Steel Wheels Refurb - Tyres off or on?

[caelite]

Hey folks

Just curious, I've just picked up a set of steelys from a breakers for my 4x4, they are in good condition but with a couple of little rust patches, as is common with old steels. My plan is to use a wire brush on my dremel to clear the surface rust on the front, then use a rust converter primer on the rear (more surface rust there and I don't care about the finish). Then prime & paint the lot with a good black gloss rattle can.

Just wanting an opinion as to remove the tyres or not, the tyres on the wheels are not in great nick and are actually of variable sizes, so are getting replaced all around right after the wheels are done. With them on I would mask them off, with them off would I have to worry about getting paint overspray in/around the bead? Is it likely I would be able to get a better finish?

Any tips welcome, never painted wheels before, judging by the amount of cheap hatchbacks going about with awful tacky looking wheel finishes it is something that is semi-easily ballsed up.

[jkh112]

If the tyres are coming off anyway then I would get them off first.

You can then see if there is any corrosion on the inside edges of the rim and treat as appropriate. It also means you wont get an edge to the paint where the tyre sits.