I like the stock Moabs, but after a little rock rash from Camp Jeep, they weren't brand new any more. I really like the look of black wheels, and will upgrade one day when I get bigger tires, but for now I decided to paint the wheels black. Someone from my local club told me about this method (which may of course be common knowledge to many, but here it is anyway).

I started by sanding up the wheels a little, using a small air sander. This also helped flatten out my rock rash.



Then, after cleaning the wheels, I cut strips of posterboard about 4 inches wide and wedged them between the wheel and tire bead. I used tape so I could lift the wheels up to spray them.



I used self-etching primer from Autozone. It filled in the sscratches and scrapes pretty well, and could be recoated in minutes, or painted in 30.



Sorry for the out of focus picture.

Then I followed with Rustoleum Hammered finish paint. This was recommended to hide the imperfections, which I think it does.



On this shot you can see one of the scrapes, but only really beacuse of the flash. They don't show up when on the vehicle very much at all.



Same rwheel, different angle

This next shot is grainy from zooming and cropping, but it is the same wheel.



Finished side. These are the two wheels with scrapes, but you can't really see them.



The whole thing cost about $25 in paint and posterboard, and I've got some left over. I may recoat the spare every time I rotate tires. Or not.

 

nice job... i dig the black wheels on the red rock.

 

Looks better than they did before

 

Nice work; that looks really tuff.

 

Nice job! Mine still have the new look somehow, but its nice to see an option for when mine finally get banged up.

 

Are you going to do the inner side? I think it will look less like hubcaps.

 

Looks good. I think I may try it.

 

That's a good idea. I may look into doing each one as I rotate them. Unless the first one makes a big difference, then I will do all at once.

 

Just use tape weights next time, you'll only have to touch up once.

 

Normal weights came on from the factory. I doubt I'll ever change them out. As soon as these tires are gone it's time for new wheels anyway.