KMeloney

Hey all,

I've been kicking around the idea of getting some black Mallett wheels for my MY Z. What has me still considering them is the Vette Magazine I have with the "Copperhead" Z06 in it. That car is a copper-colored Z06 with black Mallett style wheels, and it looks AMAZING. However, most subsequent pictures of corvettes with black wheels don't seem to translate too well...

Specifically, I suppose I'm talking about black wheels without a polished lip, though I'd like to hear input about those WITH polished lips, too. What I'm NOT asking about is the quality of any of these wheels -- just your input on the LOOK of black wheels on Corvettes.

Base on this, I have the following questions:

- Do you think black wheels look much better in person, and don't seem to translate well in pictures?
- If you have black wheels, did you struggle between getting them and getting something in chrome/polished? What lead you to get the black ones?
- Do you find that the tires always need to be "shined" in order for the wheels to look good with them (or is the look of a very black wheel against a grayed tire ok)?
- When standing far back from black wheels, do you find that it's difficult to discern what the wheels really look like (their design)?
- If you have black wheels, based on some of the reasons/questions I've put forth here, do you ever get tired of them and wish you had gone with something different?

Please tell me what you like/dislkie about 'em! Thanks for your experiences/opinions, folks! :D

-Kirk

johnnyC5

I ask the exact same questions...

i have some pics of a yellow Z with black rims if u wanna see....

i took some pics when i was at Caravaggio Corvettes. Check out their site and you will see a MY Z with a Targa conversion. I have taken my own pics of that same car and if u like, i can scan them in for u and email them if u wanna see

i too have been thinking about getting black Z rims. I constantly look at that Vette Mag with the Copperhead. The inside cover, "Contents" page has Torch Red Z with black rims that looks aggressive....

the black rim look has that hardcore race inspired look to it, like it is meant to be on the track, not the street... as opposed to the bling bling street look, like other chrome/polished rims.

i guess it really depends what u r looking for, in terms of image/looks

i'm torn between the two looks too... some days i wanna have the nice HREs/CCWs/KINESIS and all those other high priced rims... and other days that stealth hardcore black rim look.

if u do decide upon the black, make sure u get the machined lip... BIG Difference. I have seen cars with and without, and what a difference in looks... i got pics of that as well.


[Modified by johnnyC5, 6:58 PM 10/22/2002]

92SoonerC4

I have the RAT Z06 Powdered Coated Black wheels with machined lip. They added more contrast to my silver Z. I didn't think cromies would look good on a silver Z. They do look much better in person. Pictures don't do them justice. I actually think they take notice away from my non-dressed or grayed tires.

KMeloney

JohnnyC5 -- Sounds like you an I are in the exact same boat! Fact is, I waiver day-to-day on what I think I might want on the car, which makes me concerned that I'd second-guess myself after purchasing one or the other. Must be why I haven't bought any rims yet!

As far as the machined lip goes, well, I'm not "sold" on that just yet. There's something extremely tough-looking about an all black wheel butting up against a black tire. But is it too much? Can you see the design of the wheel ok in person? Man, the Mallett "green monster" coupe sure looked good with black rims IN PERSON, up close. But further away... Well, things get muddied.

Yes, please send the pics you mentioned to kjmeloney@aol.com. Thanks!

Amyone else have any thoughts on the matter?

-Kirk

johnnyC5

i have to agree with 92SoonerC4 with respect to the contrat on a Silver Z...

the greyed stock ZO6 rims(gun metal look) would look better on other colors...


As for how they look up close vs. at a distance while the car is in motion, for example.... hard to say. I know what u mean about not being able to see the definition or the contours of the rim at a distance.

I guess that is where a nice big brake kit or Baer Eradispeeds rotors come in handy!!!
:)


[Modified by johnnyC5, 8:40 PM 10/22/2002]

Andy@A&ACorvette

I had black Z06 wheels on my coupe and now on my Z. I got more compliments on the wheels than anything else. I don't particularly like the Z06 wheels, but in black they look "full race". I left the lip silver on these but will go with all black as soon as I have time to repaint them. I just used a good acrylic enamel with catalyst. I think they look great.

Bill Reid

Kirk, give us a call if you would like a quote on our XMS Xtreme Gloss black powdercoated wheels :)

Z06C5

Any pictures of these wheels? I don't see them on your site.

Ram Air Tony

had them for damn near as long as I have had the car......never had a negative comment on them in PERSON

i have a post in the for sale section, it has pics of yellow, red, black and white (dont have a pic of Sooner's silver yet, or IronNippleZ)
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=412857

above is that post

hope that helps and let me know if ya want a set :D

thanks

KMeloney

Any pics, Andy?

Thanks for the other replies, folks. Man, the black sure looks all-business!

Bill, i just might be calling you about those wheels!

-Kirk

DoctorV8

Not a C5, but I love these rims on my ZR-1.

KMeloney

Nice, folks! Thanks for any and all pics!

Now, again, for those who have black wheels (or who have considered them), do you ever get tired of them? If you have 'em, do you ever find yourself washing your car, getting to the wheel cleaning part, and just wish that they were lighter and brighter? If not, i'd like to hear your thinking. Black is SUCH a different look that I'm wondering how you feel (or think you'd feel) about living with them knowing there're so many attention-grabbing, flashy wheels.

Oh, and I'm certainly not implying that black wheels DON'T grab your attention -- they certainly grab mine! I'm talking about "flashiness" as opposed to making some other statement.

Thanks! :D

-Kirk

johnnyC5

hey Kirk,

try posting this in the General Discussion.... might get even more great feedback!!!

i'm looking forward to these repsonses also, and I'm sure quite a few others are too!!!

KDubb

i love mine

RWE 427

I agree black wheels look all business. I've seen a couple of Vettes in MY and red that had black wheels and they looked Very :cool: in person. I'm not sure about a black car and black wheels though. Anyone have pictures of a blk Vette with blk CCW's or anything other than the RAT wheels that they could post or email to me?

johnnyC5

hey RobsC5, I got several pics of black vettes with black CCW rims...

email me if u want to see them

johnny72c5@hotmail.com

RWE 427

You have mail.. Thanks! :cheers:

HarleyB

Kirk,
Some thoughts on the subject: Since 1967 I have been a big fan of body-colored wheels. I have modded 26 new cars, SUVs & motorcycles (even color powdercoating M/C engine blocks & cylinders) I first put ALL black wheels on my new '76 911S (silver Targa w/black int. & black trim)... but before & after that Porsche I had only done body-colored wheels (again, all the way out to the tire) The look was so much better (IMVHO) than the chrome/polished look. The car looked more custom, and less like I bought the wheels "off the rack". It also looked RACE.
I then saw one of the Fikse® FM5 Racing Wheels in all black anodize, with the large "Fikse" logo in white and rocket red on one of the spokes. :cool: :cool: I THEN became a fan of black (& I mean black all the way out to the rubber, no bling bling polished rim) I am looking into a set of the new Fikse 1-piece forged 18 or 19s in the BLACK ano. finish... as soon as I get this Class III "monkey" out of my wallet! :p: -HarleyB

KMeloney

Ooooh, have pics somewhere, Harley?

-Kirk

MillenniumVette

Ya, that's because they were araid they might get their azz kicked! J/K

Man I still love my RAT black wheels and they look better than any aftermarket "bling bling" wheel....