Powder Coat or Paint Rim in the Bay Area. Any Recommended Auto Shop?

[Nev&Co]

I am planning to change my oem rim into matte black and I got a few questions:

1. Paint or powder coat?
2. What is the cost range?
3. Any recommended paint shop in the Bay Area?

Thanks for the input.

 

[millertime]

I had my 20's powder coated satin black at California Wheels. The owner, Tommy, is very good at his craft. www.caliwheels.com
Like everything in the Bay Area, it is expensive, at about $200/wheel. But he delivers a great looking product, on time.

 

[Nev&Co]

I had my 20's powder coated satin black at California Wheels. The owner, Tommy, is very good at his craft. www.caliwheels.com
Like everything in the Bay Area, it is expensive, at about $200/wheel. But he delivers a great looking product, on time.

How long was the wait? And do you mind to share a pic of your rim?

 

[balefire]

Plastidip. Cheaper. Easier. Reversible.

 

[Nev&Co]

Plastidip. Cheaper. Easier. Reversible.

Does it withstand California sun?

 

[millertime]

How long was the wait? And do you mind to share a pic of your rim?

I think I dropped it off Thursday morning and had the car back on Saturday. With all the weather, my car is filthy so you don't want to see the pictures. I will try to circle back once I get it cleaned up and post a pic for you. Tommy has pictures though. He takes pictures of every job.

 

[rogerroger]

Hi millertime, would you care to share pics of the rims?

Thanks!

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

plastidip. $6/wheel. Peel off at trade-in.

have had it on the Tahoe wheels and badges for years. If it dulls, just clean it off, and spray a top coat if you want. It does get duller, but only after 2-3 years.

Rear tires on my S only last 8,000 miles... so... ya know... lol.

watch LOTS of youtube videos. It's like paint, so it's all prep and technique. However you can peel it off.

The MORE coats the better, at least 3, better to have 4-5. Seriously. Cheap remover is WD-40. it will dissolve it. Or a pressure washer.

I'll dig up some other photos. The stuff is fun to use, and comes in many colors. Flat Black is the cheapest/most common and easiest to work with.
If you want to shine them up, I've sprayed mine with tire shine, and it makes it shiny until it wears off.

 

[rogerroger]

Looks great SabrToothSqrl!

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

If you can't tell... I like black.

I'm sure powered coat is "better", but $1k vs $50. and this peels off and protects from road salt (PA).
Had to peel the Tahoe wheels at 100,000 for it's 3rd set of tires. Looked brand new underneath vs. yellowing that occurs w/them normally.

Yes, Yes, I went from a Tahoe to an EV .

 

[rogerroger]

Thanks for the tips SabrToothSqrl! Did you dip the nuts as well? How do they hold up after a few turns with the wrench?

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

lol, that's funny. Dip. Nuts. Squirrel.

No, I actually like the chrome lugnut look on the black wheels. Looks military to me. I don't see anyway plasti-dip would hold up to that.
Plasti-dip will hold up to water, rain, sun, even carwashes, but rubbing it will remove it.

I have the old 2 piece lug nuts. Nut + nonremovable chrome cap that rusts. Tesla switch to a lugnut + plastic cap on newer ones.
I've considered the black caps, but like I said, I like the chrome in black look.

 

[rogerroger]

lol yeah dip/nuts/squirrel. Thanks a lot for your input!

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

I meant to say to most chemicals too, just NOT gasoline or WD-40.

Simple green cleans mine just fine, and tire shine doesn't hurt it.

 

[rekoh]

I had my 20's powder coated satin black at California Wheels. The owner, Tommy, is very good at his craft. www.caliwheels.com
Like everything in the Bay Area, it is expensive, at about $200/wheel. But he delivers a great looking product, on time.

Do you have a photo to share??

 

[millertime]

Sorry for the long delay. The top picture is of the powder coated factory 20's in semigloss black. The second picture is of my winter tires on 19's that are dipped. I can say without question that the powder coating is far superior. The dipped wheel is very dependent on your technique and I have to say that my technique could use some work. I have a couple areas with texture that I don't like, a couple areas that are chipped and one area that is peeling. Dip is matte black. I would powder coat both sets if money was not an issue. As it was, I spend the extra money on a winter set as we drive to Tahoe almost every other weekend for the kids' ski team. Real winter tires are substantially safer.

 

[rogerroger]

Looks awesome millertime! Can I ask if you bought black nuts or had the original powder coated as well?

 

[millertime]

You can buy the black lug nut covers from tesla for $1 each. Can also buy the center cap in black for $5. I had the center cap done as part of the wheel powder coating. Just bought the lug nut covers. Was told that even if you powder coat the lug nuts, they scratch with the lug wrench every time.

 

[rogerroger]

Oh what, really? I don't see them in the online shop; how do you buy them?

 

[millertime]

Just ask for them through your service center. Most reasonably priced items in the Telsa catalog.