Did the "Grizzly" wheels come with a rubberized coating? Need help

[q2quest]

I have a 1998 Cherokee, but I need help and advice from the TJ owners. I just purchased some used "Grizzly" wheels from FB Marketplace. These appeared to be the version with charcoal spokes. The paint is faded and my aim was to restore them back to new, but strip them to bare aluminum and clear coat them. What I have discovered is that there is a thin layer of metallic charcoal paint on top of a dark gray rubberized coating like Plastidip. I am having a terrible time removing it. It appears to be the factory finish, but I can't imagine Jeep used a rubberized coating on these wheels. Underneath that dark rubberized coating is bare aluminum. It will not peel off and every product I have tried, including paint stripper, Goo Gone and a power washer barely softens it and it resists being removed. Has anyone ever heard of this rubberized coating being used from the factory? And, if so, any idea how to remove it? The first photo is before doing anything. The second photo is the wheel with about 70 % of the coating removed. Thanks.

 

[macleanflood]

Try aircraft stripper. They use it to clean airplanes of paint.

Better if you can find a vintage stash before the EPA neutered the stuff.

-Mac

 

[q2quest]

Thanks for the reply. I’m in California and don’t have access to anything that actually works.

 

[97TJNM]

I dont know anything about the coating, so no big help there, but the fist pic looks exactly like the Grizzlies on my son's 99 XJ. Down to the BFG's. As such, I'm pretty sure those wheels have a factory finish, I just don't have any suggestions on how to remove it.

 

[DuckNut]

Thanks for the reply. I’m in California and don’t have access to anything that actually works.

Try ordering online...most do not care where it gets sent to.

 

[Strizzo]

Thanks for the reply. I’m in California and don’t have access to anything that actually works.

There’s always brake fluid