1800bucks

iTrader: (8)

I have a set of OEM wheels I took off my '01 SE back in January of this year, the ones with the large plastic lug covers. I know they are aluminum, but are they painted aluminum? Been thinking about stripping them, but not sure what is under that factory grey color, I'm assuming aluminum that could possibly be polished? Just thinking out loud. A few years back I bought a set of '00 Xterra rims that somebody had sprayed with that black rubberized undercoating, but I knew what was under it, I knew what the factory look was. Polished aluminum with a clearcoat. Wasnt sure if the same held true for these wheels. Thinking long term winter time project.

FanaticMadMax

They are polished aluminum, however if you stripped them, they have a darker color not exactly bare metal. What are you thinking of painting to. I would never paint it black or "rubberized black" I saw one with a lot of "road rash" pitted from rocks and debris pitting on it. Looks horrible. Be sure to clean it really well with some kind of wheel cleaner or brake cleaner to get the grime off before you would prep to paint it and also recommend to clear coat over it, to keep the "factory like" looks

1800bucks

iTrader: (8)

Was thinking of taking them to the bare metal, but I guess I thought the metal would be or could be polished, is in shiney aluminum and then taking that highly polished surface and shooting XIM900 clearcoat on them. I also sanded down an old set of 4 lug 300Z wheels until they were smooth and highly polished then sprayed them with the XIM900 clearcoat. I ran those wheels on a 97 Altima for about 4 years and sold that car with those wheels still on it, still as nice as the day I cleared them. All that being said, I was wondering if the aluminum under the grey paint could be brought to a nice highly polished shine.

Black wheels are ugly! I hate everything about them. They look like the uglyness that you would see when a cheap plastic hubcap falls off. A very dark grey/charcoal color is okay tho.