Powder Coating Wheels & Rims in Auckland

Powder Coating vs Paint for Wheels

Wheels are exposed to everything — stone chips flying up from the road, brake dust, road salt, and constant mechanical stress from tyre changes. Factory finishes are designed for production speed, not long-term durability. Powder coating is a better fit for this environment for several reasons:

• Harder surface — powder coating is significantly more resistant to stone chips and kerb scrapes than wet paint
• Better chemical resistance — holds up to brake dust, road grime, and wheel cleaning products
• No runs or drips — the electrostatic application and oven cure produces a consistent, even film across the whole wheel
• Wide colour range — from standard satin and gloss blacks through to gunmetal, bronze, custom colours, and more
• Long-term value — a quality powder coat that's properly prepared will outlast most wet paint alternatives in real-world conditions

Types of Wheels We Coat

We work with all common wheel types:

• Alloy wheels — the most common type we see, on passenger cars, performance builds, and SUVs
• Steel wheels — winter wheels, track-day spares, older vehicles
• Mag wheels — older alloy styles, typically found on classic and muscle cars
• 4WD and off-road wheels — larger, heavier-duty rims for utes and 4WDs — see our 4WD accessories page for more
• Motorcycle wheels — see our motorcycle parts page

If you have oversized or unusual wheels, get in touch first and we'll confirm what we can accommodate.

Popular Finishes

Wheel finishes are more varied than most people realise. The most commonly requested options are:

• Satin black — the most popular overall — a clean, non-reflective black that suits almost everything
• Gloss black — high-shine, ideal for show builds and clean street cars
• Gunmetal — a dark metallic grey, popular on performance and JDM builds
• Gloss white — bold, stands out on dark vehicles
• Bronze / gold tones — popular in the modified car scene
• Colour match — match your wheels to your car's body colour
• Custom RAL — any colour from the RAL palette

The Process

1. Strip: Old paint or powder is removed via sandblasting to bare metal — required for adhesion and to find any damage underneath
2. Inspection: Bare metal is inspected for cracks, corrosion, or repairs needed before coating
3. Chemical pre-treatment: Surface is treated to remove residual contamination and prepare for bonding
4. Powder application: Electrostatic powder applied for even, consistent coverage across spoke faces and recesses
5. Oven cure: Wheels are cured to form a durable, hard film
6. Quality check: Coverage, finish, and colour are inspected before handover

Tyres and TPMS sensors need to be removed before wheels come in to us. If you're not sure how to arrange this, a tyre shop can demount your tyres and remount them afterwards.

Frequently Asked Questions