Painting Tires: Good Idea or Bad?

[Falcon Ranchero]

I am never sure if painting tires is a good idea or not. Yesterday I painted a redline on the back tire of my circa 1971 Skyline bicycle, and it seems to be holding up nicely; there was a stamped moulding on the tire so I was able to do it neatly. It is mildly tacky and drying good. But I attempted white walls on another bike once, and after a day the paint turned pink and then peeled. In terms of car tires, I wouldn't have ever thought of it, but at a recent car show there was a '49 or '50 Meteor that had painted-on white walls, and I didn't know if that was a good idea or not. What do you guys think? 

 

[webestang]

Got me curious.........

 

Black.....

https://www.autozone.com/paint-and-body/tire-and-wheel-paint/p/dupli-color-black-tire-paint/812696_0_0?spps.s=4454&cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:PBD:19486091213&&CATARGETID=120054150001288829&CADevice=c&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw8fu1BhBsEiwAwDrsjHQLB0AbjscT9Od_69WVgnKBcb-XQz2GclALjDEd-XbKrOhTKQkTYRoCqOkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

White.....

https://www.amazon.com/Anvil-White-Wall-Tire-Paint/dp/B0798VVCD3/ref=asc_df_B0798VVCD3/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693070740232&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8962321419810390816&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9022866&hvtargid=pla-573856528692&psc=1&mcid=c5adda6bc4503a3593db0a4c7b3df3ab&gad_source=1

Tire markers.....
https://www.autozone.com/tire-repair-and-tire-wheel/tire-marker

Edited August 16, 2024 by webestang

[iamsuperdan]

I think if someone likes it then they should do it.

 

[JollySipper]

What paint did you use for the white wall on your bike? The reason I ask is DupliColor makes a vinyl and fabric 'coating' for just such things........ They also make an adhesion  promoter that goes on clear, it's kinda like primer for the vinyl paint. You would also need to make sure the tire is CLEAN before you paint it.........

 

[rattle can man]

make sure you use paint made for rubber. Surface prep is important.  clean, dry and serviceable before paint. Tire dressing/ shine, grease, etc. will affect the adhesion of paint. It soaks in and scrubbing might not remove it.

[deuces wild]

Wesley's bleach white, bucket of hot water and a scrub brush should do the trick...

[peteski]

Also remember that the paint (even if specifically made for painting rubber) and surface prep was properly done, the color will not be as durable as the real whitewall tires.  In the factory-made whitewalls the white areas are actually light color rubber in a rather thick layer molded integrally with the black rubber while the tire is being made.  So even if it scuffed, it will stay white. The entire life of the tire. Painted surface? Not so much.

Not the best visual aid, but it gets the point across.  Not sure why they show a separate veneer layer, but it clearly shows how thick the whitewall's white rubber layer is embedded in the sidewall rubber.  It depicts narrow whitewall. Wide whitewalls are made the same way but the white rubber area is just wider.

Edited August 17, 2024 by peteski

[rattle can man]

using lacquer thinner to clean weatherstrip that had been treated with some kind of dressing would buy a short window of the tape sticking, but it would release within a few hours. Tires are a porous material. That slick, shiny stuff soaks in. You can scrub off what is on the surface, but whatever has been absorbed into the rubber eventually migrates back to the surface. 

[Falcon Ranchero]

17 hours ago, JollySipper said:

What paint did you use for the white wall on your bike? The reason I ask is DupliColor makes a vinyl and fabric 'coating' for just such things........ They also make an adhesion  promoter that goes on clear, it's kinda like primer for the vinyl paint. You would also need to make sure the tire is CLEAN before you paint it.........

 

It was at least 3 years ago I did the whitewall bike tire, but it may have been tremclad; not the best choice for rubber, I realized that after I spent an hour painting both sides. But for the redline I used some other paint; don’t have the can with me but I know the factory that makes the paint blew up or something so you can’t get it anymore, but it seems to be working so far.

[Muncie]

I guess I'm old enough to remember whitewall paint that was generally available in small cans at most auto parts stores - wasn't the greatest but it was a lo-buck alternative to real whitewalls.  Tire black was also available but too shiny and looked cheap.  Generally messy to use and make look good.

Ranger Tire Paint - The premium sidewall tire paint. (rangerpaint.com)

There are paints (testors gloss enamel is one) that will never dry on rubber or kit tires.

[Falcon Ranchero]

15 hours ago, Muncie said:

There are paints (testors gloss enamel is one) that will never dry on rubber or kit tires.

I painted redlines on the tires of a Ford Pinto model kit back in 2022, and I am still waiting for them to dry! For kits, pre-padded white or redline tires are obviously best, but even decals work; just applying them is sometimes a pain.

[Brudda]

I like it. Looks super cool.