Harley Davidson Touring: How to Plasti-Dip Your Rims

This article applies to the Harley Davidson Touring.

There's only one way to say it. Plasti-Dip is one of the cheapest and easiest-to-apply coatings/adhesives on the market today. You can spray it on rims without worrying about the ingredients damaging your chrome or aluminum finish, and because the product is manufactured to cure with a high level of flexibility, you can peel it away at any time without mess, damage or worry. Before getting started on what we would rate as a "straightforward" DIY project, it's highly recommended that you remove your wheels, although this is not a requirement. As well, it's also highly advisable that you stick to well-ventilated areas when applying the coatings to your bike.

Step 1 – Clean the rims

• Wet a paper towel, Terry cloth or microfiber cloth with a generous amount of rubbing alcohol.
• Wipe the entire surface area of your rims using the wet towel or cloth.
• Make sure to reach all of the crevices as well as all nooks and crannies on your wheel before moving on to the next step.

Step 2 – Protect surrounding areas

• The quickest and cheapest way to protect surrounding areas from excess spray is to tape them off using masking tape.
• Do so on both sides of your rims, and don't forget to protect holes where screws are found.
• Cut off excess tape using a razor.
• Tape off the entire bearing section, which is located at the center of the wheel.
• Next, tape off the top portion of the tire using masking tape; blue painter's tape will also suffice.
• Focus on protecting the tire tread from overspray.
• However, do not apply the tape close to the lip or edge of the rim.
• You will need this area to be free so you can more easily peel off the Plasti-Dip when you are done.

Step 3 – Spray a light, even coat of paint

• Turn your wheel upside down and lay it flat on a workbench or other flat surface.
• Spray a light, even coat of paint to the entire surface area of the rim.
• Move back and forth from one section to the next.
• Don't worry about applying a thick coat.
• Spray painting a rim is different from painting it. You will need to apply multiple coats (one at a time).
• Flip the wheel over and do the same for the opposite side.
• Once the first coat dries, apply a second coat using the same application technique.
• Flip the wheel once more, and apply a third coat. Remember to simply 'brush' on the paint to avoid clumping.
• Aim for light coats with even coverage.
• Apply four to five coats in total.

Step 4 – Remove the tape

• Go back and remove all of the tape from your wheel.
• Go slowly and use a toothpick to lift up the Plasti-Dip from the side of the tire wall so you can peel away all of the overspray.
• Finish by wiping down the entire area with a Terry cloth.

Related Discussions

• Additional Photos - HDforums.com
• Harley Davidson Owner Experiences - HDforums.com