• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

Painted my wheels and NEW RUBBER!

hoplite666

Member
153
1
18
Location
Fairfax VA
Spent nearly the entire day stripping down the paint on my wheels and re spraying them. Mounted up some fresh BFGoodrich all terrains (33x10.50r15) to go along with the paint 8).
It took 4 applications of aircraft remover with a scrub and power washing session between each coat to eat through the years of spray paint jobs on the wheels. There were still some small areas with the bottom coat of original paint that refused to come off. Other than that I got them pretty much down to bare metal. I followed up with 2 coats of an adhesion promoter/primer then 3 coats of dupli-color semi gloss engine enamel. My plan is to eventually match the bumpers, grill and various trim to the wheels and go with the late WWII lusterless olive drab on the body.
wheel stripping.jpgwheels stripped.jpgwheels painted.jpgtires.jpgposing.jpg
 

M813rc

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
4,218
3,262
113
Location
Near Austin, Texas
Looks nice, and good choice on tires. Those are what I have switched one of my 1009's to, from 33x12.5's, and I like them better on there. The second 1009 will also get them when it's 12.5's wear out. Not being a sand runner, I don't need the extra width, and the 33x10.5's look more like the originals.

On the 12.5's, both of my 1009's rubbed just a hair, though only at certain combination steer/flex angles (and in different places on each truck!), but I think that was just because of the very large side blocks on the TA tread. You had to hit that magic spot to get them to strum on the wheel well edge.

Cheers
 

hoplite666

Member
153
1
18
Location
Fairfax VA
Do you have any lift on the truck?

Nope. Suspension is bone stock. Plan on keeping it that way for awhile.
The 10.5 inch wide tires are all you really need for basic 4x4 use. Better in the mud and snow than a 12.5. I dont plan on getting in the sand much. Anything wider and it just starts becoming a dick measuring contest imo. My days of huge mud tires are over. Im taking a practical approach to this build.
 

hoplite666

Member
153
1
18
Location
Fairfax VA
Also it doesnt hurt that the 10.5's were 25 bucks less each than the same tire in a 12.5.
$166.99 a tire and Bfgoodrich was running a $50 instant rebate on the total. Good deal.
 
Top