Painting Wheels, Questions & Advice Needed

[71_Bronco 1,072]

Looking to repaint the wheels on my Bronco 14. They are in pretty good shape, no rust or anything.

My delema is this. I have decided to use the old "Wheel Horse" tires that are on it, as they still hold air fine, are in pretty decent shape, and are original to the tractor as far as I can tell. So how do I go about preping & painting the wheels. I see it being done a couple ways.

1.) Mask off & tape off the tire, with the bead still seated. Prep & paint the wheel and then restore the tire with the "tire black" i hear about on here (any advice on that stuff is well welcome as well).

2.) Break the bead on the tire, but leave the tire on the rim. Then mask, prep & paint. This way will allow me to paint more of the wheel, and while the tires are "de-beaded", I could slip in some tubes to be on the safe side.

3.) Break the bead and completely remove the tire. Prep & paint the wheel separate and then re-mount the tire. this would probably yield the best results, but is the biggest amount of work. Also I am concerned about messing up the wheel upon remounting. I would also add tubes if I do this method.

Note, this tractor is going to be my worker, not my show tractor. I want it to look nice, but be aware that this will not be sitting around all the time, it will be used. In all cases, the tire black stuff will be used to restore the tires.

So what do you guys think? I am leaning towards 1 or 2, preferably 2 so I can slip in tubes and then not have to worry about the tires leaking or anything like that.

[608KEB 795]

What color or paint code are you going to paint the rims with. Do you need to put tubes in the tires if you take them off the rims?

[can whlvr 993]

unless you know a trick that ive not heard of usually one side of the tire needs to come off to install tubes

[Steve B. 30]

I would definately go with option #3. It is way more work, but will yield the best results. I had issues with a front tire that may be original (not sure). It was leaking air through the sidewall and needed a tube put in. When it is time to paint and clean the old horse up, I will for sure be going this way.

[horsenut 1]

Actually I agree with Steve...although, I would get some POR15 and paint the inside of the wheels with that where the tube would go. After preping it of course. Then proceed with your paint and clear. If you apply enough soap you may be able to get the tires on the wheels with no tools so you won't have to worry about scratching them...but if you do have to use tools, make sure to do it from the back side that way any 'mar' would not be seen. Good Luck, and worker bee or show bee, it is your tractor and you will never regret doing everything right the first time. IMHO

[Trouty56 565]

I've never really taken the tires off unless I am changing them and then paint/repaint the wheels. Mine are not for show so once a year I let the air out and push the edge of the tire down at the rim and tuck newspaper in the all the way around on both sides (got to do both sides for over spray). Give it a shot of paint, pull the paper out and re inflate. Maybe a little redneck but......

[71_Bronco 1,072]

Thanks for all the input guys. I had a feeling #3 was gonna be suggested. Looks like that's what I'm gonna go with.

As for the color of the wheel, I am not sure yet. Was thinking black with the chrome hub-caps, or white with the chrome. I think the black would look good, but I don't want it to blend with the tire, so I was also thinking a dark silver, like a graphite color would look awesome. Then when I do the stripe down the hood, do it the same color as the wheels (graphite)

[Ken B 3,164]

While # 3 may sound the best, for a tractor that isn't going to be a total restoration I'd skip it, especially since you plan to use the old tires and the tractor will be a worker. I can get a set of rims to look just as good, or better without removing the tires and I'm sure you can also. You'll probably mark the rims up trying to get the tires back on anyway. I have found in many cases these tires don't come off to easily. JMHO.

[truckin88 104]

unless you are changing all the tires, I agree with Ken don't remove the old one. I have painted a ton of wheels and the best way to mask I learned in the Jeep Community.

Vaseline the tires up good and thick, paint won't stick it will wipe off - or - playing cards (poker cards) between rim and tires

[Don1977 604]

It would be easy to damage tires that old removing them and putting them back on. If they hold air I would not remove them.

[Rollerman 290]

I've had good luck breaking the bead (if possible) and useing cheap dollar store aluminium foil to cover tires I'm not going to dismount when painting rims.

[Hodge71 664]

I have used both the playing card trick if I wasnt breaking the beads and the aluminum foil or newspaper if I was breaking the beads. They have both worked well for me. It must be a Jeep thing though because both were told to me by fellow Jeepers

[tarcoleo 119]

If the tractor is to be a worker, if the tires hold air and there's no reason to dismount them, then wire brush the rims, apply the vasoline, and

gingerly paint the rims with Rustoleum (Sunrise Red in the can). Works for me; that paint is outstanding in leveling and drying quickly.

Tom in RI

(Recently replaced wheels and tires on two "C" chassis

with old 23x10.5-12 units that now look like a million.

[Irv 115]

I agree, don't take them off, you may be asking for trouble. I use 4-5" pieces of 2" masking tape as close to the rim as I can and then newspaper. Wire brush 'em (I use a wire wheel on a drill), give 'em a coat of primer if you want and then whatever color strikes your fancy. Take the tape off before the paint is too dry.

[Rooster 191]

Be sure to paint them in circles, if you paint them in squares your tractor will have a bumpy ride!

[Ken B 3,164]

Then again, there is the just spin it method.

[tarcoleo 119]

Ken B-

Re spin method, what gear range and speed do you use? What is the ideal RPM?

Tom in RI

[Ken B 3,164]

I have never tried this method myself but word has it one of our CT. members is the pro!

[condo630 6]

When I painted mine, I took the front tires completely off, stripped the rims (pretty rusty) to bare metal, primed and painted with Valspar almond gloss. When I found the rears were going to put up a fight breaking the bead, I simply taped off the tires (which held air fine, though somewhat cracked and weathered), wet sanded the existing paint and sprayed over top of that, got a better finish than on the fronts.