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My original Collector's Edition wheels are in need of being restored. Even though they are not bad by any stretch, they bother me (especially up close when detailing) due to a previous owner's poor choice of tire installers. Chipped, scratched, even a gouge from installation. Also age is getting to them as far as some bubbling under the paint. I have pricing estimates ranging from $100 - $200 per wheel. A concern about this is about the work being done well, so then I started thinking about something similar with a 5 spoke design. I know I will get a full spectrum of opinions but that's what I want. If the answers are overwhelming in one direction that's probably the way to go.
Would you get the originals done and hope for the best at a price between $400- $800 total or would these American Racing Torque style in Anthracite be a nice choice?? My 'out the door' price would be $826 (tax, swapping the tires, balancing, etc..) by my local pro tire shop. Here's a photo. Do you think the anthracite color would blend OK with the Sebring Silver paint on my CE if I decided to go this direction?? Attachment 48071455
Depends on your goals. If you're interested in it as a CE, refinish the wheels. Pro tip, ask your local exotic dealer who they use for wheel refinishing.
That said, the a molds have a clean and relativrelatively modern look. The torque thrust is a retro style. I'd be more inclined to find a set of c5 thin spokes or magnesium wheels than get the torques. That style looks better on a c4 to me.
American Racing makes a very good product and the price you mentioned sounds like a good deal. Assume that the wheel is a 17x9.5 with a 56mm offset? That would be the "correct" dimensions so the wheel would sit in the wheelwell properly.
Maybe somebody could photoshop a pic of that wheel on the pic of your car. That may give you a better idea of how the color combo would look.
I like those wheels but would be more inclined to restore the factory wheels.
Just stop by any dealer and ask any service consultant who the dealer uses to fix wheels on the used cars.
My son is a service consultant. He also has an '11 SS Camaro and recently got some curb rash pulling into a parking spot. The wheel guy they used repaired it for $70 and you cannot tell it was ever scratched.
I personally hate those wheels, they have their purpose but that isn't on a c4 IMO.
I like the CE and change back and forth with my current wheels and the CE wheels.
The C5 wagon wheels also look good on a CE.
I got these wheels for $325 brand new only had 25 miles on them.
I think you should consider restoring your OEM wheels or going with a C5 or C6 replica or take off wheel. The AR 5 spoke wheels IMCO are too retro looking for a C4.
I think you should consider restoring your OEM wheels or going with a C5 or C6 replica or take off wheel. The AR 5 spoke wheels IMCO are too retro looking for a C4.
You're lucky in one respect, if yours are +56mm backspace there's a wide range in 17" and 18" diameter.
I just replaced the rims on my 86 with 18" last month. Because I have +38mm backspacing I was limited in my selection. I finally found some C6 Z06 rims with +40mm backspacing that with the right tires fit just fine. I like the looks of them on a C4.
Here's a quick shot of mine, it's not glamorous but enough till the weather gets better and I can take a proper picture.
I keep going back and looking at those wheels myself. If you get on the American Racing website http://www.americanracing.com/ select wheels for your year of car, then open whatever wheel you want to look at in a new tab (right click) that way you won't lose the results from the year search.
Then when you are in on the particular wheel, select the "Configurator", once you figure out how it works, you can change the color of the car and see what the wheel s will look like on it.
I used my 96 (arctic white) as a model, because I like that style wheel myself
If you want to be able to save the result so you can do a couple and go back and compare, hit Prnt Scrn button, and then open Paint and hit paste.
(disclaimer: I don't use Windows 10, so I don't know if the pencil necks removed the features that made the previous versions of windows great for people that understood how to make it work so this technique may not work).
I really appreciate these replies. The 'retro' viewpoint about the new rims is valid and something to consider. Do they belong on a C4.
I have asked several dealers where they get their wheels done as well. Unfortunately every place is 2+ hours away and the dealers ship the wheels there. That's getting too pricey (for me) plus I'd have to remove the tires first most likely, then re-balance. It's all more $$ and time. If I drive to these facilities, I would have to leave the car, then come back and repeat. That's almost two full days invested for my wife or a friend to assist. This is what you get when you move away from civilization here in the mountains. Still deciding so keep the opinions coming. It certainly won't be done this week as snow is coming tonight. Thanks.
