GMW 14885 Painted Aluminum Road Wheels - Paint Performance Requirements

The GMW 14885 standard developed by the General Motors company describes a test method for determining the paint performance on painted aluminum road wheels of passenger cars and light-duty trucks. This specification defines the performance requirements for the pretreatment, paint materials and machining required to paint or coat aluminum road wheels. In some cases, this specification may be applied to aluminum wheel trim. This includes coating/paint durability requirements. For chrome aluminum wheels and rim trim, the “GMW 15774 Chrome plated aluminum wheels and aluminum rim metal trim” standard applies. For chrome plated plastic wheel trim (including trims), the standard “GMW 14668 Minimum performance requirements for decorative chrome plated plastic parts” applies.

According to this standard, wheel types are classified as follows:

• Type A. Wheels with clear paints on the shiny metal portions of the disc outer or rim flange (for example, high-gloss polished wheels and machined surface wheels)
• Type B. Fully colored painted wheels without any light paint on shiny metal parts on disc outer or rim flange

This standard applies to all surfaces included in engineering drawings to meet these requirements. Painted parts must meet these requirements before being used in production and also meet customers' expectations for aesthetics and durability. In addition, any deviation that does not comply with these standard definitions must be accepted by General Motors and documented in the part drawing.

Raw aluminum wheels can be polished to make the surface perfectly smooth, then coated with paint for a rich shine. These paints do not add weight to the wheel, improving fuel efficiency and handling, and offer some advantages over chrome-plated wheels. Painted wheels can be easily re-polished if they lose their shine over time. If no protective topcoats have been made, these wheels will require regular cleaning and polishing to prevent oxidation and deterioration.

Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides testing services to determine the paint performance of painted aluminum road wheels, within the scope of the GMW 14885 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.