Should I paint my wheels gunmetal, or leave them chrome?

Finished product! Badges and wheels painted gunmetal with clear coat finish! Thanks everyone for the help I will post one more when I get around to washing the truck haha.

Also included a comparison picture of the painted wheel to my friend's Forerunner.

For those of you asking, The truck is 2014, so the TSB done, and front Bilstein 5100 set at .85 to level. The tire size is 265/70/17 BF Goodrich AT.

 

Why not another color?

 

I don't think black wheels and pyrite look good together. I like the bronze wheels look, but it won't look good with the Sport wheels I have. Bronze looks really good with Konig Six Shooter wheels.

Gunmetal kind of takes a truck away from that stock look. I like how it has a rustic, outdoorsy look. However, the chrome has a clean sharp look to it.

Chrome doesn't look at all bad to me. I guess my motivation to paint is to slowly move away from the stock look.

I don't want to paint it gunmetal and realize that the chrome looked better. Waste of money and time.

 

Well if its between the two, gunmetal looks less stock. But I think red, or maybe white might look cool. Like those 70s truck with white wagon wheels. Or a dark red with a strip of the stock metal around the rim. If you are going to paint them the skys the limit.

Mine are gloss grey like old machinery. They have been black, and even blue for a bit. My other cars have had red, bronze, black, white, and forest green over the years.

 

I hear ya. Thanks for the input. I feel all the other colors will be too much of a "LOOK AT ME!" feel.

I am a huge fan of subtle, but different. Which is why I went with Pyrite, instead of MGM.

But I also believe if it's not broken, don't fix it. And in this case the chrome isn't the worst thing in the world hahaha. I've definitely had days when I LOVE the chrome. And days where I look and think "man that looks like a stock truck with those wheels".

 

Then try out some plasti dip or peel coat and see how you like it. Its cheap and come off without damaging the wheels. They have lots of variations around the gunmetal color.

 

yeah, but between dupli color and Plasti dip, final gun metal color won't be the same. I'm thinking of painting my spare and setting it next to the truck. See how it looks. Unlike the truck in the picture, I will be adding a clear coat to give it a cleaner shine as well.

 

Personally, I like the gunmetal better. It looks nice without being too flashy.

 

Exactly. I really like subtle differences.. things maybe only I will notice, but smile every time I do haha nothing flashy

 

I vote gunmetal. I think it would look cool if you did the face gunmetal, and left the sides of the spokes the machined finish that is has now, or vice versa. But only if your going with a gloss finish/clearcoat on the gunmetal. I think those two colors/finishes would work well off each other.

 

I was also thinking that! Almost like a trd beadlock look.

 

I think that colour of tacoma looks great with a bronze finish wheel like these TRD fake bead locks.

... so this colour would be my vote if it was a choice.

 

I agree completely. Those are also like $1600 new. I don't think the bronze would look good on Sport rims though. As far as sport rims go, which color do you prefer?

 

@ultrabattler do a good job of painting and I probably prefer the grey. I think painted wheels usually just look like painted wheels though. Kind of like shitty walmart tint with little bubbles. It usually winds up looking half-assed and jerry-rigged. Reminds me also of a buddy of mine growing up who bought a white letter marker for his tires and coloured in the "uniroyal tiger paw" on his Buick regal. I know it's not even close but you know what I mean.

 

@neverstuck I also agree with you whole heartedly that most painted wheels look half assed, and really make our clean looking trucks look cheap.

I am hoping mine won't. We shall see.

 

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/OEM-Toyota-T...ash=item4af3eeeefd:g:QCgAAOSwa39UrwLt&vxp=mtr

You could always sell yours for 500 and put it towards these wheels.

But yes to get back on track, all things being done well the GM grey would look nice and a little unique while still clean.

 

Hahaha I believe we have very similar tastes. I love the TRD Beadloacks. I think they look fantastic on all Tacomas. Also, highly doubt I can sell my wheels for 500. I seen take offs go for free or $100 - $150 all the time.

And cool, yeah been watching a ton of videos, researching. I think I have all the proper equipment and knowledge for doing this well.

Only variable is my ability to spray coats evenly.

With all the paint, sand paper, and grim remover I bought, it has totaled me $55.

I think I'm going to practice painting on my spare first. and also to see what it would look like

 

I think you will like the gunmetal, if you take your time. If not save up for matte bronze they look great on a pyrite.



Be Safe...


Dan

 

Painting is all about the prep work. If done right, they can come out really nice. When painting the further away you hold the can, the less chance you will have of getting any drips. That and use a sweeping motion. This should give you a nice uniform coat. And remember, you can always put more on, but it will be pretty tough to remove once it's on there, if you spray too much.

Also, another option, if you want to stick with a stock wheel, is to do what I did, and buy a set off CL, that are in crappy condition, and have them powdercoated. I have a set of Tundra split 5 spokes, that cost ~$600 between the price of the wheels, and powdercoat.

 

Keep them stock until you find a set you really like. You will never be completely happy with painted wheels.