It is your car, no one else's opinion counts. I don't think they look too bad at all. However I would keep the old wheels around, stored in the shed/garage/whatever in plastic garbage bags.
I really appreciate these replies. The 'retro' viewpoint about the new rims is valid and something to consider. Do they belong on a C4.
I have asked several dealers where they get their wheels done as well. Unfortunately every place is 2+ hours away and the dealers ship the wheels there. That's getting too pricey (for me) plus I'd have to remove the tires first most likely, then re-balance. It's all more $$ and time. If I drive to these facilities, I would have to leave the car, then come back and repeat. That's almost two full days invested for my wife or a friend to assist. This is what you get when you move away from civilization here in the mountains. Still deciding so keep the opinions coming. It certainly won't be done this week as snow is coming tonight. Thanks.
These wheels guys do it all so of they need to remove tires, they can and Rebalance them(I think they leave the tires on mostly), and FAST. Talk to a dealer in the nearest big city, schedule an appointment InIn the morning, go get some lunch or something and drive home that afternoon.
The issue with dealing with a dealer is that the wheel refinishers are there to work on their cars not a non-paying customer. Now if you are going to pay the dealer, you will have their fee piled on top the wheel refinisher's fee. If a person is expecting the dealer to have one of their folks pull the wheel(s) etc, then of course they are going to pay. Plus keeping one of their racks tied up while the car is being worked on ??
Nothing comes for free at a dealership.
If you can find out who the dealer(s) use, then maybe you can go directly to their shop (if they have one) but once again, there is the issue of pulling the wheels, unless you are just having spot repairs done with the wheels on the car, in which case you can find out does the work and arrange somewhere for them to work on it.
another option is to have one wheel at a time refinished, of course you will have to pay shipping and have the little issue of living 2 hours away from anywhere. there is that "mountain tax" :-)
Restore the CE rims...there shouldn't even be a thought about swapping them out...
This may be just me...but I would walk away from a CE for sale, that didn't have the original rims...even if they were a little scratched... In addition, again, this may be just me, but I dont like when I see a C4 with C5 or C6 rims with the logo of that later model... A C4 with a C5 or a C6 logo just doesn't look right in my opinion.
Original is original...and no one can argue about it being worth more in the end...regardless how nice other rims may look.
I really appreciate these replies. The 'retro' viewpoint about the new rims is valid and something to consider. Do they belong on a C4.
I have asked several dealers where they get their wheels done as well. Unfortunately every place is 2+ hours away and the dealers ship the wheels there. That's getting too pricey (for me) plus I'd have to remove the tires first most likely, then re-balance. It's all more $$ and time. If I drive to these facilities, I would have to leave the car, then come back and repeat. That's almost two full days invested for my wife or a friend to assist. This is what you get when you move away from civilization here in the mountains. Still deciding so keep the opinions coming. It certainly won't be done this week as snow is coming tonight. Thanks.
Interesting. I am in the mid-atlantic. Where my son works the wheel repair guy is mobile, doing most of his work onsite. My son's wheel was repaired without the need to dismount the tire.
As you know it's a very personal thing. IMHO the AR TTII is an absolute classic look on a C4.
Over the past dozen years I have seen plenty of C4's on here with every imaginable wheel and I really like the look of the TTII.
They also have a good rep for a quality product.
As for repairing your OEMs here in Seattle there are several shops that do this. I'm sure in your neck of the woods there is someone as well. Looks for other local clubs and ask for a recommendation. As others have said find out who the car dealers use.... don't do it through the dealer go direct to the jobber.
Last edited by Mr. Peabody; 03-11-2017 at 04:36 PM.
Just a word.. Horrible on c4 (first pics), that torque style rims imo are for muscle cars from fifties to seventies only, camaro mustang even vette but c2 only
03-10-2017, 09:37 AM
C4 Only Opinions on this Wheel for CE
