In the process of building my diorama I found I needed a truck which I was able to get[8D] Now in the process of building this truck I realized that the tires (which are real rubber) required a finish that would make them look more like real tires as the ones in the kit were shiny[%-)] I tried using a flat clear which turned out great colorwise until I tried to put everything together[banghead] The paint I put on the tires immediately started to peel whenever I put any stress on the tire[censored] Now after all that, what shoud I have done to make the tires look like real rubber instead of something that has been treated with armorall[?][?][?]
As with vinyl tracks in armor kits, I always paint “real rubber” tires with plain black acrylic paint first. This will adhere when enamels and laquers will not. Then, you can dry-brush or weather the tires in any way you wish.
Simpler solution:
I paint my hubs and then slip the rubber tires over the hubs when dry. I then spray Testors flat over the whole thing, wash the hubs, and then drybrush it all. You can then apply pastel chalks, if you desire.
My 88 in the picture below has rubber tires over plastic hubs/rims.
Make sure you wash the tires prior to assembling them to remove any residual mold release.
