Plasti Dip Rim Removal – Top 5 Actional Methods That Work

Many car enthusiasts often revamp their vehicles to stand out from the crowd using creative techniques and designs.

Among these creative ideas is the use of Plasti Dip for coloring the rubber coating of the rims of their tires.

But what happens when you start to miss the natural look of your tires?

Or want to change the color of your rims again?

Today we’re going to give you a complete and easy-to-do guide on removing Plasti Dip from your rims and give you our recommendation on the best way to do it.

But first, let’s find out exactly what Plasti Dip is.

What is Plasti Dip?

Plasti Dip is a unique and innovative rubber coating mainly used to insulate the handles of tools for a firm grip, avoiding slippage.

Plasti Dip can be applied in many ways, such as dipping the object in it, brushing it onto the object, or directly spraying it on the object’s surface.

And now, car lovers are using this material to give the tires of their vehicles a new and engaging look.

Can You Remove Plasti Dip from Rims?

No doubt, Plasti Dip does help make an amazing impression and gives tires a unique and aggressive look.

But the question is: what if you want to remove it?

Fortunately, the answer is yes. With a little effort and the right technique and tools, Plasti Dip can be removed, and you can restore your tires to their original glow and glory.

How hard is it to Remove Plasti Dip from Rims?

That being said, this rubber coating has quite the strength and can generally last for as long as 3 years!

That’s because, for the best results, 4 to 5 coatings are required with a curing time of at least 15 to 20 minutes for each coat.

And after the last coat, a settling time of about 6 hours will give the strongest bond and best quality.

So as you can see, it isn’t all that easy to remove Plasti Dip after all that hard work.

But, it isn’t impossible! Let us show you how.

How to Remove Plasti Dip off Rims

Generally, the following items are used to remove Plasti Dip, each with its effectiveness and results:

No matter what item you chose to remove Plasti Dip from your tires, here are some essential materials you’ll be needing to assist you:

  • Soap water solution
  • Bucket
  • Sponge
  • Utensil for stirring
  • Wooden stick
  • Rubber gloves
  • Kerosene
  • Toothbrush
  • Garden hose
  • Pressure washer
  • Cardboards
  • Washcloth/Rags
  • Glass jar
  • Face mask

Removing Plasti Dip from Rims: Step by Step Guide

Now that you’ve got your arsenal ready, let us take you through the different methods you can use the items mentioned above to remove Plasti Dip.

Method 1 – Commercial Adhesive Removers: Dip Your Car Dip Dissolver and Goo Gone

Goo Gone Remover
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DipYourCar Dip Dissolver
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Lasso Brag

The first thing you can do is buy commercial adhesive removers online. These are generally organic solvents with additional components.

Here’s how you can use these solvents to remove Plasti Dip from your tires.

  1. Remove the tires from the car so that the adhesive does not contact the braking system.
  2. Wear a face mask to avoid inhaling any chemicals, and rubber gloves to protect your hands.
  3. Spray a significant amount of the Goo Gone Adhesive Remover or Dip Your Car Dip Dissolver onto a clean rag or paper towel. After which, wipe the rag or towel onto the rims of your tires.
  4. Allow the adhesives to sit for about 5 to 7 minutes.
  5. After this, peel off the rubber coating using a wooden stick or rag. Again, avoid using sharp metallic objects since they might scratch the rim.
  6. Rinse the surface with soap water solution or plain water to remove any excess chemicals and coatings.
  7. Wipe clean with a rag and leave to air dry.

Method 2 – WD40

WD-40 490043 Multi-Use Lubricant Spray


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Anyone who’s into DIYs must be familiar with the name WD40.

This material has many uses, such as removing rust from squeaky joints, cleaning tiles, smoothing out leather, and general lubrication.

And now, the online community is hailing WD40 has Plasti Dip remover as well.

Here’s what you need to do:

  1. But, first, grab a can of WD40.
  2. Remove the wheels from the car so that the spray does not affect the brake pad.
  3. Spray a significant amount of WD40 on the surface with Plasti Dip and let it rest for about 5 to 7 minutes.
  4. Use a pressure washer to remove the thick rubber coating initially.
  5. Then, to wipe off the tiny coats, you may use a clean rag.

Method 3 – Kerosene

SUNNYSIDE K1 GRADE 700G1 Kerosene
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This option is the most cost-efficient and practical. In addition, since the chemical components of Plasti Dip are organic compounds, using an organic solvent such as kerosene to dissolve this rubber coating makes the most sense.

After all, Chemistry 101: ‘like dissolves like.

Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Remove the tires from the car and place them on used cardboard to avoid creating a mess on the floor.
  2. Pour a significant amount of kerosene into a glass jar.
  3. Wearing rubber gloves, dip a toothbrush into kerosene.
  4. Brush the kerosene onto the surface of the rims only. Be careful to protect the rubber of the tires since the kerosene might dissolve or deform it.
  5. After letting the kerosene rest for at least 6 to 8 minutes, use a wooden stick and peel off the rubber coating with the required force. A rag can be used to remove any tiny coats left on the rims.
  6. Once the bulk of the rubber coating has been removed, use soap water solution to rinse off the rims. You can also rinse with plain water using a garden hose or a pressure washer.

Method 4 – Paint Thinner

Sunnyside 70532 Pure Odorless Paint Thinner, Quart
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A paint thinner also has potentially good solvent dissolving properties for organic chemicals. And it is well-known for removing coatings, adhesives, and paints.

Hence, why not use it to remove rubber coatings for rims!

Just remember: the volume of paint thinner required depends on the thickness of the rubber coatings and the number of tires you are planning to work with.

Here’s how:

  1. Pour paint thinner into a glass jar and secure it with a cover since it is volatile and will evaporate if left uncovered.
  2. Submerge a paper towel or clean rag into the paint thinner.
  3. Wipe the rims with the soaked rag or towel and let it rest for at least 6 to 8 minutes.
  4. Peel off the rubber coating with a wooden stick or another clean rag or towel.
  5. Repeat the process until all the rubber coating has been removed from the rims.
  6. Rinse using plain water and dry with a clean rag.

Method 5 – Isopropyl Alcohol

Isopropyl Alcohol 99% (IPA) Made in USA
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And last but not least is isopropyl alcohol. Any alcohol has good solvent properties for dissolving organic chemicals.

Here’s how you can use it on your rubber-coated rims:

  1. First, pour a significant amount of alcohol onto a paper towel or clean rag.
  2. Wipe the surface of the rims with this soaked rag or towel and let it rest for at least 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Peel the rubber coating off with a wooden stick or rag. Repeat step 2.
  4. After all the rubber coating has been removed, rinse the rims with plain water or soap water.
  5. Wipe dry with a clean rag or cloth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

So today, we’ve shared 5 of the best methods to remove Plasti Dip from your tire rims.

However, there are many factors you need to consider before choosing which method is most suitable for you. These include the availability of the materials, affordability, and the convenience of your method of choice.

However, we recommend using WD40, isopropyl alcohol, and kerosene as the best methods for removing Plasti Dip from the aforementioned options.

You can also combine these three solvents to get even better results!

However, the final decision rests with you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dean Alvarez, TireForge Head Author

Thanks for reading our article! We've written this article with a lot of thought and care. If you're interested in seeing more of our content, please check out our Tires section and find an answer to your questions!

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