Paint guide
Tri-Coat Touch-Up Paint: Why It Comes in Two Cans
A tri-coat is a factory finish built in three layers: a solid color coat, a see-through pearl coat sprayed over it, and clear. The pearl coat gives colors like Toyota's Blizzard Pearl (070) their depth, and it only looks right lying over the color coat. So a tri-coat touch-up is two cans, both mixed to your code, then clear.
The three layers
- ClearGloss and protection. Sprayed last, over both colors.
- Stage 2: pearl mid-coatSee-through. The color coat shows through it, so every coat you add changes the color.
- Stage 1: color coatSolid. Sprayed until nothing shows through it.
- Primer or the old paintHidden by the color coat.
Is my color a tri-coat?
Look your color up in the paint finder, by paint code or by year, make and model. A tri-coat says TRICOAT Β· 2-CAN SET, and its buy card shows both cans. Most tri-coats are white pearls and deep reds. Many have Tricoat in their name in our list, but not all do, so go by the finder.
What you get, and what it costs
Two cans of the same size, each mixed to your code: Stage 1, the color coat, and Stage 2, the pearl mid-coat. A tri-coat is mixed as 1K basecoat, which needs clear over it, so the finder adds clear to every tri-coat order. With spray cans you pick a 1K or 2K clear aerosol; the spray kit already includes clear.
| Size | Color coat | Pearl coat | Set of two, from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.7 oz aerosol | $37.02 | $42.57 | $79.59 |
| Quart | $176.80 | $203.32 | $380.12 |
| Half gallon | $353.60 | $406.64 | $760.24 |
| Gallon | $707.20 | $813.28 | $1,520.48 |
Some color coats are mixed at a dearer formula, so a set of two aerosols can cost up to $86.99. The finder shows your color's exact set price before it goes in the cart.
How to spray a tri-coat
- Spray a test card first. Spray the color coat over the whole card until it hides. Cover all of the card but one strip, spray one coat of pearl, uncover the next strip and spray again, until the strips carry one, two, three and four coats. Let it flash, then clear half of the card.
- Find your number. Hold the card to the car in daylight. The strip that matches is the number of pearl coats to spray.
- Spray the color coat over the repair until nothing shows through it.
- Spray the pearl: the number of coats your card picked, letting each coat flash (go dull) before the next.
- Clear over both.
Spray the card the way you will spray the car: the same can, distance and speed. How you spray changes how much pearl lands, which is why paint makers tell every painter to make their own card, one for each color.
Tri-coats with their own page
- BMW A96Mineral White Metallic Tricoat
- Cadillac WA170HBright Red Tricoat
- Chrysler PRVVelvet Red Pearl
- Ford RRRuby Red Pearl Tricoat
- Ford UGWhite Platinum Tricoat
- Honda NH-883PPlatinum White Tricoat
- Honda NH-603PWhite Diamond Pearl Tricoat
- Honda NH-788PWhite Orchid Pearl Tricoat
- Hyundai WW8Quartz White Tricoat
- Hyundai R2PUltimate Red Metallic Tricoat
- Kia SWPSnow White Tricoat
- Lexus 077Starfire Pearl Tricoat
- Lexus 083White Nova GF Pearl Tricoat
- Mazda 46VSoul Red Crystal Metallic
- Mercedes-Benz 799Diamond White Tricoat
- Nissan NBLCayenne Red Metallic Tri-Coat
- Nissan QABWhite Pearl Tricoat
- Subaru K1XCrystal White Tricoat
- Tesla PPMRSunset Red Tricoat
- Tesla PR01Ultra Red Tricoat
- Tesla PPSWWhite Water Pearl Tricoat
- Toyota 070Blizzard Pearl Tricoat
- Toyota 3U5Bright Red Tricoat
- Toyota 3T7Hypersonic Red Tricoat
- Toyota 3R1Matador Red Tricoat
- Toyota 085Sonic Quartz Tricoat
- Toyota 089Wind Chill Pearl Tricoat
Every other tri-coat is in the paint finder.
Questions
Why does a tri-coat come as two cans?
Because it is built in layers: a solid color coat, then a see-through pearl mid-coat sprayed over it, then clear. The pearl only looks right over the color coat, so we mix both, each to your code, in the same size. A set of two aerosols starts at $79.59.
How many coats of pearl do I spray?
As many as it takes to match your car, and that differs by color and by how you spray. Make a test card with strips of one, two, three and four pearl coats, clear it, and hold it to the car in daylight: the strip that matches is your number.
Do I need clear over a tri-coat?
Yes. Both cans are basecoat, which dries flat and needs clear for gloss and protection. The finder adds clear to every tri-coat order: a 1K or 2K clear aerosol with spray cans, a quart or gallon of clear with larger sizes. The spray kit includes clear.
Can I get a tri-coat in one can, or as 2K Direct Gloss?
No. 2K Direct Gloss is single-stage paint, color and gloss in one coat, and a tri-coat can't be made that way. It is mixed as 1K basecoat, two cans, with clear over it.
What does a tri-coat set cost?
The color coat plus the pearl mid-coat, in the same size: from $79.59 for two aerosols, $380.12 for two quarts, $760.24 for two half gallons and $1,520.48 for two gallons. Clear is added separately.
How do I know if my color is a tri-coat?
Look it up in the paint finder by code, or by year, make and model: a tri-coat says TRICOAT Β· 2-CAN SET. Most are white pearls and deep reds.
