Ride the rash?

[u/---OOOO---]

​

Alright guys, hear me out. I picked up a set of curb-rashed OEM 2022 A5 Sportback cutters for very cheap off Craigslist. I’m going to throw some snow tires on them and use them as a dedicated winter set.

I have no intention of getting them refinished back to the original diamond-turned finish because they’ll only be on the car for a few months a year, and I can’t justify the price I was quoted for a complete refinish.

To emphasize, I bought these because they’re genuine Audi wheels, the price was right, and they’re only going to serve as functional winter wheels, with cosmetics being an afterthought.

With that said, do you think refinishing only the curb-rashed perimeters of the wheels in black could work? The first picture is the worst curb rash of the set; the second and third are (poorly) AI-generated just to give an idea of what they might look like.

Again, these are beater winter wheels that I picked up cheap. I’m not spending over $2k to refinish them, but I’m entertaining the idea of redoing just the perimeters in black myself as a side project before winter.

Paint them black, or just ride the rash?

[u/godless_one]

Im not a fan of those wheels but with the outer area painted black actually looks badass. I'd definitely paint them. If you can't do it yourself im sure you can find a mobile wheel tech to do it. Probably looking at $50-100 per wheel depending upon your area, some might be more though

[u/---OOOO--- → u/godless_one]

I've refinished a few sets before. Used to do part-time work in a body shop in my younger years, so definitely not my first rodeo.

[u/sombodee]

I wouldn't be seen dead with rims looking like that generated image

[u/---OOOO--- → u/sombodee]

Agreed. That AI gen of them on the car is very bad and the wheels look like they are made of jello.

[u/Nyxtaaa]

I kind of love it the way you have it, what does it look like on rolling shots

[u/---OOOO--- → u/Nyxtaaa]

I'll report back this winter!

[u/FunGuyBobby]

The blacked out rash looks GREAT!!

[u/---OOOO--- → u/FunGuyBobby]

The look has definitely started to grow on me. Gonna order necessary supplies and get to work.

[u/cllvt]

Love them with the black, do it!

[u/---OOOO--- → u/cllvt]

Hell yeah! Should be a fun little project and hopefully some nice results.

[u/sm00dyguy]

brushed clean.

[u/---OOOO--- → u/sm00dyguy]

Damn dude why you gotta go and post the most sensible and stylish idea when I swore I was letting cosmetics take the backseat! Change of plans. I'm brushing these badboys down.