Can You Change the Colour of Alloy Wheels During Refurbishment?

Why It Makes Sense to Do It Now

Most of the work in a colour change is the preparation, and that is happening anyway as part of a refurbishment. Doing it at the same time is far more sensible than having the wheels done in the original colour and deciding six months later that you want them different.

So if you have been thinking about it, mention it when you get the quote rather than after the work has started.

It Usually Means All Four

Worth being clear about. Refurbishing one damaged wheel and blending it in is normal. Changing colour on one wheel is not, unless you want a car with three of one colour and one of another.

So a colour change is generally a set job, and it should be priced as one from the start.

Choosing a Colour That Works on a Car

A colour swatch and a wheel are different things. Wheels are seen in motion, at a distance, usually dirty, and against the bodywork rather than on their own - so a colour that looks striking on a chart can look wrong on the car.

The finish changes it as much as the colour does. The same shade in gloss, satin and matt reads as three different colours on a wheel. Say what look you are after - factory-standard, blacked out, bright, subtle - and we will talk through what actually achieves it.

The Practical Points People Forget

Matt and satin finishes show brake dust and marks more readily than gloss and are less forgiving to clean. Very dark wheels hide brake dust well but show kerb damage badly, because a bright scrape on black is the most visible thing on the car.

Light and bright colours are the opposite - they show dirt but hide a light scuff. If you kerb wheels regularly and know it, that is worth factoring in.

Resale, If You Care About It

A tasteful factory-style colour is the safe choice on a car you plan to sell. Something bolder is a personal decision, and it is entirely yours to make - it is your car.

The only thing worth remembering is that a colour change is not a one-minute reversal. Going back means doing the whole job again.

What We Need From You

The vehicle, the wheel size, whether the wheels are diamond cut, and either a colour code or a description of the look you want. Photographs of the wheels as they are now.

The consultation is free, there is no VAT to add, and the work carries a one-year guarantee whatever colour you choose.