else.
• The Prismatic Powders color name, if you've picked one.

Clear photos of the full face, the lip and any damaged spots go a long way. You can also look through our gallery for ideas.

Get a quote

Call us at (760) 752-9825 or send photos of your wheels through our quote form. Include the wheel size, any damage, and the color or two-tone look you have in mind, and we'll take it from there.