My painted spares as skinnies

[Derek98z]

I picked up an extra spare from Perdieu and decided to sand off the words and paint them. I will plan to pick up some front runners this spring. So far, I have about $75 total in spare and materials. Also, I did not take pics of every step but here are some.

You know what a stock spare looks like. So here is the grinder I used to sand off the words. I used just a simple craftsman single speed (2200 rpm) grinder that I had. I used 6" sticky sanding pads. Started with 40 grit and then finished with 160 grit.
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/Derek98z/ DSC00966.jpg

Here is the rough sanding shot
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/Derek98z/ DSC00965.jpg

Here are some shots after I used painters tape under the edge of the wheel and threw some business cards around the wheel.
I also tore up a cardboard box to put behind the cards to keep any overspray off the outside edge of the tires.
This also shows the wheels after the final sanding
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/Derek98z/ DSC00963.jpg
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/Derek98z/ DSC00968.jpg
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/Derek98z/ DSC00967.jpg

I took some 200 or so grit snadpaper to hit the remaining paint on the wheel just to scuff it up.
I did not have any paint prep so I cleaned the wheels with some urethane reducer. Expensive, but works. I used some Rustoleum "professional" primer. Did two or three coats (I forgot). This is an excellant primer
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/Derek98z/ DSC00969.jpg

I painted the wheels with Rustoleum "bright coat" chrome paint. Here is where I first ran in to problems. My garage is only 44* and the paint asks for 50-70*. So my drying times were longer. I apparently did not shake the can long enough and the first time I tried to paint the paint came out like raindrops. So after repairing that and shaking the can for like a minute, it sprayed fine. I did three coats.

*NOTICE*
I purchased Rustoleum "stops rust" clear to finsh the wheels with. After hitting one wheel with one coat, it turned gray. I had to repaint that wheel and it came out just okay. On the can in the middle of a paragraph barely readable it states not to use this clear on the paint that I used. Nice.

So one wheel looks great, probably a 9 out of 10. The second is maybe a 6 out of 10. Good enough for the track. I have a 1/2" spacer on for the pics.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/Derek98z/ DSC00970.jpg
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/Derek98z/ DSC00973.jpg
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/Derek98z/ DSC00971.jpg
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/Derek98z/ DSC00972.jpg
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/Derek98z/ DSC00974.jpg

[Derekv]

It looks like they turned out pretty good! I think you are the first one to do this.

[jaqattack02]

If you're actually gonna run them at the track, you should probably change out the spare tire on it for a real tire. They're only rated for like 50 mph.

[PokeyGTO]

Nice write up! Looks good

[05ls7gto]

Wow, they look REALLY good in chrome, nice work!

If you're actually gonna run them at the track, you should probably change out the spare tire on it for a real tire. They're only rated for like 50 mph.

+1... losing a tire at 100+ mph = :bomb:

[mygto]

some vettes are running them with drag racing front runners.

[04blackgmc]

Yep very popular for vette's

Why the spacer? i ran some without spacer no issues with M&H race masters

[ImpulseBlue06]

same setup i have cept 17's on the back

[Derek98z]

ran spacers for the look.

Guess most of you skipped the editorial. Very first sentence says I am getting some front runners. BTW anyways, a spare that is speed rated to 50 is rated to 50 for one hour at that speed. Just some education for the uneducated.

[04blackgmc]

ran spacers for the look.

Guess most of you skipped the editorial. Very first sentence says I am getting some front runners. BTW anyways, a spare that is speed rated to 50 is rated to 50 for one hour at that speed. Just some education for the uneducated.

correct, like tires that are rated for 160mph are rated at that for a certain amounts of time...

But the front runners will be much lighter.

[RacerXLS2]

Nice job..And good write up!!!

[hivoltagedriver]

The tire manufacturer actually says that these tires are good to 124mph for short straight-line bursts. The 50mph is a constant rating for street use. I have ran the stock spares on the track SEVERAL times without any issues. The M&H tires are about $270 / pair. At least the stockers are a radial tire (I believe) and not bias ply.

BTW, OP, nice results on the wheels. I wonder if magnesium wheels can be chrome plated...?? Might have to look into that.

