Paint or Powder Coated Wheels? Why Powder Coated Wins Every Time

What is Powder Coating?

Powder coating changes the color of your vehicle’s wheels, trim, panels, and more. It also adds additional protection. 

The process takes time and begins by taking electronically charging ground particles made of pigments and resin and spraying them onto the material of your choice. Thanks to their electrostatic nature, the particles adhere to the surface. 



Whatever part of the vehicle you spray, the powder coating will need to be baked so the particles can blend and cure. Once the piece is baked, you're left with a durable and eye-popping result. 

Step by Step of Coating

As mentioned above, powder coating relies on an electric charge rather than an adhesive.

In order to start wheel powder coating, you’ll need to remove the tires and any additional weights/valves. Consider pressure washing the wheels first to remove pesky dirt.

The rims should be placed into a chemical stripping tank to remove whatever coating/paint they had before. One more pressure wash will ensure you have a clean surface for coating. 

A material blast is next to remove corrosion and blemishes. Make sure you review the wheels after this to spot any damages. 

Now it’s time to bake. Like a turkey on Thanksgiving, the wheels need to be pre-heated to 400 degrees in an industrial oven for 20 minutes or so. This will de-gas the alloy before the powder coat primer is sprayed on. 

The wheels need to cool to 150 degrees. If they’re receiving a custom color or bespoke finish, another 40 minutes in the oven will be needed for them to cure. To finish off the baking process, the wheels should receive a clear coat before baking at 200 degrees for 20 more minutes.



Now that the final step is complete, the wheels are refitted, new valves are added, and balancing weights are placed on the inside of the wheels so they aren’t obstructing the powder-coated finish. 

Benefits of Powder Coated Wheels

Besides a unique color, powder-coated wheels are versatile in protection. 

As a staple in the industry, powder coating has proven to be one of the most popular paint applications. What powder coating does well is extending the life of the metal you’ve coated.

But how does this happen? 

When the coating is cured it develops into a much more durable and hard finish. This extra layer of protection can help against corrosion, heat, wear-and-tear, weather, and everyday scratches. Although it looks like a common 2-coat paint application, powder coating is more than meets the eye.



It’s resistant against chemicals, spills, and even brake fluid that rips through painted surfaces. 

Paint vs Powder-Coated Wheels

Wheel paint may seem like a solid low-cost method, but powder coating provides benefits paint never can. 

So where does paint fall off? Let’s take a look at the cons:

• Paint is more susceptible to scratching and chipping
• Less durable
• Premature corrosion from road conditions
• The short-term solution, no long term benefits

Powder-coated wheels also provide better coverage than liquid paints. This means the more difficult to reach spots on the wheels will receive coverage where liquid paint can’t reach. The electrostatic nature of the particles aid in a complete application. 



Last but not least, powder coating saves you money in the long run. Although they cost more to start, powder coating’s durability results in fewer touch-ups. 

Versatility in Powder-Coated Wheels vs Painted

Overall, paint can’t match up to the versatility of powder-coated wheels. 

Although 90 percent of the time you’ll be using a powder coat on metal materials, powder coating can be added to non-metal components. The only information you need to consider is the heating process.

All powder-coated items must be able to make it through baking. If you can bake the item, powder coating is an option. 

Your utilization of material is also much higher with powder coating than paint. During the application process, you’ll use all of the material when applying it to your wheels. 



In the painting process, there is a high percentage of loss due to evaporation. If you’re paying for the application, you want to get the best bang for your buck. With powder coating, the utilization rate is very close to 100 percent. 

No Doubt Answer

Considering all these pros and cons. powder coating is head and shoulders above paint. 

It’s the most viable option to update or restore the look of your wheels. The investment is worth every penny. 

Although these pros and cons don’t relate to every driver, the versatility of powder coating is too good to be true. Don’t waste your money on an application that won’t stand up to its competitors. 



The verdict is simple, powder-coated wheels win every time. 

Prismatic Powders 

At Solar Shade Window Tint, we’re focused on providing the best powder coated wheels on the market. 

We serve both the Jacksonville and Lake City area with the best powder coating services. But, it doesn’t end there. 

We provide tinting, ceramic coating, vinyl wraps, bed liners, you name it. Solar Shade Window Tint prides itself on a team of experienced professionals to get the job done right the first time.



Consider reaching out regarding a free estimate today. We look forward to doing business with you!