Whether it's a lifted Hilux on gravel farm roads, a German sedan on the N1 or a weekend track car, your alloy wheels take more mechanical and chemical abuse than almost any other part of the vehicle.
Every time you brake, hot metallic brake dust (up to 400 °C) hits the wheel finish. Add acidic road grime, thunderstorm puddles, gravel strikes and the odd curb in a tight parking lot, and factory paint soon looks dull, chipped and yellow.
Aerosol “wheel paint” and quick mobile resprays usually start peeling around the wheel nuts and rim lip within six months of car washes. Powder coating is the standard for proper wheel refurbishment. Here's how our wheel process works.
Why powder beats wheel spray paint
- Heat resistance. Brake heat travels through the hub. Wet paint softens and lets brake dust bake into it; cured powder handles well over 150 °C without softening.
- Chip protection. The cross-linked coat is a flexible shell that absorbs stone and gravel impacts without cracking.
- Chemical resistance. Harsh acidic or alkaline wheel cleaners can attack cheap paint; powder coating shrugs off standard wash chemicals, oils and degreasers.
Our 4-stage wheel process
- Chemical de-coating. Wheels go into stripping tanks that dissolve clear coats and old paint down to bare aluminium. We never grind wheels, which can affect balance.
- Fine bead blast. Fine glass bead or garnet removes oxidation and smooths minor curb rash on the lip without removing structural aluminium.
- Electrostatic powder. The earthed wheel draws charged powder into bolt holes, behind the spokes and across the whole rear barrel.
- Bake and clear coat. Cured at 190 °C. Metallic and pearl finishes get an extra baked clear powder coat for depth and gloss.
Popular wheel finishes in South Africa
| Finish | Look | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Satin black | Modern, tactical, semi-matt. | Bakkies (Hilux, Ranger, Land Cruiser), SUVs and track cars. Very easy to keep clean. |
| Gloss piano black (RAL 9005) | Deep, mirror-like black. | Sports sedans, hot hatches and luxury cars. Great with bright calipers. |
| Anthracite / gunmetal metallic | Metallic grey with depth. | Between silver and black. Hides road grime and brake dust well. |
| Metallic silver (OEM match) | Bright factory silver. | Classic and original restorations, executive fleet vehicles. |
| Bronze / dark gold metallic | Race-inspired, eye-catching. | White, dark blue or black sports cars and overlanders. |
Why outgassing matters
Cast aluminium wheels contain tiny air pockets trapped during casting. Coat a cold wheel and put it in the oven, and that air expands and bursts out through the molten powder, leaving pinholes, bubbles and craters. This is called outgassing.
Our prevention step: every cast wheel goes through a thermal outgassing cycle first. We preheat the bare wheel above curing temperature so trapped gas escapes while the metal is bare. Then it's primed, coated and baked for a smooth, bubble-free finish.
How to prepare your wheels
- Remove the tyres. Wheels must be de-beaded before stripping.
- Remove centre caps and weights. Plastic caps, clip-on weights and rubber valve stems must come off.
- Tell us about repairs. Let us know if a wheel has been welded, straightened or repaired for cracks.
Give your wheels a new life
Swap scratched, oxidised, curb-damaged wheels for a baked powder finish that handles gravel, heat and brake dust. Read more about our powder coating and stripping services.