Custom Finishes &
Colour Changes
in Exeter

Transform the look of your vehicle with a bespoke wheel finish. From subtle shade changes to bold custom colours — any RAL code, any finish type, applied to the highest standard.

Hundreds of custom finish projects completed. Full RAL colour range. Trade and enthusiast customers welcome.

What Are Custom Wheel Finishes?

Custom wheel finishes go beyond standard repair and restoration. Instead of returning your wheels to their original factory colour, a custom finish transforms them into something entirely different — a new colour, a new finish type, or a combination of both.

This service is popular with car enthusiasts who want their vehicle to stand out, owners looking to modernise an older vehicle's appearance, and anyone who simply wants their wheels to match a specific aesthetic. Common requests include gloss black, gunmetal grey, satin bronze, matte anthracite, two-tone machined-and-painted combos, and completely bespoke colour matches.

At South West Alloys, we offer the full RAL colour chart plus custom colour mixing. Finish types include high gloss, satin, matte, and metallic. We can also create two-tone effects — for example, a painted spoke with a machined rim lip, or contrasting inner and outer colours.

Every custom finish begins with a full strip-down to bare alloy. We do not paint over existing finishes. This ensures perfect adhesion, consistent coverage, and a result that lasts. Whether you are customising a single set of wheels or finishing a full vehicle build, we apply the same exacting standards to every project.

Why Factory Colours Do Not Always Cut It

Most vehicles leave the factory with silver or grey alloy wheels. While functional, these colours rarely complement the body colour or reflect the owner's personality. A vehicle with matched, considered wheel colour instantly looks more premium and intentional than one with standard factory alloys.

Aftermarket alloy wheels in custom colours are expensive — often £800–£3,000+ for a set before fitting. Having your existing wheels professionally colour-changed costs a fraction of that price while achieving the same visual impact. It is one of the most effective cosmetic upgrades per pound spent.

Many owners attempt DIY colour changes with rattle cans or peel-off coatings. These products produce inconsistent coverage, orange peel texture, and durability measured in weeks rather than years. They also reduce vehicle value — a poor wheel finish looks worse than no change at all. Professional application is the difference between a transformation and a mistake.

For used car dealers and vehicle preparers, a set of freshly finished custom wheels can differentiate stock from competitors and justify higher asking prices. Clean, intentionally styled wheels are one of the strongest visual indicators of a well-prepared vehicle.

Colour Options, Finish Types & Two-Tone Techniques

Our colour range covers the complete RAL Classic chart — over 200 standard colours. The most popular choices for alloy wheels include RAL 9005 (Jet Black), RAL 7016 (Anthracite Grey), RAL 7024 (Graphite Grey), RAL 8019 (Grey Brown/Bronze), RAL 7021 (Black Grey), and RAL 3020 (Traffic Red). We also mix custom colours to match specific paint samples or digital references.

Metallic finishes contain fine aluminium flakes that create depth and sparkle. Popular metallic options include gunmetal, titanium grey, and champagne gold. Pearlescent finishes use mica flakes that shift colour depending on viewing angle — these require additional coats for full effect and are the most visually striking option.

Gloss finishes produce maximum reflectivity and a deep, mirror-like shine. They show fingerprints and brake dust more readily but clean up beautifully. Satin finishes offer a refined mid-sheen — modern and understated. Matte finishes provide a flat, contemporary look popular on performance and luxury vehicles. Matte finishes require specific aftercare — polishing or waxing will create unwanted shiny patches.

Two-tone finishes combine different colours or finish types on different areas of the wheel. Common combinations include: machined face with painted inner spokes, contrasting rim lip and spoke colour, gloss face with matte inner barrel. Two-tone work requires precise masking and multiple application stages — it is our most labour-intensive but most visually distinctive service.

For multi-piece and split-rim wheels, we can finish each component separately before reassembly. This allows combinations such as polished outer lips with powder-coated centres, or contrasting barrel and face colours that would not be possible on a one-piece wheel.

We recommend doing custom colour changes as a full set. Changing a single wheel to match a custom colour on the remaining three is possible but may show slight variation due to differences in surface condition and age. A full set ensures perfect consistency across all four corners.

Frequently Asked Questions