I'm considering painting my stock 17" wheels with Dupli-Color Graphite wheel enamel. I want to use the 17's for autocross events.

After having the 19" bronze TE37's for a while, the idea of driving with the stock 17's kinda bugs me as, imo, the stock 17's are kinda butt.

Either way, anyone use the Dupli-Color before? I don't want to powdercoat the wheels due to the expense and I will only be using the wheels for autocross events.

Click Here for the Dupli-Color Webpage

 

I've painted lots of racing wheels with this and other stuff, with excellent results. Just be sure to remove all wax and polish residue and spend a lot of time preparing the surface, as you would with any paint job.

Be sure to rough up the surface with sandpaper so the paint will stick and be sure to apply several very light, even coats. Get your final finish by polishing--not by spraying on a heavier final coat. Be patient, using 0000 steel wool between coats and being careful to clean the wheels well before each new coat. Turn the can upside down occasionally and spray until no paint comes out. This will keep the nozzle clean and will help you avoid annoying little splotches for which spray cans are famous. You will be pleased how good a job you can do, even if you're not experienced at spray painting.

I understand why you wouldn't want to run the stock 17s again, and you don't have a lot to lose, so I say Go For It.

 

Excellent advice zstricklen. I'll get to it...hopefully i can have everything done in a day...I'll be sure to print out your post.

 

Took pics of my ghetto fab wheels today. I used the painted stockers for autocross last weekend. 2 coats of Duplicolor Graphite wheel enamel and 2 coats for Duplicolor clear coat enamel. Prepping the wheels was just sanding them with sandpaper. A couple of friends like these better than my 19" bronze TE's...go figure but their taste in cars is somewhat tainted imo.

If you want to see them in action, i have my runs on video in the Racing forum...or Right-Click Save Target As

 

That looks really good, nice job man.

 

They look great. Think I'll do my stock 17s that way, too, and put my winter tires on them.

 

Thanx RAR and zstricklen (especially for the advice).

Yeah i think they look better than bone stock...the silver finish on the stock wheels was too bright...almost plasticky in a hubcap sort of way. I like em enough that i'm not in that much of a hurry to swap into the Volks considering i'm lazy...gonna wait another week before sema to slap those on.

 

Those look freaking great man. That color is really nice. How is the finish up close. It makes those boring stock rims really come to life man. You did a great job...

 

Thanks. The finish actually came up really nice...almost like they came from the factory. I did have a couple paint blobs cuz my finger over the spray button was collecting paint. I also recommend you do it in a dust-free environment...i did it outside so some stuff blowing in the wind i had to pick out. Overall, I would say definitely nice looking...blemishes only seen up close.

I did have problems with masking tape...just wouldnt stick on the sides where i applied tire goop when washing the car. So i cutout a 17" round template out of cardboard packaging. I had overspray but it will come of because of that tire goop...actually i really didn't care due to the purpose of the tires anyways...autox thrashing.