Even with the tire elevated off the ground, you’ll likely have to prime and paint it in stages—that is, paint most of it, let it dry, flip it over, and paint the rest.
Use a non-toxic degreaser if you plan to use the tire as a planting bed or in a play area for kids.
Even if you’ll be using the tire as an indoor decoration, use an exterior-grade primer since they’re more durable. Spray outdoors in a shaded area or in a well-ventilated indoor area like a garage.
Heavy-duty paints adhere better and are more flexible, which result in less cracking and flaking. Follow the specific application instructions for the paint you choose.
Adding the finishing touches to a painted tire is a great project for kids. Once the base coats of paint dry, hand over some brushes and acrylic paints and let the kids get creative on this unique kind of blank canvas![8] X Research source
The contact paper may only stay sticky for 2 or 3 uses, so consider cutting out multiple stencils. It’s also a good idea to cut out separate stencils for each different paint color you intend to use.
For example, if you’re painting a tire to use as a flower planting bed, you might paint the body of the tire light pink, paint light blue and green diamonds onto the treads, and add a light purple stripe on the tire wall.
This kind of paint is very durable, but obviously won’t last forever on functional vehicle tires. Expect to do some touch-up work at least once or twice per year. White is the most popular color, but you can actually find several other options.
