I went to my friends shop last night to change the tires on my G coupe. I have been changing my tires myself for years. Ever since Tire America chiped my chrome Cobra wheels and wouldnt do anything about it.

Somehow I single handedly messed up all 4 wheels. the painted finish on the wheels almost came off with my fingernails. the machie they have is the high dollar one that doesnt touch the face of the wheel. i used the pry bar to pull the bead of the tire up over the bar to remove the tire, and hte pressure of that alone tore the paint off. It wasnt even like it chips or flaked, it just kinda pealed and bubbled off. I have never seen anythign like this.

I was wanting wheels for spring, so now I'm dead set on new ones, and I will just get these powder coated for winter wheels, But has anyone else had any trouble with the finish just coming right off the wheels???? this was a new one for me.

 

You don't say what wheels you have. I have the OEM 19" wheels on my 05'. I curbed the two right side wheels and the paint came off pretty easy. I did change one of the tires (rear). It was a bitch but the machine didn't scratch the wheel.

I work in body shop, so I got some of the wheel paint that Infiniti uses for our wheels for nothing. (it's NOT cheap-try like $300/qt.) One of my friends is a painter and he masked off the rest of the wheel and repaired/painted the lip. They look absolutely mint. It is not hard to repair the scratches on the lip, its just that the paint is expensive as sh@t.

 

My wheels are the optional 18's for 2003. The paint just came off them in several spots. I have never seen paint come off anything so easily before. I am now debating getting them powder coated and keeping them for winter wheels, and just buying some 19's.

 

I have 18's on my 04...i curb rashed the Pass front side twice.....each time worse than the time before......I had the rim repaired, and it wasn't even noticeable that it was damaged...

I had a new set of tires put on this past summer, and when they changed out the repaired rim, it took the paint/repair off in a heartbeat.....They fixed it for me.......but the other rims were fine.

Had your rims been repaired before? I believe the original finish on the 18's is powdercoating...or at least it seems that way....

 

the worst news is there is no shop in America that can repaint the wheel the same color as I was told the material used by Ray/Volks is toxic and not allowed in America.

 

I just got my car about a month ago. I have no idea if they have been repaired before or not, but that was something I was wondering myself. It just doesnt seem right that the wheels would peal so easy with a factory finish.

 

Odds are they were repaired......my paint peeled off when the tire machine made contact in the repaired area....otherwise, I'm sure it would not have happened.....

The repair paint is not baked or anywhere near as durable as the factory finish....just my opinion based on my own experience....

Good luck with your rims.

 

^+1 The process is outlawed as of about 20 years ago in the US.

Back in the day, Schwinn had a Preadator BMX bike that was chromed to look like hematite. They had to discontinue production of the finish because of the law that took effect. Instant collectible.

 

The same thing just happened to me; however, I had mine repainted months before the tire mount. I do not know if I should blame the dealership or the refinisher?