Honest answer: we found no paint maker that lists rubber as a surface for its paint, and Rust-Oleum’s LeakSeal data sheet says it is not recommended for rubber surfaces. What you can buy are rubber coatings such as Plasti Dip, which are rubber themselves rather than paint, and a trim restorer that names rubber.
What the makers say about rubber
| Product | What it says | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rust-Oleum LeakSeal | “Not recommended for rubber surfaces or surfaces exposed to continuous water immersion.” | Rubberized sealant you can paint over |
| Rust-Oleum Wipe New Trim Restore | “safe and effective to use on plastic, rubber, vinyl, and acrylic surfaces” | A trim restorer, not a paint |
| Plasti Dip | “an air-dry, specialty rubber coating” | Dip or spray rubber coating |
| Rust-Oleum Peel Coat | “a peelable rubber coating”; for “metal, plastic and glass surfaces” | Temporary coating, “service life of 6 months” |
| Krylon True Seal | “Dries to a flexible, rubberized seal”; for metal, concrete and masonry | Rubberized leak sealer, “Paintable after cure” |
| Smooth-On XTC-3D | “It also can be used to coat EPS, EPDM and urethane foam” | Two-part coating for 3D prints |
From each product’s data sheet, page or FAQ. Rust-Oleum’s Specialty Vinyl Spray names “vinyl and fabrics,” not rubber. We searched every Rust-Oleum, Zinsser, Krylon, Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore paint and primer source we read and found no other rubber line.
Plasti Dip: a coating, not a paint
Plasti Dip calls itself a rubber coating, and it works as its own system. Its FAQ says most dipped items don’t need primer; where they do, use Plasti Dip Primer or “a high quality acrylic auto body-type primer,” and “Do not use Rust-Oleum® primer as it is not compatible.” Plasti Dip Primer “should always be followed by Plasti Dip and is not intended for use on its own.” Its Enhancers, Plasti Dip says, bond only with Plasti Dip.
- Coats and wait (spray): “Allow 30 minutes minimum between coats” and “4 hours minimum dry time before use.”
- Chemicals: “Plasti Dip does have limited resistance to petroleum-based products.”
- On PVC: Plasti Dip says to test first, rubbing acetone or nail polish remover on a hidden spot and then applying Plasti Dip.
Other rubbery coatings
- Rust-Oleum Peel Coat: a temporary peelable coating for vehicles; its data sheet says “A primer is not required or recommended.”
- Rust-Oleum Wipe New Trim Restore: for faded trim; “not intended for use on paint, glass or mirrored surfaces.” Let it dry 1 hour before touching and 24 hours before it gets wet.
- Krylon True Seal: a rubberized coating that “stops leaks” on metal, concrete and masonry, and can be painted after it cures.
What we’d do
To bring back faded rubber trim, we’d use a restorer whose maker names rubber, such as Rust-Oleum Wipe New Trim Restore, rather than paint, and only on unpainted trim, since its data sheet says not to use it on painted surfaces. To coat something in rubber, we’d use Plasti Dip, and where a primer is needed, Plasti Dip Primer, as its FAQ says. For anything else, we’d test whatever you choose on a hidden spot, wait out the full cure, then flex it before doing the whole piece. Gluing rubber instead? See our rubber page.
Plasti Dip’s FAQ says it is not recommended for items that may be chewed or put in the mouth, as it may present a choking hazard.