• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Fiesta ST Forum and Fiesta ST community dedicated to Fiesta ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Fiesta ST Forum today!


Painting Tyre lettering

OP
CanadianGuy

CanadianGuy

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,097
Likes
942
Location
Southern Ontario
Thread Starter #23
when you find a pack of Sharpie oil pens, had a few beers, and decide to try something new on the summer tires

2015 Fiesta ST spring 2017 by Bryan Redeker, on Flickr

So far, they have lasted a week and are still looking decent.
Looks good. Tire on car or off? I figure they should last as wheel as the rims when considering the brake dust.
 


OP
CanadianGuy

CanadianGuy

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,097
Likes
942
Location
Southern Ontario
Thread Starter #24
when you find a pack of Sharpie oil pens, had a few beers, and decide to try something new on the summer tires

2015 Fiesta ST spring 2017 by Bryan Redeker, on Flickr

So far, they have lasted a week and are still looking decent.
Btw how did you prep the tyre? I have beer and easy to get the sharpy.
 


Messages
11
Likes
1
Location
Sterling Heights
#25
For reference a point of longevity, I did mine about 20 months ago, so it's been through 2 winters now:


The 2nd one started out as red but has faded to nearly white.

Not sure if I'll redo them or not or hold off until I replace the tires (getting pretty worn anyway)

PS. please overlook the dirtiness [shameful]
 


OP
CanadianGuy

CanadianGuy

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,097
Likes
942
Location
Southern Ontario
Thread Starter #26
For reference a point of longevity, I did mine about 20 months ago, so it's been through 2 winters now:


The 2nd one started out as red but has faded to nearly white.

Not sure if I'll redo them or not or hold off until I replace the tires (getting pretty worn anyway)

PS. please overlook the dirtiness [shameful]
Were you doing any maintenance on them? Not too bad if not. How did you prep the tyre?
 


Messages
374
Likes
78
Location
Ramstein
#28
[MENTION=2253]CanadianGuy[/MENTION] [MENTION=759]Hijinx@DHM[/MENTION]
Y'all forgot hooter instead of horn. That one used to drive me insane.
 


Messages
374
Likes
78
Location
Ramstein
#29
I'd definitely like to do this to my tires. I didn't want to do the tire stickers for the same reason as Canadianguy. I'd hate to put them on and see the actual lettering underneath. Plus the summer tires wont last long anyways.
 


BRGT350

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,075
Likes
762
Location
Grand Haven
#30
Btw how did you prep the tyre? I have beer and easy to get the sharpy.
I did them off the car while I was waiting for spring to arrive and get the winter tires off. I prepped the tire with a little 3M adhesive/wax remover and a toothbrush. The white lettering gets dirty from brake dust (like everything else on the car) and has a few small cracks in the paint from flexing. None of the lettering has come off. I did 3 coats of white and 2 coats of red. The white absorbs quickly into the rubber. I let the paint set for about 20 minutes before the second coat and then overnight for the third. The Tire Stickers company has the ability to make exact fitting letters if you send them a trace of the tire. I might do that for the next set of tires depending on how the lettering looks after this summer. I don't see my current set of tires going another year.

My dad and I are looking at using the tire stickers for his Michelin Pilot tires as opposed to painting them. This will be on his RS and we might do the same on his Shelby GT. Thinking full color sticker on the RS and white on the Shelby.
 


OP
CanadianGuy

CanadianGuy

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,097
Likes
942
Location
Southern Ontario
Thread Starter #31
I did them off the car while I was waiting for spring to arrive and get the winter tires off. I prepped the tire with a little 3M adhesive/wax remover and a toothbrush. The white lettering gets dirty from brake dust (like everything else on the car) and has a few small cracks in the paint from flexing. None of the lettering has come off. I did 3 coats of white and 2 coats of red. The white absorbs quickly into the rubber. I let the paint set for about 20 minutes before the second coat and then overnight for the third. The Tire Stickers company has the ability to make exact fitting letters if you send them a trace of the tire. I might do that for the next set of tires depending on how the lettering looks after this summer. I don't see my current set of tires going another year.

My dad and I are looking at using the tire stickers for his Michelin Pilot tires as opposed to painting them. This will be on his RS and we might do the same on his Shelby GT. Thinking full color sticker on the RS and white on the Shelby.
Thank you.
 


Messages
287
Likes
62
Location
Clarksville
#32
Figured I would chime in. When I had my previous tires I did the Oil based Sharpie and it worked great.
I did the same thing to my Toyo Proxes as well. It's way easier when your wheels are off the car of course, but if you have patience and a steady hand, it comes out awesome:



The only issue is that the stuff starts to crack and chip off in the matter of like a week or two. So you have to clean your tire again, re-apply, and repeat the process for as long as you feel it's worth it.
I know when I get my car back from the shop, I'm gonna give it a good wash and detail and I'll probably give it the tire treatment again as penance for my actions.
 


BRGT350

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,075
Likes
762
Location
Grand Haven
#33
I did find that the paint doesn't flow well out of the pens if the tire is still on the car, or at least vertical if off the car. The paint does crack, but mine still look good and haven't flaked off after a month. So far, I have been pretty happy with the results!
 


OP
CanadianGuy

CanadianGuy

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,097
Likes
942
Location
Southern Ontario
Thread Starter #34
I got my pens so just need a weekend, some shade, some beer, some tunes and i'll have at it.
 


OP
CanadianGuy

CanadianGuy

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,097
Likes
942
Location
Southern Ontario
Thread Starter #35
Did mine this weekend. Was a very hot Sunday. Cleaned the area well with degreaser and alcohol, applied 4 coats, using a heatgun in between to make sure they were dry. Not perfect will need another white pen and an art knife but overall the looks is what I wanted. THe red R really came out nice considering it has jagged edges. Even after 100km drive they still look good.

Monday 19113651_1220629708063634_2563528275084717897_n.jpg
Monday 19113622_1220629694730302_4511181436162334515_n.jpg
Monday 19059229_1221197261340212_7492841758885951363_n.jpg
 


zanethan

Active member
Messages
557
Likes
192
Location
Charlotte
#36
Did mine this weekend. Was a very hot Sunday. Cleaned the area well with degreaser and alcohol, applied 4 coats, using a heatgun in between to make sure they were dry. Not perfect will need another white pen and an art knife but overall the looks is what I wanted. THe red R really came out nice considering it has jagged edges. Even after 100km drive they still look good.

View attachment 14774
View attachment 14775
View attachment 14776
Love the look! Keep us updated on how well it holds up.
 


OP
CanadianGuy

CanadianGuy

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,097
Likes
942
Location
Southern Ontario
Thread Starter #40
So after 1 week of about 800km they have not browned from the rubber but from the brake dust(EBC red stuff are not dust free less than stock) and road grime. As [MENTION=1313]BRGT350[/MENTION] the red is fading to pink I have tried 2 things today and will report if it work next weekend. Also applied tire dressing today to see if it impacts the paint (autoglym tyre dressing for those that want to know). I am very pleased they have some fine cracks where the tyre flex but no flaking even hit with the pressure washer and a hand wash with a microfiber cloth. Too bad the red is not staying but I like the affect over all. In the pictures it seems the red is fading after the wash but that is just the camera

Pre wash (notice the black on the S, that is dirt/brake dust)
19146149_1226615507465054_8070086010066664099_n.jpg

After pressure wash
19149180_1226615660798372_8151310102343171428_n.jpg
19225921_1226615670798371_3561369927066766027_n.jpg
19366564_1226615634131708_3644740787249463337_n.jpg

After hand wash
19145798_1226615717465033_1614110725348192367_n.jpg
 




Top