Replace or paint wheels for 2014 base model

I have a 2014 base model 4x4 4cyl manual with the "economy" looking six-bolt wheels. They work just fine but they've got some rust, and I've long thought about either replacing them or painting them. Two questions:

1) What are some OEM Toyota wheels that are the same size? I don't want to get aftermarket wheels.

2) Has anyone had good luck painting these wheels? Will the same paint work on the plastic hub caps in the center?

Thanks!

 

You can pick up OEM alloys for very little and sometimes even free - poke around your regional threads and the B/S/T forums, even Craigslist.

You can also absolutely paint those wheels and get a fine result, but the key to paint the is prep. The more time and effort you spend on prep, the better the result will be. If you just want to splash them, you can do that - hose them off, jam some playing cards or tape around the rims, and rattlecan them whatever color, but they will definitely look and last like you did it that way. If you want to go nuts, pop the tires off, sandblast, zinc etch, paint, and let the wheels sit for 30 days for a full hard cure on the paint (but then you still need wheels to drive the truck!)

There is plenty of paint that is advertised to work on wood/metal/plastic, but a lot of "cool" colors/types are not so durable on plastic or will straight up eat the plastic. Just research the product before you apply it.

The question is what kind of balance do you want to have with time/money when painting factory steelies, vs what other options (decent OEM alloys) are in the same ballpark?

For what it's worth, OEM wheels from pretty much any 2nd/3rd gen Tacoma, most 4runners, and FJs will fit, so keep an eye out for a good deal. Those are going to be 16" and 17", so pay attention if you have a preference on tires or want to re-use your current tires, and also make sure you budget for TPMS as necessary for the new wheels if you go that way - the TPMS for your factory steelies won't fit the alloys.

Here are some 16" FJ alloys I painted Hammered Gold. I paid about $110 each for them, and then another $25 each for sandblasting, and another $60-75 or so in tape, paint, etcetera.

 

My wheels need refreshing and I'm thinking of doing them with Plasti Dip Spray. They have minor rust areas but are in good otherwise as they had chrome wheel-skins over them for many years. They looked very nice, but the metallic finish got tired and was starting to flake off.

 

Thanks for the advice, particularly about the tire pressure monitors -- the reason I'd wanted to stick with OEM wheels was because I figured the monitors would be guaranteed to work, so this is very good to know. Really tips the scales in favor of painting or just living with cheap looking steel wheels, haha.

 

They don't really look too bad at all. I think if you scoured off the little bit of rust with a green Scotchbrite, washed and degreased them really well (Dawn dish soap works wonders) to get them clean-clean-clean, and hit them with a couple layers of clear coat, they would look really nice and not look like they're trying to be something they're not.

If you want to drive up to BFE, Vermont, you can have a set of 17" FJ steelies sitting at the bottom of Wheel Mountain in my shed.

 

Scotchbrite those wheels, get some playing cards stick them between the bead and tire and rattle can those wheels. Get the self etching krylon and it will stick fine to wheels and caps.