H3 Wheels - Paint or Powder Coat?

[a0128]

I've been told by various local powder coating businesses that it is not recommended to powder coat the H3 alloy wheels as the high temps needed for bonding the powder may warp the wheels. Is this true? My preference would be to powder coat if possible as it seems to be more durable than paint, but obviously I don't want to risk warping the wheels.

 

[autumn walker]

First time I have heard of this being an issue; however, I am not an expert.

 

[Sethmark]

Utter nonsense. Powder coat is baked on at 400*. You're not going to warp an aluminum wheel at those temps.

My last shop had a powder coat facility. We coated probably 10 sets of wheels a week.

 

[LoJac963]

Agreed, they said the same thing about my U-steps when I had them re-powedercoated and nothing happened to them. Think of how thick the things are, you'd have to put them in one hot oven to warp them.

 

[Steve #1]

The answer to the question is "paint". It's cheaper, easier, and easier to touch up.

 

[jman1975]

just had this done to an OEM set in flat black finish- looks fantastic

The answer to the question is "paint". It's cheaper, easier, and easier to touch up.

thanks to the tire shop that installed them, guess i'm going to learn about touching it up

 

[Zach]

New one to me, have never heard that one. If you wheel and go through a lot of rock, I would paint them. Much easier to touch them up.

 

[Scarsman]

The OEM finish on all the non chrome wheels is powder coat. That is the standard OEM finish. Someone has no clue what they're talking about.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk

 

[jakesz28]

I also believe most shops can do a low temp powder coat now. I know a shop that can do the LS series composite intakes so if they can powder coat plastic I think your aluminum wheels should be good. I was going to have a set powder coated before I got the new tires but the timing just did not allow it.

 

[theindian]

I went with powder coat, much tougher finish simple tree branches and the like only scuff a bit and most can be rubbed out. Don't do much rocks so can't add to that. THe times I did touchup only a couple small scratches. Can't really even see them. I did paint the bumper black and I have had to repaint touchup a few times in year or so.