If you decide you want to enhance the look of your tires, paint is most likely your best option. When compared to the alternatives, paint is easy to apply, easy to maintain, the most customizable, and by far the best looking. But even once you have decided that paint is indeed the way to go, you are going to have to make sure you choose a type of paint that will actually stick.
There are numerous different kinds of paint out there, and both the chemical make-up and durability of these kinds of paints can make a big difference when it comes to painting tires. Some kinds of paints will quickly wear off, run, or easily smear. Others will be able to withstand exposure to the elements and be able to offer optimal performance over time.
When comparing the different kinds of paint available, it is important to keep a few things in mind. Before you decide to commit to making a purchase, consider asking yourself the following questions:
- What is the primary purpose of this paint? What does the bottle (container) say it is specifically designed for?
- Are there any warnings on the bottle for potential damage this paint could do? Some kinds of paint can cause damage to the surface beneath it when it is misapplied.
- Is this paint waterproof? Is it made for the outdoors? Is this paint something that could withstand a wide range of different temperatures? The inside of a car (particularly near the engine) can get incredibly hot—you can really never be too careful.
- Does the bottle say anything specific about this paint sticking to rubber?
If the paint in question doesn’t anything specific about being designed for rubber, then you might want to look elsewhere. Some people try to paint their tires using just any old paint they have lying around the house, and this is likely going to lead to many problems down the road (pun intended).
Even if you believe a certain kind of paint will be “even more durable” than paint that is designed for tires, you still want to be cautious. Just because something is durable enough to stick to the side of your house during different kinds of weather, that doesn’t mean it will actually be effective on your tires. Again, the specific chemical makeup of the paint you end up using is very important.
When looking for the kind of paint that is best for your tires, there are several qualities you need to keep in mind. You want something that will not expand or retract with changes in heat and you want something that is able to permanently bond itself with rubber. Furthermore, you want something that is waterproof, sun-proof, oil-proof, gravel-proof, and just about every other kind of “proof” you can think of. These kinds of paint are few and far between.
Ultimately, there really are only two kinds of paint you can faithfully trust to stick to your tires. The first kind, as you might have guessed, would be any kind of paint that is labelled and marketed specifically for tire painting. This kind of paint can be found at most auto and tire centers as well as numerous (and quite often much cheaper) online outlets. The second kind, more vaguely, will be a kind of paint that is labelled “industrial grade”.
Industrial grade paint has acquired its name from the fact that it is made to bond on most kinds of surfaces (including rubber) without running, smearing, or falling off. Furthermore, industrial grade paint is notably suitable for tires because it can easily be applied to surfaces that are not necessarily 100% clean—even if you have only driven from the dealership to your garage, your tires will inevitably be dirty to at least some degree.
Industrial grade paint can be purchased from home-improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s, and it can also be purchased from specialty paint stores such as Sherwin-Williams. Other popular brands include Benjamin Moore and BEHR. Furthermore, as is the case with most things these days, there are numerous online retailers that will likely be able to provide you with a comparable product at a discount price.
Industrial grade paint can be a good choice for painting tires if it is something you already own or if you plan on using it for some other project. However, if your plan is to go out and get new paint simply for the sake of painting your tires, then you might as well decide to go for a brand of paint that is specifically designed for tires.
When all is equal—up to and including the price—you might as well go for the specialty brand whenever you are given the option to do so. Specialized tire paint is designed for one specific purpose—painting your tires—and includes the best chemical formulas, design, and properties you need in order to assure you get the best possible outcome.
To find the best deals on tire paint, start by going online and simply searching for “Tire Paint” or related phrases. There, you will find a wide variety of different brands to choose from and will be able to easily save a lot of money while also getting a quality product.
Ultimately, tire paint will be as easy to apply and look even better than every other conceivable option.
