New Wheels or Powder Coating

[bmick624]

I am new to the Jeep world, as I purchased a 2022 Jeep Sahara. I currently have the stock machined wheels with Grey spokes. I am looking to upgrade to a black wheel. Has anyone had any experience with Powder Coating wheels? I am deciding whether I should powder coat my current wheels for about $160 per wheel or invest in new wheels in the $200 price range. Thanks.

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[Nikko2020]

If you like the design and function of them, just powder and save some cash. From what I found with mine, most aftermarket rims will be heavier as well. I think the only design flaw (from an engineering standpoint) is how narrow they are.

 

[Gregj]

Or just paint them with Duplicolor wheel paint for a lot less money.

Clear coat with a matte finish.

Gregj

 

[Namakan]

Keep checking your local Facebook marketplace and craigslist for new take-offs in black. You should be able find a set of black ones from a Willys that may also have new tires included for $1000-$1200.

 

[m3reno]

I powder coated my Ram 1500 wheels back in 2009. It's still holding up today. I did matte finish as the glossy one's are a pain to keep clean.

 

[Vatdevil]

https://www.dipyourcar.com/collections/wheel-kits-by-color

 

[rcadden]

I plasti-dipped the wheels on my previous vehicle with matte black and it held up really well, through multiple washes, etc.

The trick is to do it really well. I think I did 2-3 coats really slow, with ample drying time in between, for a nice thick and well-adhesed coating.

 

[Heimkehr]

I am deciding whether I should powder coat my current wheels for about $160 per wheel or invest in new wheels in the $200 price range.

If you do purchase aftermarket wheels, read the ad copy carefully to determine if they can be powder coated (if that's something that you want to have done.) At least one of the wheels that was on my Want list can't be, per the manufacturer, leading me to remove it from the list. I didn't like the stock finish.

Edit: Confirmed as AEV in post #10, below.

Come to that, be sure that your current wheels can accept and retain a powder coat finish, if that's your preference.

 

[sailscall]

There was a thread two years ago or so where a guy from Toronto took his Rubi wheels and used a carbon graphite tape or something to turn them black. I believe it held up well.

I bought used Willys wheels and reused my OEM Goodyear Wranglers. 245 75 17s taking the TPMS with them. If you buy used tires and rims, the TPMS changed June 2021.

 

[Heater]

I am new to the Jeep world, as I purchased a 2022 Jeep Sahara. I currently have the stock machined wheels with Grey spokes. I am looking to upgrade to a black wheel. Has anyone had any experience with Powder Coating wheels? I am deciding whether I should powder coat my current wheels for about $160 per wheel or invest in new wheels in the $200 price range. Thanks.

I was looking to have some wheels powder coated a few years back, specifically some AEV wheels to make argent from the available black only that AEV went to. AEV told me to powder coat then. My experience told me otherwise and I didn’t, then soon after, AEV posted this on their wheels pages site:

Please note: As a general safety precaution, AEV does not recommend powder coating aluminum wheels. The heat range and duration of the powder coating process may overlap the heat treating and aging of cast or forged aluminum wheels. For this reason, powder coated wheels will not be covered under AEV’s lifetime structural warranty. All repairs and/or color changes should utilize automotive type liquid paint.

 

[6th Floor Mule]

I am new to the Jeep world, as I purchased a 2022 Jeep Sahara. I currently have the stock machined wheels with Grey spokes. I am looking to upgrade to a black wheel. Has anyone had any experience with Powder Coating wheels? I am deciding whether I should powder coat my current wheels for about $160 per wheel or invest in new wheels in the $200 price range. Thanks.

If you would have said you‘ve had your Sahara for a couple years and you’re really attached to your current rims, I’d say go for it. However, since that’s not the case, I say hold off a while until you have a “plan.” Last thing you want to do is invest $800 on a set of stock 18’s when you could pick up some nice 17’s for a little more. Paint and/or plastidip would be a good cheap first step. FWIW, I’m on my 4th wheel and tire combo on the Sahara I picked up during the summer of 2020 ?.

 

[Air Uncle P]

I tried stickers and actually I am very happy with them. Let me live with an all black look to see if I liked it for about $60 off eBay. My 2021 still has them on and I don't plan to change any time soon

 

[J.Ferreira]

New wheels that are powder coated.

 

[Kenbike]

I used black stickers to cover the machined areas of my Rubicon wheels and it turned out nice and has been on 3 years no issues. $60 for the kit.

 

[wibornz]

I plasti-dipped the wheels on my previous vehicle with matte black and it held up really well, through multiple washes, etc.

The trick is to do it really well. I think I did 2-3 coats really slow, with ample drying time in between, for a nice thick and well-adhesed coating.

I would plastic-dip mine as well.

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