Going to repaint my gray wheels. Anyone know what color of spray paint is closest to the original gray? Thanks.

hi, I've been trying to find the same paint. So far, the closest I've been able to find is Argent Silver, which is for sale here: https://www.frost.co.uk/eastwood-argent-silver-wheel-paint-aerosol/

The colour looks very similar the that used by Piaggio too; on the Vespa forums silver hammerite was suggested, as it has a satin finish. However the best match O found was Por15 silver (also available at Frost), it is very durable, providing you use the UV stabilised top coat.

I went nuts over this too, but then I decided to do all the wheels at once, so I just chose a close silver grey color. I don’t have to match anything; they will all be the same. I haven’t painted yet, but was on the fence about whether to use a gloss clear coat or something semi gloss or even matte. Anyone know the level of gloss on the original wheels? (We are definitely over thinking this since the hubcaps hide most of the wheels anyway!)

That sounds like excellent advice!

On recommendation of a local auto body paint supply shop, I ended up doing an aluminum base color - base intended to simulate raw aluminum finish. But then I applied a matte clear coat and it knocked down the high metallic look. Looks pretty close to original. I am sure with this look you don’t want high gloss on the wheels because the shine comes from the hubcaps. Plus, the original steel wheels are crude - high gloss shows their imperfections, like the welding seam.

Dont bother painting them.

just buy new ones.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classic-car-tyres/fiat/500/fiat-500-wheels-&-tyres.html

This is a deal on a set of 4 wheels and tyres.

that is new wheels with fresh paint. fitted with the original 125sr12 that is now actually manufactured by Pirelli. fitted by us at Longstone Tyres with new Michelin inner tubes.

So all top quality stuff.

If you think about the new wheels they are cheap as chips. it would probably cost you £ 10 per wheel to have the tyres stripped off. The what ever it costs to get them painted, even if you do it your self it will still cost. Then you would probably pay another Tenner per corner to get them fitted again.

Granted the Fiat 500 tyre fitting is nothing particularly difficult, but balancing them is better done by us where we understand old cars.

Its a no brainer and we post them for nowt to most places.

Are these already balanced? What's the expected shipping cost to the US?

This is the distributer in the US, but he is not currently doing them wioth new wheels.

Dougal Cawley said:

Dont bother painting them.

just buy new ones.


Its a no brainer and we post them for nowt to most places.

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Thanks. It would be over $800 US for 4 of these sent to me. I redid my own for the cost of 2 cans of spray paint and masking tape. I let the air out of the tires and was able to mask under the rim. Lots of labor for sure though.

Uaglio said:

Thanks. It would be over $800 US for 4 of these sent to me. I redid my own for the cost of 2 cans of spray paint and masking tape. I let the air out of the tires and was able to mask under the rim. Lots of labor for sure though.

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You'll have better wheels that way too. I had to buy a couple of new ones as the originals had rusted out. The new ones aren't perfect copies with respect to welding technique and hole dimensions; the paint, as with most new, factory components, is unprimed and really thin. I had to paint the new ones within twelve months in any case :bang:

I'm sure that the ones on offer above are much better.

Woops!

https://www.lucasclassictires.com/125SR12-PIRELLI-CINTURATO-CN54-125sr12L.htm

There is the link to the distributor in the US.

I may go for new wheels. Here in the US they cost approximately $100US per wheel.