Looking real
Scott!
Care to elaborate just a bit more on that process please
I like your choice and size on the Nitto's ...I'm ready for my third set
*Take a set of clear coated wheels & wash 'em down pretty good on the face of the wheel. Dry them completely on the face.
*Use either brush-on or spray-on (rattle can) aircraft stripper & thickly cover the entire face of the wheel & as much of the outer lip than will show against the tire. DO NOT get that stuff on your skin. Starts to burn on contact. I found that the rattle cans seem to work better & quicker.
*Let it sit for 15-45 minutes or until you can see the clear coat blistered under the stripper & pressure wash them off. You may have to re-apply the stripper a few times to get it all off. (just use the stripper, don't try to sand the clear off, I made that mistake last time)
* If you have deep scatches in the wheel, now would be the time to sand 'em out. If you have to do that, sand down the scratch as best you can. Then you will need to wet sand the entire face of the wheel, starting at 200 grit & go up to 1000 grit. Always sand with the grain, never against it.
*Get a machine polisher (like a Dewalt or Miluakee) with adjustable speed. Should run no lower than 1850RPM & no higher than 3000RPM & a grey, brown, green, & white tripoli bar. Also need some polishing wheels. Everything except the polisher can be found at a truckstop. Flying J always has this stuff in the shelf.
* if your wheels have been sanded, start with the grey bar & polish the entire way around the wheel from outside to inside. You want to move the polisher side to side & work your way around the wheel using the edge of the polishing wheel to cut in the new shine. Don't use the flat face of the polisher wheel as you could scratch the alum. Change polisher wheel & go to the brown bar, same procedure, then grey & then white. The better shape the wheel is in after stripping, the higher up in color you can start. (I needed no sanding so I started at white)
* They should be pretty shiny right now after the white bar & don't worry about the black streaks being left by the polisher, just used rouge coming off the polisher wheel.
* grab some high quality aluminum polish & polish them by hand 2-3 times or until your happy with em' I like White Diamond Polish or Deep Purple. Both are widely available but they are also @ the Flying J for certain. Thats it. Should take about 2-3 hours a wheel if you don't have to do any heavy sanding
Easier to do just the rim. I've never done this process with a tire mounted. Not sure if the aircraft stripper would harm the sidewall.
Or just send 'em to me & I'll do 'em for ya. I love those tires. Had 305's on my 2003 SD & they were awesome. I've talked 3 of my buddies into running them & they are just as happy as I am. You got any pics of your truck with em mounted? Haven't ever seen them on an OBS.