[05ibmGoat]

im going to do this on all 4 corners. j/j. but a good idea for some cheap runners up front

[Perdieu]

Derek they turned out great.. can't wait to see how much they help the et.. I'm thinking .15-.2 and a 1-2 mph

[Octomonkey]

So, let's say you were to swap the tires. Does anyone know what the tire specs should be?


EDIT: Nevermind, I just found out. All I had to do was look at one. ;)

[ls2alex]

they look very good

[gtpwned]

Lookin good. I'm planning on doing the same thing.

[jimmysgoat]

I had the same idea but decided to go a different route {edited: You must have 100 posts to offer items for sale}.

[strasser_3]

looks good. now i kinda wish i didn't sell my spares.

[630_GTO]

agreed change your tires unless eating a wall at the track is fun to you, but keep the rims (look ba btw)

[Bumpin' Yota]

Come on, let's use some common sense people. Would you run a 150 wet shot without a wideband or tune on stock fuel pump? Yeah your fuel pump SHOULD handle it...but really is it worth skimping that 130 bucks to put your 6000 dollar engine at risk?

Is saving that 270 bux worth wrecking your 17,000+ dollar car?

I like the fact that the MH front runners I have were designed for aircraft and have a speed rating of well over 200mph. Everyone knows there are manufacturer variances. One batch of tires is going to be superior/worse than another, etc.

So what happens when you run on the track with your spare tire and you have one of those defiecient tires that might not be able to withstnad that 100+ mph jaunt? Yeah you just kissed the wall at 100+ mph. At least with way overbuilt / overrated tires, even if you got a craptastic batch, they still will be a ton more safe than the OEM spares.

And for those running at the track with your OEM spares, the track officials are being remiss. Everytime I run my front runners at the track, every single time, they check to see the the tires are spares or not. They would not be doing this if they allowed OEM spares to run....

[Derek98z]

sucks to see that this thread darn near turned in to a debate about tires.

Anyways for anyone interested, Summit Racing sells the M&H front runners for under $140 each. Pretty darn good price if you ask me. I would buy them TODAY but since the track doesn't open for a couple more months, I personally am waiting to see if anyone can find or any manufacturer will come out with a street tire to fit. I've seen some that are very close.

[THE OWL]

Looks great.

[thatperson]

Great idea!!
and they look great
i saw a c6 corvette with the same set up

[snakeatinZ]

Well done Sir!
Steve

[Jeffs06GTO]

they look great in chrome!

[tke_413]

Come on, let's use some common sense people. Would you run a 150 wet shot without a wideband or tune on stock fuel pump? Yeah your fuel pump SHOULD handle it...but really is it worth skimping that 130 bucks to put your 6000 dollar engine at risk?

Is saving that 270 bux worth wrecking your 17,000 dollar car?

Leave him alone, they turned out great. And he's got an '06 not an '04 so it's worth a little more than 17K. :ohsnap1:

[Bumpin' Yota]

Leave him alone, they turned out great. And he's got an '06 not an '04 so it's worth a little more than 17K. :ohsnap1:
Actually I was rebutting hivoltage driver's comments, not the OP.

And I suppose 05s are going for just rediculous amounts of cash too. lmao! :bootyshak

Im glad the OP is swapping out those tires for front runners anyhoo - if nothing else it's good insurance and down right common sense.

[Bumpin' Yota]

I picked up an extra spare from Perdieu and decided to sand off the words and paint them. I will plan to pick up some front runners this spring. So far, I have about $75 total in spare and materials. Also, I did not take pics of every step but here are some.

You know what a stock spare looks like. So here is the grinder I used to sand off the words. I used just a simple craftsman single speed (2200 rpm) grinder that I had. I used 6" sticky sanding pads. Started with 40 grit and then finished with 160 grit.
...

They look good! Do you have any closeup pictures?

[BAAD LS2]

Damn, those turned out looking good in chrome. I was gonna grind mine and paint them black but I may have to reconsider.

[sprocketeer]

This is so dangerous.

[Derek98z]

They look good! Do you have any closeup pictures?

sorry, I only took ten foot pics since they aren't perfect :nonono: