Aerokitted

I'm thinking about gloss black powder coating my Champion RG5s with a white pinstripe, but concerned about how will they look over time with repeated washes. How are your factory black RS wheels doing?

I'm not new to powder coating as my black lifted truck had them done, but noticed that like black paint, the wheels got dull and swirly over time. I never polished or waxed them. Just a wash with car soap at the local detail shop. Used it as my daily driver, rough and tumble SUV rain, snow, shine.

I'm just going to stick to the original Champion silver (vetted) if it's a pain the rear to keep it looking as new with routine maintenance. I don't like semi-gloss or matte black so these two are out of the question.

Thanks for thinking this through with me, though it is all vanity.

aussie jimmy

if you like black wheels, i wouldn't endorse a white, or any colour for that matter, pinstripe. black looks great when the wheel is all black.

Aerokitted

With all due respect, in my eyes, it's a must. I don't like how the tire blends in so everything just gets lost. I know exactly what I want along the aesthetic front.

Just really focused on getting some testimonies on gloss black powder coated finishes. Thank you.

911rox

Something to keep in mind, I believe you can compromise the strength of the alloy if they are put into an oven as part of the process... Especially if they are forged.... Check with the wheel manufacturer to ensure they can be powder coated...

aussie jimmy

ok, sorry, can't help you on that one as i've never painted any wheels.

P.J.S.

Factory black wheels are painted so they hold their shine with proper care

Aerokitted

Did not know that they're painted... so they haven't chipped?

P.J.S.

mine have not chipped but they are my street wheels and my car does not get a lot of street... I did buy a painted set of RS98 Champion wheels that were and they were chipped quite badly... so they are getting a glossy powdercoat.

they will not see enough road action to degrade too badly...

I have had several satin finish powdercoated wheels and they held up pretty well (M5, Land Rover, trailer) but never had a glossy finish in powsercoat before so cannot really comment on the aesthetic durability.

Aerokitted

Sounding more and more like a huge pain in the hiney. Paint or powdercoat? Paint chips. Powdercoat fades and gets swirly.

Thanks for the input. Grateful for them.

MarkD

powder coating is paint... albeit a different method than traditional paint process.

In my experience, it is tough stuff and holds up well.
Never had a fading problem and have powder coated a variety of things over the years, including wheels.

Any finish can get swirls if exposed to a gritty stuff. Black shows swirls too well

I've got black GT3 wheels on mine now... and looking to go to silver.
They are in great shape and have held up well except for a small chip on one of them.

If I were starting from scratch, I would PC. It is a bit tougher than traditional paint.

That's my .02c !

Jon70

I'm planning on powdercoating the wheels on my spyder gloss black next month. I have had other wheels painted (not powedercoated) before and they have chipped.

AllanJ

I wouldn't powdercoat track wheels because it could hide small cracks. Cracks will telegraph though paint so for track wheels, it's annodize or paint for me.

Aerokitted

Thus the reason why I'm curious to know how those with the factory painted black RS wheels are holding up. I can't believe they paint these and don't PC them.

tomburdge

BBS says "NO" to powdercoating.

Too much heat for the alloy which could weaken it.
Also, you can't see cracks if they develop.

Properly prepared paint job will hold up just fine.Preparation is the key.

Factory wheels are painted. They probably know best.

911SLOW

+1

Sold my wheels recently, 7yo factory painted black and they still look great.