Paint rims/mount new rubber first?

[ndaugbjerg]

I am ready to paint my alloy wheels and mount new rubber. The lip will remain polished. What's been the experience with regard to painting or mounting tires first?
Niels

[7981GS]

Clean/sand/polish/paint the rims with the tire off.

Eric

[spyug]

After painting rims,taking them in for new rubber and getting them back scratched, I now install rubber first, then tape and paint. More work that way but I get scratch free rims.

I suppose I could paint them and wrap them prior to getting the rims installed. Maybe I'll try that next time.

Good luck. Oh how about some pics Niels, you've been letting down the team a bit on that, bad boy!

Cheers,
spyug

[1_v8_merc]

I put rubbers on, then painted. Because I know it's going to get scratched!

Just tape off the areas you don't want painted.

[Flywheel]

Paint first, rubber second

You can make a case for each way. I just painted my rims and had rubber installed second. I applied a cheap vinyl electrical tape around the outside ring for a little protection. If you let them balance the wheel, that tape will have to come off or you will have to install the weights. Some places will apply weights with masking tape leaving the final installation to you. Weights, if the stick-on type, are slightly wider than some rim resting places, giving you another challenge for good looks.