I have a 1961 truck tire (s) that I would or need to paint.. would I be able to just sandblast the bias tires on the rims .. or would I do damage to the tires ..Thanks for the info..
I wouldn't but if you're doing the sand blasting you could focus the sand on just the wheel. Tape them up and wire wheels them then do a little spot filling and then prime followed by paint. Or just take them off and remount after the work has been done.
It'll definitely clean the tires up!!!! But I wouldn't do it... just pull them off and blast and paint and put em back on! Do it right!!!!
If you mask the tires off with heavy tape they might have a chance. Use the cheap heavy playing cards to mask off where the tire/rim meet, you can usually tuck them right in on a deflated tire, then use a few layers of masking tape or a layer of masking tape then a couple layers of duct tape for the rest of the side wall. Focus the sand on the rim only and you should be ok. Pick up a cheap or free junk wheel and tire and give it a shot till you get the finish you're looking for. i've used this set up on a few quick wheel restoration with good result.
I've been told that getting any sand between the tire bead and rim will cause a leak. Best to demount the tires and as others have said, do it right. New tubes, too, if you have tube type tires. Gary
I'd want to blast the bead on the rims anyways. You didn't say what kind of truck it is....if they are big truck rims and older tires, and they're a ***** to unmount, then you could probably get away with just not aiming the blast at the tires. The rubber will withstand some sandblasting. If the tires are new and it's not that big of a deal to take them off the rims, then I would dismount them. that way you can blast the bead area of the rims also
I've always had the best luck painting my wheels after the tires are mounted. I'll prime the whole rim and mount the tires. I then get a roll of good 2" wide masking tape from the body shop supply. I tape over the rim onto the tire, then use a razor to trace the rim - cutting the tape. the tape can the be tucked against the rim real tight using a bondo spreader. the rest of the tire can be covered with cheap masking tape. This way, I don't scuff the new paint on the edge of the rim mounting the tire.
Here a picture of the truck and tire the tires are 8-19.5 I plan on new ones, but want to do it next spring just want to make it look good an protect for the winter ahead, and make it look good ... the tires on there now have sat since 1990 ...
why you repainting it? don't you wan't to be known as "Mister Softee"? yeah, I'd just blast them and mask the tire and spray the wheels, for now. You're gonna want to redo it when you get new tires, take the old tires off and blast the wheels inside and out, and take some effort to fill in the pits and make them look nice, and repaint them again.
1990 tires? That seals the deal, get new tires and put them on completely refurbished wheels - unless the van will sit again for years. If that's the case, leave them be as long as they hold air and do the painting / new tire deal just before you hit the road. Gary
They're not radials, so they probably won't come apart right away....if they were radials, I'd agree.
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