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How about something in the middle ... not chrome and not black
Comp Gray ...
OP - comp gray would be my choice over black for your car. As you see, you will get mixed opinions. Older guys tend to say chrome. I'm not against chrome but both wheel and color choice makes a huge difference in car appearance. Pick the right combination for you.
I've owned four Corvettes. When I bought my C4 I discovered West Coast Corvette and their wheel swap program so I swapped my OEM wheels for chrome. When I bought my C5 and was doing some exterior appearance work I went back to West Coast Corvette and swapped my OEM wheels for the C6 Grand Sport chrome replicas. It made the car look a lot better in my opinion. I ordered my C7 - it was Torch Red - and I had the black OEM wheels put on it. They popped with that red car.
These ZR1 replicas were on my C6 when I bought it and I've gotten a lot of compliments on them. I have no plans to change them.
I took first place in that show. The guy in the C7 that was one more space over from me wasn't too happy about it, though. Guess he thought all of the Coast Guard stickers he'd plastered his car with should have brought him a trophy, and he wasn't shy about letting people know.
Every now and again I think “black”. Then when I look at my chrome wheels, especially when cleaned and polished, I say no way! Long live Cragar mags! Yeah....I’m showing my age! LOL!!
Nice looking ride! Have you given any thought to swapping out the headlights for a black set of Morimoto lights? Thinking they would look great with your hash marks and hood stripe.
I've owned four Corvettes. When I bought my C4 I discovered West Coast Corvette and their wheel swap program so I swapped my OEM wheels for chrome. When I bought my C5 and was doing some exterior appearance work I went back to West Coast Corvette and swapped my OEM wheels for the C6 Grand Sport chrome replicas. It made the car look a lot better in my opinion. I ordered my C7 - it was Torch Red - and I had the black OEM wheels put on it. They popped with that red car.
These ZR1 replicas were on my C6 when I bought it and I've gotten a lot of compliments on them. I have no plans to change them.
Hey Dawg - not hijacking this thread but I’ve got to ask. Where did you get those marker lights. They look great!
Every now and again I think “black”. Then when I look at my chrome wheels, especially when cleaned and polished, I say no way! Long live Cragar mags! Yeah....I’m showing my age! LOL!!
I didn't mind my chrome wheels at all even though I did take some ribbing over them. The opportunity for the wheel swap just happened to work out.
The one thing I don't like about chrome is that they are a major headache to repair if you manage to damage one. Not many places that do the repairs are around anymore. You generally have to ship the wheel off. By the time you do all that you can just as well buy another wheel. Not to mention the logistics headache of being without a wheel for potentially weeks. I'm open to hearing any better options as far as that goes.
My Corvette looks similar to yours with the polished aluminum. I would leave it as is. I do not like black wheels and they look as if they were painted with a can of Krylon paint. There are getting to be so many trucks with black wheels too. It's a personal decision and there have been lots of threads regarding this topic. I would use your money for something else. I have been looking at C-7 Z-06's and I believe the chrome wheels are a $1,900.00 option! It seems as if the black wheels are very pre-dominant due to such high costs and not so much as which one is better looking.
My Corvette looks similar to yours with the polished aluminum. I would leave it as is. I do not like black wheels and they look as if they were painted with a can of Krylon paint. There are getting to be so many trucks with black wheels too. It's a personal decision and there have been lots of threads regarding this topic. I would use your money for something else. I have been looking at C-7 Z-06's and I believe the chrome wheels are a $1,900.00 option! It seems as if the black wheels are very pre-dominant due to such high costs and not so much as which one is better looking.
Some Black wheel options cost more than chrome does so cost is a non factor.
That's rediculous right there. Anyone with an $8 can of Plasti-dip can accomplish the same look. Hyperchrome is probably the only black that deserves a pricetag comparable to chrome. Oh, don't even try the "the red stripe on the rim lip".....it too is easy and cheap to do.
Remember all those nasty white wheels on Camaros and Firebirds back in the day? Good times.
Might be some environmental reasons driving the move away from chrome.
No, chrome will always have its place. My 20 Denali diesel has the $2900 chrome wheel option. Black is not for every vehicle and some will have nothing but chrome for years to come.
To help you along in your decision: Talk to your powder coater as they may not be able to powder coat a rim that has been chromed and still get an acceptable finish. I ran into that issue when powder coating rims from my other vehicle. Something about the chrome and how it adheres/ strength of it vs. a polished/ painted aluminum wheel.
I love my black wheels on my 2012 GS Centennial Edition!
I had a Crystal Red Metallic 2012 C6 that came with chrome wheels. I just didn't care for the style of the "Starfish" spokes, so what I did may be an option for you--although "Gumby" wheels are forged, not cast, and are probably the best constructed factory wheels ever--is to stay with chrome but perhaps "update" to a different style wheel from a later year/model. On my 2012, I sold the Starfish wheels and got a set of C7 base wheels in chrome. (Depending on the remaining tire life you have, it may even be a good time to upsize to 19" and 20" C7 wheels and tires.)
When I traded up to a new C7, I was a little tired of chrome wheels but do not like black wheels, so I "compromised" and got the optional polished aluminum so they weren't quite as bright/"bling-y" as the chrome. Here's a couple of pics of my C6 and C7:
My C6 with chrome "base" C7 18"/19" wheels My C7 with polished aluminum 19"/20" wheels
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
