Black Chrome Wheels - Issues?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 281
Likes: 43
From: Gainesville GA
Black Chrome Wheels - Issues?
Thinking about purchasing a set of Black Chrome wheels and would like to know: is a Black Chrome wheel a chrome wheel with an over spray? if so will the coating chip or peel, and what is the coating made of?
If anyone has installed a set of Black Chrome wheels can you post a picture? Style or size of wheels will not matter as I am interested in the wheel finish..
Thanks of advance for your attention and help!
If anyone has installed a set of Black Chrome wheels can you post a picture? Style or size of wheels will not matter as I am interested in the wheel finish..
Thanks of advance for your attention and help!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,825
Likes: 2,474
From: Ft Lauderdale
Tech Contributor
Google black chrome, it is not a dirty chrome, diff process. Very few here have posted pics of black chrome. Should be nice, no issues. Im doing wheels in gloss clear/tint smoke powdercoat soon.
Last edited by Glen e; Dec 19, 2014 at 04:37 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,380
Likes: 103
From: Visalia CA
I had black chome wheels on my C6. In basic terms, its a chrome finish with a tint added in during the process, kinda like mixing paint. It is not a chrome wheel that is then sprayed with something else.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,782
Likes: 106
From: Salado TX
Black chrome is a little softer than regular chrome. I have black chrome pipes on a couple motorcycles and although it is pretty durable it both scratches easier than regular chrome, the scratches are more evident. It'd look awesome on wheels.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
The issues w. black chrome wheels are not much different from painted wheels---they can chip. In addition some might have imperfections in the surface coating not different from painted wheels, too. There are many different processes for black chrome, and most resemble either a hard paint or an actual powder coat process, not a chrome process. If you want to check, either do a google on black chrome, or look at the "helios coating" process, PermaChrome PVD, Permastar by Goodrich Technology Corp., American Powder Coatings, Inc., etc. If you want to talk with some wholesaler/retailers, contact CalChrome Wheels, Black Diamond Wheel, etc.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 58
Likes: 3
From: Houston TX
You can find some pictures in this thread.
I hope more vendors offer it in the future. I think the black chrome finish brings out more of the wheel design versus standard black wheels.
I hope more vendors offer it in the future. I think the black chrome finish brings out more of the wheel design versus standard black wheels.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,083
Likes: 190
From: IL / FL .
The issues w. black chrome wheels are not much different from painted wheels---they can chip. In addition some might have imperfections in the surface coating not different from painted wheels, too. There are many different processes for black chrome, and most resemble either a hard paint or an actual powder coat process, not a chrome process. If you want to check, either do a google on black chrome, or look at the "helios coating" process, PermaChrome PVD, Permastar by Goodrich Technology Corp., American Powder Coatings, Inc., etc. If you want to talk with some wholesaler/retailers, contact CalChrome Wheels, Black Diamond Wheel, etc.
If OP had asked this question 20 years ago black chrome would have always been a metal plating process. Basically normal chrome plating but looking almost black.
That kind of black chrome is hard to find now. Now when you see "black chrome" it's usually a coating called "PVD" which is similar to powder coating. It's not a metal plating process. It looks different, like a transparent metallic effect flashed over a black base coat. Sometimes orange peel is visible.
To get true black chrome plating you have to be specific that you want black chrome plating, not a PVD coating.
Either kind of "black chrome" would be interesting on Stingray wheels. Wheel details would be more visible than when hidden by black paint.
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Last edited by ZL-1; Dec 20, 2014 at 01:55 AM.
