I just completed my wheel rim restoration project and I thought I would share my experience. In summary, I removed the old tires, and sanded and repaired defects in the alloy Campagnolo wheel rim. I then primed, painted, and top coated the rim, and placed new Pirelli Cinturato CN36 185/70 R14 tires. I couldn't be happier with the results. Below is a step by step guide.
1) Here is a picture of the original rim and tire. I liked the matte steel / sliver color, so I tried to reproduce its appearance.
![Image]()
2) With the rim off the car and the tire removed, I scrubbed the wheel with a nylon bristle brush, soap, water, and "Simple Green" cleaner. I then used a combination of a wire wheel or wire brush on my drill, and hand sanded using different grits of sandpaper. I worked on the front and back faces of the rim, but did not work on the surface under where the tire sits. I used 180, 320, and 400 grit sandpaper, and a gray scratchpad (usually equivalent to about 400 grit). The 180 grit was only used sparingly on heavily damaged areas. I sanded until the surfaces felt smooth.
![Image]()
![Image]()
3) I then used body filler for deeper gouges and curb rash, and glazing putty for superficial scratches. I sanded with 320 grit, then 400 grit, then wet sanded the entire rim with 800 grit sandpaper. I rinsed with water and dried. Use a proper respirator when working with volatile fumes like body filler and paint and primer!
![Image]()
![Image]()
4) Then, I degreased the rim with "Eastwood pre-paint prep" and used a water based spray cleaner called "Sprayway" and a lint free microfiber cloth. The rim was now ready for primer.
![Image]()
![Image]()
5) The next step was application of the primer. I applied 3-4 coats of "Eastwood 2K Gray Primer." It is important to apply a 2K product. The first coat was applied lightly and subsequent coats more heavily. I allowed 10-15 minutes of dry time between coats. I made a nifty stand out of scrap wood that held the rim where the tire would sit. This allowed me to rotate the rim 180 degrees in between sprays. The primer did leave a slightly rough finish, so a final wet sanding with 800 grit paper was needed. The first picture is before and the second picture is after priming. Small defects that were missed can be filed with glazing putty and sanded lightly.
![Image]()
![Image]()
6) For the base coat, I took the rim to my auto body shop. I was unhappy with the color choices available "over the counter" at big box stores or online. This, of course, is personal preference. I do feel there are excellent products available without using a pro, but I could not find a satisfactory match to my original rim color. Another option is to have a paint shop mix a custom color in a spray can. I decided to avoid the hassle and use the expertise of the autobody shop. I chose MA362.05 (can't remember the brand) which is a small metallic fleck, steel silver color. I matched my rim to a paint chip my shop had. It matched very well, but make sure you compare colors in bright daylight as lighting can affect the way colors appear. We top coated with satin finish. If doing it yourself, use a 2K clearcoat product. "Spray Max" has a satin finish and "Eastwood" has a high gloss finish available.
7) Here is the finished rim mounted and balanced (inside weights) with my new Pirelli Cinturato CN36 185/70 R14 tires. I also freshened up the lug nuts using a wire wheel on a dremel tool, and then using a combination of light sanding, steel wool, and rubbing compound. I hope this summary helps somebody on the forum!
![Image]()
1) Here is a picture of the original rim and tire. I liked the matte steel / sliver color, so I tried to reproduce its appearance.
2) With the rim off the car and the tire removed, I scrubbed the wheel with a nylon bristle brush, soap, water, and "Simple Green" cleaner. I then used a combination of a wire wheel or wire brush on my drill, and hand sanded using different grits of sandpaper. I worked on the front and back faces of the rim, but did not work on the surface under where the tire sits. I used 180, 320, and 400 grit sandpaper, and a gray scratchpad (usually equivalent to about 400 grit). The 180 grit was only used sparingly on heavily damaged areas. I sanded until the surfaces felt smooth.
3) I then used body filler for deeper gouges and curb rash, and glazing putty for superficial scratches. I sanded with 320 grit, then 400 grit, then wet sanded the entire rim with 800 grit sandpaper. I rinsed with water and dried. Use a proper respirator when working with volatile fumes like body filler and paint and primer!
4) Then, I degreased the rim with "Eastwood pre-paint prep" and used a water based spray cleaner called "Sprayway" and a lint free microfiber cloth. The rim was now ready for primer.
5) The next step was application of the primer. I applied 3-4 coats of "Eastwood 2K Gray Primer." It is important to apply a 2K product. The first coat was applied lightly and subsequent coats more heavily. I allowed 10-15 minutes of dry time between coats. I made a nifty stand out of scrap wood that held the rim where the tire would sit. This allowed me to rotate the rim 180 degrees in between sprays. The primer did leave a slightly rough finish, so a final wet sanding with 800 grit paper was needed. The first picture is before and the second picture is after priming. Small defects that were missed can be filed with glazing putty and sanded lightly.
6) For the base coat, I took the rim to my auto body shop. I was unhappy with the color choices available "over the counter" at big box stores or online. This, of course, is personal preference. I do feel there are excellent products available without using a pro, but I could not find a satisfactory match to my original rim color. Another option is to have a paint shop mix a custom color in a spray can. I decided to avoid the hassle and use the expertise of the autobody shop. I chose MA362.05 (can't remember the brand) which is a small metallic fleck, steel silver color. I matched my rim to a paint chip my shop had. It matched very well, but make sure you compare colors in bright daylight as lighting can affect the way colors appear. We top coated with satin finish. If doing it yourself, use a 2K clearcoat product. "Spray Max" has a satin finish and "Eastwood" has a high gloss finish available.
7) Here is the finished rim mounted and balanced (inside weights) with my new Pirelli Cinturato CN36 185/70 R14 tires. I also freshened up the lug nuts using a wire wheel on a dremel tool, and then using a combination of light sanding, steel wool, and rubbing compound. I hope this summary helps somebody on the forum!
