Alloy Wheels

[Calorian]

Hey guys,

Just a quick question. Ive got some 5-spoke stag/2500 alloys that Im restoring up ready for my next car and I wondering whether the rim itself needs to be painted in order to seal the tyre properly?

I cant look at the others as they all seem to differ and I want to make sure its right, what with the previous blow out - I dont want anything of the like happening again. Any ideas?

Cheers.
Garreth

[Deleted User]

having just got the subaru wheels powder coated they insisted the wheel must have a level finish to seel the tyre properly so they powdered the lot.

[2Toledos]

Painting them with 'regular' paint is pointless, unless you get them stripped properly and etch primed. You've only got to see what happens to the paint 'they' put on at the factory, to see what I mean.

I use Dunlop tyre paint on my Sprint alloys - Never had a problem with the seal (Touch wood). No idea if you can still get the stuff, though :-/

Just make sure you get all the flakey bits and powdery bits off first; give the whole of the wheel inner a coat; then, a second coat around the bead seat. It doesn't go hard; so, gives a nice flexible 'cushion' for the tyre bead to bed in to.

Or... You could do it the 'old fashioned way' and have inner tubes fitted, for extra peace of mind.

[heraldcoupe]

2Toledos wrote:

Or... You could do it the 'old fashioned way' and have inner tubes fitted, for extra peace of mind.

In which case you will need to pick and choose tyres very carefully. Tubeless tyres are not intended to have tubes (does what i says on the tin!) and often have a less than smooth inside surface. Friction against the tube results, I once had a blowout this way, I had no idea that the previous owner had fitted a tube as a get-around for a porous wheel.
Cheers,
Bill.