DIY Vinyl Wheel Graphics

In today’s new vehicle market, a large number of cars and trucks are equipped with black or dark gray wheels.  This was pretty cool when first offered ten years ago, but dark wheels are so commonplace that it’s hard to get excited about them.  Mainly, dark colors tend to hide the details on the wheels.  How can you change that, short of painting or replacing your wheels?

I explored this topic in depth in the related article below, and even suggested some ways to customize your wheels.

Related article:  Are Black Wheels Still Popular?

Not everyone has the skill, equipment or facility to paint four wheels at a time. I am getting tired of repainting everything, so I have turned to vinyl graphics to dress up wheels.  It is a relatively easy and inexpensive way to add new style to an old look.

Rim Stripes

If you want something simple yet elegant, check out the rim stripes available from TapeWorks Graphics.  I used their kit on my MINI Clubman about seven years ago, and was really happy with the result.  

It was easy to apply the RimStripes with their included tool, and they held up to two tough Michigan winters and one nasty pothole. When I wanted to try another look, I merely used a hair dryer to warm the stripes for easy removal.

Vinyl Stripes

I love using vinyl wrap to create graphics for cars, and started using it to stripe my wheels a couple of years ago.  One of my friends is a repeat customer, so I must be on to something!

One of my favorite sources for vinyl wrap is VVIVID Vinyl.  They offer a nice variety of colors and roll sizes.  I typically buy the 12” x 60” rolls for around $13 each.  This vinyl is easy to cut and apply.  Just clean the area of the wheel with rubbing alcohol (to remove any grease, wax or tire shine) and apply the vinyl.

Related article:  Camaro Graphics and Trim Ideas

Custom Graphics With Cricut

Within the last year, I bought a Cricut vinyl cutting machine.  This really opened my world to new possibilities!  I use the software that comes with the machine to create new graphics, then click “Make It” to cut the vinyl into the desired size and shape.  The only thing limiting me is my own imagination.

If your imagination is limited and you don’t see any stock graphics in the Cricut catalog, try buying digital images on Etsy.  For under $4, you can get a big file of images to transfer to your Cricut software.  I bought a collection of Ford Ranger graphics for $3.30 that worked out great.

I tried two different designs on my vehicles in the last week.  Both were made to be placed near the valve stem of the wheel.  Not only do they add a new look to the wheel, but they also help me quickly find the valve stem when checking tire pressures.

Final Thoughts

I am a big fan of adding a custom look to a car, and think a simple wheel graphic is a great start.  It is a low cost upgrade that is also reversible.  I hope you find inspiration in the samples I showed above and you try something similar on your car.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need help with your wheel project.  This is definitely a do-it-yourself project, so get to work!