If you’re driving an older vehicle, you may have more on your mind than merely jazzing up your wheels with a fresh coat of paint, as the buildup of rust can be a legitimate problem for steel, chrome, and alloy rims. If you are dealing with rust on your wheels, you will need to scrub away as much of it as possible before you start the process of priming and painting.
The purpose of scrubbing the rust on your wheel is not to remove it entirely but to smooth the surface out as much as possible before applying primer, paint, and a clear coat so the rough spots aren’t visible. Specialized tools like a Dremel or angle grinder can help smooth out rust and scratches in metal wheels, but that may be more of an investment than some DIYers are comfortable with.
Thankfully, with a little extra time and effort, you should still be able to smooth those surfaces out using sandpaper, beginning with 400 grit and working up to 1,000 grit paper if needed. Once you’ve smoothed out the wheel, wipe it down with rubbing alcohol and a lint-free towel to remove any dust.
