I have three stock ap1 rims and one ap1 chrome rim. I want to change them all over to light Gun metal (RSX-S rim colour)


What is the best thing to do if you were in my situation?

Thanks
Dom

 

The place that I work makes steel cabinets and laboratory furniture for doctor offices and research labs etc. About 8-10 years ago, they changed their paint spraying system over to a powder-coating system because it is alot more durable. So I'm gonna have to vote for powder-coating.

 

I think the real question is...

why do you have 3 stock and 1 chrome

 

don't powder coat your rims.

 

Picked them up for cheap, they aren't in great shape in definately need work, but they all were dead straight on the balancer.



I hear powder coating aren't as durable as base/clear. If you get a rock chip it will peel back and get worse compared to base/clear

But I don't have the facts, I was hoping someone could shed some light on this

 

Why??? It will last longer than paint, its stronger, and it wont chip when they mount your tires. A buddy of mine painted his wheels and used clear coat, he still got rock chips....

My stock wheels are powder-coated black and I track the car, I have not had any rock chips so far.

Powder-Coating FTW!!!

 

not this again.

a property painted wheel will last just as long as the pc wheel, it just that people think it's it not durable when they see abunch of diy that went bad. of course 90 % of people painting their wheels are for the cheap skate factor and most of them don't even take all the proper step to prep and spray the wheel. OEM wheels are painted btw, and that's you can pick every shade of color under the sun.


one of the MAJOR thing about pc is that it can damage the structural integrarity of the wheel itself. There's people breaking PC wheel and trace back to the root of the problem, which turns out to be the heat process.

 

Is it ok to paint over the chrome or does the chrome need to be removed first?

 

it's not a good idea to spray over chrome, and clear coat for that matter, there's not enough mechanical adhesion on the surface.

i recall there's a process that reverse chrome plating, which has to do with some chemical tank and stuff like that. i don't do not work with chrome plating at all so don't ask me. try call the guy that does chrome in the yellow page and ask the expert.

 

Everyone has their own opinion on which is better. Im just giving you my personal experience with both methods lol. I have had a set of wheels professionally painted and the first time I went to have tires mounted there was small chips around the lip of the wheel. If your car's paint can chip or be scratched so easily, it will do the same to the painted wheel. I realize the car's paint is somewhat thinner but the concept still exists. Do what you want, its your money, and if powder-coating is not in your budget then go with the paint. Just be ready to touch them up every once in a while. Post pics when you get them done. Id like to see them on your car.