Tire Paint??

[swampthing]

So after damaging a sidewall @ Harlan - finally got around to swapping it out at 4WP (don't really like that place, but can't complain about a $200+ brand new tire for $40).
Only issue is that the replacement didn't have white lettering (according to them BFG obsoleted white walls on my size AT) I found this a bit hard to believe, but didn't really argue, cause I needed the tire and didn't want to deal with it.

Here's the dilemma...I don't really want to go flip all my current tires inside out ($15ish per tire on some quick phone calls) And would prefer road force balancing (even more expensive) which I already have on the other tires.

I'm leaning toward painting the tire to match the others .

I haven't read good reviews about the Tire Paint pens - the run or turn brown etc.

This guy in Iceland seems to have some good stuff (resto guys use him...but kinda pricy with shipping)
http://www.mbzponton.org/valueadded/other/tirepaint.htm

There is also this stuff...but don't know much about it Ranger Tire Paint - Welcome

Lastly, the white tires lettering has a slightly different shape (no raised border) as the black ones do. So, not sure it would look right even if I did paint it.
Any advice out there? Is it even worth bothering?


Pics:
Mismatch

Driver's Side

Black Detail

White Detail

 

[swampthing]

Greater detail of black tire...white one is completely smooth (no ribbing)

 

[GarnerFJ40]

Why not just take a dremel to the white, and make them all black?

 

[southerncruiser62]

I am not a fan of four wheel parts at all, never once a positive experience and they are just plain rude every time I have been in there. KNOW ALL ATTITUDE, not to mention when I tried to get sponsorship they wanted nothing to do with it. I will not buy anything from them again, nor have them provide service.

That being said I am sure they probably didn't want to deal with having to satisfy the customer and told you they were only available that way cause thats what they had in house once it came in. I no you like things looking clean so I would probably try the paint thing and if it doesn't look good then maybe sand off the existing paint on the others.

 

[swampthing]

I'm with you Greg...if you must shop there - you can always negotiate them down (10% or so off their price).

Anyway, I think they just ordered in the same PN that they had listed when they installed so either they listed it wrong to begin with or BFG changed the PN...I tend to believe wrong to begin with...but I might be wrong.
Bottom line - they didn't try to fix it. They suggested keeping it a spare, but that would have left me with 3 older tires plus 1 new one (my spare was new) on the ground and still wouldn't be right...might as well put the new ones down to get some even wear.


Anyone have any experience with any of the various paint? Don't really like the idea of sanding down the sides even if it is cosmetic.

 

[shinton]

What does your Spare look like? If it matches, put the blackwall as spare instead?

I think the white part is "deep" so dremel might not work, painting makes more sense. Honestly I would just do the one tire, other than the fact that WE all know now, the chances of someone else coming up and noticing one side of the truck has blackwalls and the other RWL is pretty small?

 

[GarnerFJ40]

Is the white lettering really that deep? I thought it was just a superficial coating over the rubber...

 

[lt1fire]

Is the white lettering really that deep? I thought it was just a superficial coating over the rubber...

It is, most of the time. I've seen some come off with sand paper. Also tire paint tends to crack and flake quite often.

 

[77cruiser]

I cant provide any help with tire paint but I am with you Jared. That would annoy the $hit outta me as well.

 

[little_joe]

I would consider some black coating for the other 3 tires. OWL is for grrls. Or perhaps even try a Sharpie?

I am not a fan of 4WP Whoresellers, but I did get 4 shocks from them today. Of course, while I was in there, one of the employees was looking up Toyota parts and cracked "SR5? Super ridiculous 5!".

 

[romaniacruiser]

when I had the white lettering on the oustide, I remember pressure washing the car and it was fading pretty fast..