A while back I bought a set of 4 16" steel wheels from Dempsey

via the classifieds on here. They had seen better days but I was happy

with the price I paid.

They had all started to fade a bit and there was some light surface rust

in places but otherwise sound and straight.

I decided to send them HERE for a tidy up.

After a chat with the very friendly Nick down there I opted to go with gloss black powdercoat

after a proper blast clean and preparation. He charged me a very reasonable £35 per wheel and

today he rang me to let me know they were ready.

This was my first look at them when I arrived. (Phone pic)

and up a bit closer. (phone again)

Then I took a few pics indoors with a better camera.

I'm very happy with the results. I had my winter tyres fitted to them today and my alloys go in

tomorrow for their turn for a facelift. Steels are on the car until the alloys are done then

they are going up in the loft until November.

Pics on the car when I've cleaned all the tyrefitter gunge off of the tyres.

The 312s just fit under the fronts and I think the car looks stealthier than ever

with them on.

Can't wait to see my alloys all perfect. The front wheels were both scuffed

and mildly kerbed when I bought the car. It'll be great to see them all shiny again.

How much did you pay mate?

He charged me a very reasonable £35 per wheel ...

http://www.citypowdercoating.co.uk

what do you make of these prices?

Very good, although Birminghams a bit far for me.

Once you add in courier or fuel and time etc then it's not a huge

saving for me really.

I suppose it depends on the courier.

The place I used is 5 miles away from my house.

I dropped and collected them in my little van,

and I've always been in favour of supporting local businesses

wherever possible.

Small towns like mine need it.

Thats a very good deal though if you live nearby.

Hope your tyres your storing don't perish over time, I had my rear tyres perish after 4 years, but admit they were fitted to the car, and around 40,000 miles from them.

Perhaps treating the outer walls might help, but inside of tyres still prone to deterioration.??

They look top banana

All you need is some luminous orange T5 centre caps and you're there

Do you have to use different bolts with the steelies?

This is something that's always been in the back of my mind that the taper on the heads is different for alloys and steels.

Hope your tyres your storing don't perish over time, I had my rear tyres perish after 4 years, but admit they were fitted to the car, and around 40,000 miles from them.

Perhaps treating the outer walls might help, but inside of tyres still prone to deterioration.??

I know what you mean, I have wondered about that too.

Should they be left inflated or let down before storage?

They'll be getting a good lick of tyre restorer before they go away.

What with all the money I've spent on the car lately on this and that

I could only afford a set of part worn snow tyres. (Pirelli Snowsport 210's)

They will only be on this winter and next year I'll be buying a full set

of new winter tyres.

They look top banana

Do you have to use different bolts with the steelies?

This is something that's always been in the back of my mind that the taper on the heads is different for alloys and steels.

Thanks, I like them.

Using the same bolts is fine, Its only the same type of wheel as the spare.

Centrecaps from the alloys fit ok on the front but theres a flat metal cap

over the hub centre on the rear wheels. I cant get anything in there at all.

Is it okay to pop it out or is it there to retain grease and keep the dirt out?

Is it normal to only have a metal cap in the centre of the rear wheels or

is there supposed to be a pair on the front too?

Any help would be great

http://www.citypowdercoating.co.uk

what do you make of these prices?

Had the nimrods from my old 206 done here and they were fast and the finishing was impeccable. Highly recommended mate!

Looking good Garry, I purchased some steels not long back, paid £40 for them they where in really good condition as they had trims on them so a lick of high gloss black on them and some laquer and they look awesome so i stook them on for a while, now iv got some white merc 8 pots waiting for me when i get home 8x16 with 205's on the rear and 195 on the front

...anyway back to your wheels, they look excellent hope life is good matey

Looking good Garry, I purchased some steels not long back, paid £40 for them they where in really good condition as they had trims on them so a lick of high gloss black on them and some laquer and they look awesome so i stook them on for a while, now iv got some white merc 8 pots waiting for me when i get home 8x16 with 205's on the rear and 195 on the front

...anyway back to your wheels, they look excellent hope life is good matey

Thanks mate, yeah lifes pretty good thanks. Can't complain

It's pretty hilly here where I'm living now so while I had a few quid I thought I'd try and

prepare for the next winter and get kitted up with winter wheels.

If its really bad I'll have to get a set for the van too.

Gave the tyres a quick wipe down with a damp rag to try and degunge them a bit.

Ordered a set of T5 centre caps today, I'll be modifying them before they go on.

Here's a couple of fitted pics, not cleaned and waxed them yet or dressed the tyres.

And the centres need sorting out. Nut covers are only temporary until the caps

are here and ready. They are 195 50 16 tyres. I realise this will make the speedo

inaccurate but I always keep it sensible when it starts getting icy.

And I can monitor my true speed with the sat nav.

They are only on the car till I get my alloys back. Can't wait!!

195/50/16 are about right for the Fabia so your speedo should be fine

I'd expect winter tyres/wheels, if stored flat down and covered up inflated, should last at least 5 or 6 years "summering" in a dark loft away from the sun light, especially as they are a premium brand

i bought what i thought where T5 centres (listed as) and they didnt fit :(

i dont have any centres on and no nut caps either, like that better, although yours look really good mate. You could have had your weights put on the inside too mate thats what i did, just makes it a cleaner look but you could always do that if u wanted when u fit them again for winter, thats if u wanted too that is lol

Take it easy man

£140 for a refurb then they used hammer on wheel weights :(

I'd have cried!!!

Those look great, how much were winter tyres?

Are they the 312 fitted under?

love that look of them peering through

nah not for me

as shiny and black as they are they just look bottom feeder spec minus wheel trims!

i reckon steelies have to be coloured to work - like a 106 rallye

however they'll be fine temporarily and in the winter

cliff your miserable lol oj

cliff your miserable lol oj

charming

Hey they look great and have clearly been refinished very well

I just don't "get" the black steelies thing

and yes this from a man considering spraying spiders gold

sorry mate

yeah gold spiders is a very rash idea but o well, its all good

My steels are spaced and the car is on its arse so thats why i love the look. Merc wheels will be on in about 3 weeks though for the Harewood house VAG show

yeah gold spiders is a very rash idea but o well

i bottled it and bought silver

i bottled it and bought silver

You wimp!!

Hi What is the offset on the steelies?

You wimp!!

+1

As for the offset of steelies, i believe they are either 38 or 41 compared with the 35 of original vrs wheels, sure Garry will be along to confirm a figure around this mark

they look awesome.. this is exactly what i was going to do with this exact pair of steelies. Dempsey offered them to me about 2 months ago and just didn't do anything about it.

i guess the rules are, you snooze, you loose!! im gutted because im looking for a set now as ive buckled a spider and do you think i can find any!!

anyone have 4 you wish to sell me for a reasonable price.. pm me.

but back to yours... they look amazing.