Chrome wheels
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 14,492
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From: Dallas, TX
People who like black wheels are basically saying "I want wheels the color of brake dust". It's similar to a black-wheel-lover making the decision to wear brown pants. It's lazy and kind of disgusting. 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
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From: Springfield MO
That reminds me of driving back around 1960. I had a set of 1956 Oldsmobile Fiesta flipper hubcaps on my Mom's 1957 Mercury. Back then we would drive down the street(pre shopping center days) downtown and watch our car's reflection in the huge plate glass windows of the stores. It was neat seeing the flippers flipper. But then---- I was a kid.
We could see then while we were driving.
We could see then while we were driving.
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
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From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
Translation:
People who like something different than me are basically saying, "I want what I want, which may be different than you." It's similar to a person with a different opinion making a decision I can't manage to quelch as being a contrary point of view. It's different than mine and as such kind of disgusting.
Last edited by OnPoint; May 11, 2017 at 11:18 AM.
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
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Most manufacturers don't offer chromed wheels any more, but virtually all offer silver painted or polished aluminum. Actually, now that I think of it, chromed has never been the classic look, but more optional bling for just a few manufacturers and the after market. Chrome hubcaps were big for awhile on older cars.
Last edited by Foosh; May 11, 2017 at 04:21 PM.
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
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From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
True. Although GM does on the Corvette and even demands extra coin for it. My guess - and admittedly it's just a guess - is they continue to offer the chrome wheels for the Corvette because people are still willing to pay up for them.
Where I think they've falling noticeably behind, is in offering other finishes/colors. Basic sedans and SUVs can be had with machined face, variously tinted, or differing shades of grey wheels to effectively accent body colors. GM seems stuck on silver, black and chrome - for the most part. Pretty limiting. Although, being a relatively low volume car, maybe they don't want the added logistics/costs of more wheel finish options, I dunno. But Corvette seems a bit behind in that category.
Last edited by OnPoint; May 11, 2017 at 04:23 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 2,679
I'm 35 and have always loved chrome wheels. Nothing old about me. Chrome can be tacky, but it can also sparkle and shine like nothing else.
It's all about package and presentation. For example I'd never get chrome on my Focus ST, but for Trucks and Sports cars it looks good with specific colors
Would you appreciate it if everyone derided Black Wheels as Thug and Painted Wheels as boring with no regard to package and presentation?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 2,679
Most manufacturers don't offer chromed wheels any more, but virtually all offer silver painted or polished aluminum. Actually, now that I think of it, chromed has never been the classic look, but more optional bling for just a few manufacturers and the after market. Chrome hubcaps were big for awhile on older cars.
There is a reason you don't see it on anything European, there are actually laws over there that "discourage" the use of chrome wheels. They aren't outright illegal, but nearly close to it.
Black is actually quite popular with car manufacturers not because it looks cool, but because it hides brake dust. Ford Performance cars typically use black wheels to hide brake dust. This is why the Focus ST wheels went dark grey then black, the Fiesta ST went dark grey, the RS only ahs black, the Mustang GT performance cars have black as do the GT350 and GT350R. The addition of a silver as an option on the Mustang GT performance pack was because customers demanded it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
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To hide brake dust is exactly why OEMs have embraced black wheels fully.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 2,679
Looks good, painted silver is always a tasteful, classy choice. The day is coming when we are free from chrome wheels on the order form, have faith ! Notice how many different choices there are other than chrome. The day is coming...only then we will be free !
Why is it that virtually zero, zeee-ro performance car companies offer chrome wheels? Lotta out out of touch guys here ....sorry.
Free of chrome !! Free of chrome !!! Thank God almighty we are free of chrome !!
Why is it that virtually zero, zeee-ro performance car companies offer chrome wheels? Lotta out out of touch guys here ....sorry.
Free of chrome !! Free of chrome !!! Thank God almighty we are free of chrome !!
You also realize that in Europe chrome wheels are basically "illegal" right? Not actually illegal, but hard to get certified (I think it's due to environmental concerns, it's easier to import them like on a Corvette than to have them manufactured and sold in Europe).
Which means no European car manufacturer puts them on cars because they it's too difficult to get them certified, and it isn't worth tooling it up just for the US (where you basically can do anything).
So basically your logic is that because it's basically "illegal" for chrome wheels to be on cars in Europe and to save money no European car manufacturers make them, that no one should have them?
OK, got it, so you don't actually know anything. Good to get that cleared up.
Team Owner
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Chrome wheels truly look fantastic with certain color combinations. They came on my Shark Gray Z06 and were it not for the all weather gravel roads out my way they would still be on the car. Sadly, the acid content in road base will pit the chrome very quickly. A lesson sadly learned on a previous Corvette. My dealer graciously swapped them for a set of the black with red inlay wheels.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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Chrome is offered on almost every car for specific brands. It depends on if it's part of the image. Cadillac, Chrysler, and Lincoln have a lot of chrome, so does Chevy, Dodge, and some Fords and when it was around Pontiac did. Buick has some but not as much as the rest of the US brands. Jeep doesn't. Japanese cars have it as options on some models.
There is a reason you don't see it on anything European, there are actually laws over there that "discourage" the use of chrome wheels. They aren't outright illegal, but nearly close to it.
Black is actually quite popular with car manufacturers not because it looks cool, but because it hides brake dust. Ford Performance cars typically use black wheels to hide brake dust. This is why the Focus ST wheels went dark grey then black, the Fiesta ST went dark grey, the RS only ahs black, the Mustang GT performance cars have black as do the GT350 and GT350R. The addition of a silver as an option on the Mustang GT performance pack was because customers demanded it.
There is a reason you don't see it on anything European, there are actually laws over there that "discourage" the use of chrome wheels. They aren't outright illegal, but nearly close to it.
Black is actually quite popular with car manufacturers not because it looks cool, but because it hides brake dust. Ford Performance cars typically use black wheels to hide brake dust. This is why the Focus ST wheels went dark grey then black, the Fiesta ST went dark grey, the RS only ahs black, the Mustang GT performance cars have black as do the GT350 and GT350R. The addition of a silver as an option on the Mustang GT performance pack was because customers demanded it.
Silver-painted, yes, polished or machine-faced or brushed aluminum, yes, plenty of after market options, yes, but I simply have no memories of chrome-plated wheels as original equipment on high-performance cars other than Corvette or perhaps other GM products.
I would be happy to have my memory refreshed, but please don't show me pictures of after-market wheels or OEM wheels that have been sent to the chrome plating shop.
Last edited by Foosh; May 12, 2017 at 12:29 AM.