How do you prep tire sidewalls?

[Speedfreak]

Hi everyone, I've got a set of whitewall slicks I'm prepping so I can't use my usual (thinned) artist's acrylic water-based flat-black on the side walls. I've read in several posts that people spray a light coat of Dull coat clear followed by a light coat of gloss clear? Have I got that right? Just want to make sure. I'd also be interested in any other methods people use for side walls. I couldn't find any threads on prepping tires, so maybe other people can benefit as well. Thanks!

[Ace-Garageguy]

Couple years back (?) I saw a big-truck build that was absolutely stunning in its realism. A large part of it was the tires, and the builder was quoted as saying he'd glass-bead blasted them in the blasting cabinet where he worked. I've been meaning to give this a try, but haven't remembered to.

[chris02719]

I've had good luck using a small sandblaster that I believe badger made. Someone suggested it to me a while ago, and I must say it works really well. It gets into places that sandpaper just doesnt, I had a set of tires that had parts of the mold seam running between the treads and looked like garbage, but the mini blaster got right in there and cleaned everything right up. Hope this helps.

[Speedfreak]

Well a sandblaster is probably out of the question for me, lol. Does anyone use the above mentioned Dull/gloss method? I guess I'll just try it.

[Jantrix]

How about an abrasive kitchen scrub pad?

[Speedfreak]

Rob, I think the tires are gonna work as they are. I don't want to change the texture of the sidewalls, I just was looking for a way to knock the shine off that some kit tires have when new. In the past I have wet sanded sidewalls with a real super 'fine' sandpaper, that worked okay. I've seen, (but can't find) some threads where people have mentioned the dull/gloss clearcoat method, I was just wondering what anyone had to say about that, but , thanks for your comment, I can see how what you mention could work.

Edited August 5, 2014 by Speedfreak

[LouO]

I like to use a small well worn piece of the dark maroon scotch-brite pad to knock off the shine some.

[1930fordpickup]

What if you got some sand and placed it in a bowl ( or just do it outside) and placed the wheel on top of the sand push down and turn the wheel back and forth. that way the sand will scuff the tire shine away, just as in real life. This is how I clean the soot off the bottom of pans while camping. Works like a charm on the pans. Not so sure about the tires. If you have an extra tire give it a try.

[Modelbuilder Mark]

I know folks that use a toothbrush, and baking soda.

After I sand the tread, I usually either use dull coat if it is a street care/work truck etc.

If it is supposed to be a show rod or custom, I may even leave the sidewalls somewhate shiney to replicate tires that have had tire shine applied.

[jbwelda]

you can scuff them up but the Dullcote is the secret. watch out though: I have noticed that the tire with dullcote will stick to whatever it touches, usually the ground. will almost cement itself to it. that's after weeks or months of it drying. don't know if its the rubber, or the dullcote, or the combination but its been happening to me. also I have had the tire sidewall completely crack up after getting sprayed with Dullcote but that only happened once so it was probably the tires

jb

[Mike Kucaba]

I think I would use a flat acrylic clear, that would have a better chance of curing. how is the whitewall done? with paint or decal or.... I have use the scouring powder and a coarse brush to dull tires in the past.

[935k3]

Try scrubbing the tire with this and an old toothbrush

[Speedfreak]

At this point it looks like I can live with the slicks the way they are, but , the tires I'm using on the front need some dulling, so I think I'll try the baking soda/softscrub method and see what happens. I've got some baking soda and some Comet!

Has anyone ever tried brushing on thinned acrylic flat black? I normally use artists acrylic paint but I think I used Tamiya acrylic flat black once and it worked too. I just don't want to mess with it right now.

Lots of good ideas, thanks eveyone, the Softscrub idea is brilliant.

[jbwelda]

I will tell you, the beauty of Dullcote is that it tends to blend together whatever it is over. it seems to almost totally hide brush strokes and uneven paint areas or superglue lightly slopped over or any multitude of sins. if you brush paint the tire, then spray some DC over it and it will look as even as if you sprayed it.

jb

[Guest]

Has anyone ever tried brushing on thinned acrylic flat black? I normally use artists acrylic paint but I think I used Tamiya acrylic flat black once and it worked too. I just don't want to mess with it right now.

Lots of good ideas, thanks eveyone, the Softscrub idea is brilliant.

Yep! That's how I do mine. I just dip my brush in water before I dip it into the paint and brush them. It keeps the brush strokes from showing. These tires are all paint. The white walls are spray painted with white primer. The remaining black walls are brush painted with Model Masters acrylic flat black. The tires are Revell blank walls formerly known as the Good Year Sports Car Specials.

[Speedfreak]

Roger, I knew I couldn't be the only one who did it that way. Not sure where I got that from. Those tires in your pics look good, I like the bottom one as it appears to be attached to some kind of Ford pick-up, 64? Not sure. Thanks for the comment.

[VW93]

I glass beaded some black wall tires today for my '34 Ford PU project. I was real pleased with the results. I did the tread area also, sure beats sanding.

[Art Anderson]

How about an abrasive kitchen scrub pad?

Good call! I just got done prepping the tires in an ICM '38 Opel Admiral kit (1/24 scale) that had some thin but nagging flash around the middle of the sidewalls on one side of each tire. I could trim that with a scalpel blade, but there was still a bit of a line there, so I took your suggestion Jantrix!

A Scotchbrite green scouring pad did the job, got rid of that unsightly parting line, and used all over ever surface, gave those soft PVC tires a perfect (to my eyes at least!) dull finish all over.

Thanks for the hint!

Art