teabox

Since I'm not getting wheels anytime soon, I want to get back the black shine of my stock steelies. I'm wondering how do I restore its regular shine.......right now, the black color of the steelies are dull....really dull, almost grayish........I've tried wax, but it only protects.......I want some shine in and the color back.

OldYeller

Read this thread on steelies. On the last page a guy says he used rubbing compound and then waxed:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...steelies+bling

ElChupacabra

I just hit mine with tire shine and then some quick wax. Keeps them black for a few weeks and then I do it again. I actually took second at a show last weekend with my steelies on. I beat an xB with 19" Konig Holes. The judge asked me if I painted my steelies and also thought they were aftermarket cause they were so shiny. Steelies can rock the house too!

bB2NER

I hit mine with some rubbing compound then Nano wax. Shiney stuff now. The center caps, chrome lugs and trim rings look sooo nice.

teabox

I restored my rims yesturday............big difference.........I used some tire shine and then used some Rain-x fast wax to seal...........but makes the finish more natural black and not glossy black.......still ok..

OldYeller

Let us know how long it lasts.............

teabox

alright...............I left just one wheel uncoated with wax to see if it makes a difference.......

teabox

Well guys, after a full week of coating my steelies with some cheap brand tire shine....the results are in...............if u want a black....black finish on the steelies, don't coat them with wax.........it dulls it.........so this "way" is better off for a one day show............

Coating the steelies with wax gives it a more natural black finish and repels brake dust and what not........so its better off for daily driving............I did the results without dusting them after day one...............so i'm going to try it again, this time, using the extreme shine of Armorall on the left side and Black Magic on the right side........both coated with Rain-x fast wax........

teabox

Okay. Bringing this back alive. I'm going to try 4 different methods on each steelie (since I still have steelies for some odd reason when I have the $$$ to buy wheels, lol)

1. Tire shine only
2. Shine and wax
3. Polish and wax
4. Rubbing compound and wax.

Doing this 2morrow or Friday. I'm going to take pics the day of and the ending. I'll keep a writing log of each day and log in the results.

bB2NER

Why not just clear coat them and be done with them.???

OldYeller

We await your full report...........

TLRlive

Are you talking about the tire shine that goes on the actual tire (rubber)? Read the bottle. You are not supposed to get that on paint. If you are spraying that on your steelies that's probably why they look like crap.

I'm sure the steelies are just painted (no clear coat) because they are hidded behind a hubcap. Nature (and tire shine) eat at the paint, making it look gray. You could have them painted and clear coated at a local body shop. Check with a couple, the price may surprise you. Then just wax them as you would with your car.

bB2NER

I said the same thing but the wheels could be sprayed with Duplicolor wheel paint at home and clearcoated for maybe 15 bucks worth of paint.

teabox

I know. Well, my steelies turned gray cuz I directly put on strong degreaser on them. BAD mistake. I know, painting them and clear coating is the best way and worth it, but for those who don't want to paint them for whatever reason, tire shine gives that gloss into the steelies. I'm not worrying about the steelies cuz I got wheels coming...finally, lol.

..but yea, paint + clearcoat = best option.