Finishes 101

4 Different Wheel Finishes You Need to Know

When it comes to finishes on high-end forged wheels, Superior Forged goes far beyond the basic black, silver, bronze, and gold tones you’ll find on most cast or flow-formed options. Every forged wheel we produce can be customized with a finish that enhances its design, reflects your build’s personality, and complements its overall aesthetic.We understand the choices can be overwhelming, so we’re breaking down the most popular finish styles offered by Superior Forged and what sets them apart from the rest of the industry. From brushed clears and polished champagne golds to tinted clears and custom two-tone combinations, we’ll cover how each process is achieved and how it impacts the look, depth, and durability of your wheels.

Solid Tone Color Finish

Our Solid Tone finishes are classic, single-stage powder coats that come standard across the Superior Forged lineup. Each wheel is coated in a rich, uniform color layer, then sealed with your choice of gloss, satin, or textured clear to achieve the perfect level of sheen. This finish delivers a clean, timeless look that’s both durable and easy to maintain, making it ideal for daily drivers and show builds alike.

Polished Finish

Our Polished Finish delivers a mirror-like luster that highlights the natural beauty of raw forged aluminum. Each wheel undergoes a meticulous combination of machine and hand polishing to achieve a flawless, chrome-like surface. Once perfected, a protective clear coat is applied to seal the aluminum — preserving its deep shine without the need for ongoing polishing or maintenance.

This finish serves as the base foundation for many of our transparent and brushed finishes, allowing light to reflect through the surface and create unmatched depth and brilliance.

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Our Brushed Finish showcases the raw artistry behind every Superior Forged wheel. Each wheel is meticulously hand-brushed by our craftsmen, creating a directional texture across every spoke and surface. This process, which can take up to 8 hours per wheel depending on the design’s complexity, gives the metal a dynamic character that catches and reflects light from every angle.

The brushed surface is then sealed beneath a transparent tinted clear coat, producing incredible depth, contrast, and a truly one-of-a-kind visual effect. This finish is one of our most sought-after upgrades — a level of craftsmanship and detail you simply won’t find on mass-produced or off-the-shelf wheels.

Transparent / Translucent (Candy) Finish

Our Transparent Finishes are created by layering a tinted, see-through color over a highly polished forged aluminum base. This multi-stage process begins with a precision polish to form a mirror-like substrate, followed by a meticulous cleaning and preparation stage to ensure flawless adhesion. Once prepped, a transparent color coat is applied, allowing light to pass through and reflect off the polished metal beneath — creating a deep, liquid-like candy effect.

The finish can then be sealed in your choice of gloss or satin clear coat, enhancing the color’s depth, clarity, and long-term durability. The result is a vibrant, premium look that shifts beautifully under changing light — a true showcase of forged craftsmanship.