debating plastidipping my rims...if I hate it or mess it up, how hard is it to remove?

I have a'23 offroad. Getting rid of all the chrome. Looking at using Plastidip on my rims. I don't want to spend money on new rims.

I know to use a whole can per rim with lots of light coats, but how easy is it to remove if I mess up or hate the look?

If it all goes well, how long can I expect it to last? She's mostly a pavement princess sadly.

Thanks

 

I'd be surprised if you used a whole can on just two rims. The stuff lifts, or peels, easily if you want to get it off. I dipped the rims on my wife's 4Runner almost four years ago and they are finally, in the last couple months, showing spots that need to be re-dipped. It's driven year 'round mostly on pavement but with six months of Minnesota winters, so it does last if applied correctly.

 

Three years and still holding up well for me. I do a lot of desert off-roading and deep sand (beach) riding. I imagine it would be difficult to remove due to the shape of the wheels with all the contours

 

I did some chrome bumper and grill cover ups with black plasti dip. Was happy with how it looked and wear wasn’t bad other than rock chips which was to expected.

Removing it was a huge PITA. I have dipped a few things and never had trouble removing it but on the chrome bumper and grill it was a nightmare…I wouldn’t do it again.

 

I have it on my 6 year old rims, and they've lasted through 6 colder than hell winters, and 6 hotter hell summers.... Easy peasy to touch up if needed.

But I have never removed it. Only gripe is they keep the dirt on the rims. It doesn't slide off like steel, because they are rubbery.

I'm buying 17" TRD satin black rims next, but won't be plasti dipping them.... But, I dont regret doing it, 'cause they looked great on my Taco, and it is a much easier process than painting.

 

Try the vinyl stickers first so you can see if you like the look. They’re all over Etsy

 

I had read somewhere, maybe it was TW, that the vinyl is harder to apply nicely and a lot more work than the plastidip?

 

it does seem to be difficult to apply. I haven’t tried it, but have been considering it. The reviews suggest most people are able to get them on correctly.

 

I platidipped my rims 4 years ago now. They still look good. I highly recommend as you can easily peel off yet they don’t fall off. It’s like magic haha

 

I have been wanting to do this but have questions that are holding me up. What about the area where the lugnuts mate to the wheel. When you tighten the lug nuts down, does the plastidip tear? Do you get a good tight fit? Do I have to tape off that surface before spraying? When I remove the lugnuts for tire rotation, will the plastidip tear and require respray?

 

Could you put the plasti-dip clear coat on the rims as well to make them shinnier and would it create more of an issue if you wanted to remove it later on?

 

They sell this kit sold on Amazon.

$61 Plasti Dip Black Rim Kit Variation (Black Rim Kit With Gun)

https://www.amazon.com/Plasti-Dip-R...t=&hvlocphy=9001646&hvtargid=pla-404920000682

 

How did you do it, besides cleaning the wheels before hand, did you take two wheels off at a time and put the truck on jack stands?

 

what if you were to put corks in the holes where the lug nuts go, and then not really worry about those areas to much as the wheel itself will look good, who really gets down and looks if your lug nut hole is messed up?

 

If you don't apply it thick enough it is a royal pain to remove. I painted the silver parts on my 4runner bumpers black and did not put it on very thick because I stopped when it was fully covered and looking perfect. A few years later it started to come off in some areas so I tried peeling it and essentially gave up as it was nearly impossible. Go thicker or don't do it and make sure it is very well cleaned and degreased.

 

I have been using the stuff for years on half a dozen vehicles on every part imaginable including rims. If you are having trouble putting it on or taking it off you are doing something wrong. There are a few good YouTube videos on how to apply it to rims (and everywhere else as well). But basically you do a few light coats (about 10 min a part) then a few what I will call regular coats - heavy enough to fully cover but not so heavy it would run. That's it -done. And yes the clear can give it a bit of a shine kind of a matt shine in my opinion - it's OK but not my cup of tea really.

It always peels right off clean in good size pieces - in a few spots where it is in a narrow spot (like on a skinny piece of trim around the windows for example) etc you may have to rub it a little with your finger or thumb to get it to lift to get hold of it but not to hard to get up. As far as the lug nut holes - fill them with blue tape - that worked perfect for me.

 

Did you remove the wheel or just take the lugs off and tape over the hole and whatever that’s called that the lug nuts screw into?

 

Comes off easily with wd-40

 

Thanks for the blue tape idea.

 

It's called the stud the thing the lug nut threads onto.