Can somebody explain this, please
10-19-2018, 12:08 PM
#122
Instructor
Heres the formula:
10-19-2018, 01:47 PM
#123
Le Mans Master
Maybe you're too young to remember the first time black wheels were "in". Back in the mid-sixties black wheels became the cool thing. Basically, guys took stock wheels and if they weren't painted black from the factory, the spray bombed them black. Then you painted the lug nuts and dust protector silver. I did it too my dad's car. He wasn't amused and the hubcaps went back on. The fad back then was short lived and didn't catch on as much as the black wheel thing today. As to why black wheels became popular, who knows. Like anything else, a group decides it's "cool" and that's all it takes. It's pretty well ingrained as factories are marketing black wheels as extra cost option.
10-19-2018, 01:50 PM
#124
Le Mans Master
The following 2 users liked this post by Corgidog1:
JFJr (10-22-2018),
JNorthstar (10-19-2018)
10-19-2018, 02:38 PM
#125
Race Director
Member Since: Jun 2005
Location: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
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JNorthstar (10-19-2018)
10-19-2018, 03:30 PM
#126
Safety Car
Black doesn't offer enough contrast for me as the tires are already black. I agree it looks good on C7s with all the factory black accents (badges, skirts, wings, etc) but with so many people doing the plastic dip thing black is just becoming too common. Chrome? Too much bling bling.
10-19-2018, 09:28 PM
#128
Chrome wheels are fine on that car because they accent the chrome window trim, window moldings, headlight bezel, mirror, hood ornament, and bumpers...Can't say the same for the C7.
10-20-2018, 07:40 AM
#129
Burning Brakes
Black looks more aggressively, chrome takes away too much of the car's design and looks old timer
10-20-2018, 08:04 AM
#130
Burning Brakes
I don't see any track or actual race cars with chrome wheels. If you buy a Corvette because you want to portray an image of driving a track car on the street, then get black wheels. I personally think chrome looks out of place on the C7 but my wife likes chrome wheels.
10-21-2018, 10:46 AM
#134
I like black wheels and think they look best on other peoples cars.
10-21-2018, 12:41 PM
#135
10-22-2018, 09:19 AM
#136
10-22-2018, 09:27 AM
#137
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
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Full aluminum racing disks and white walls were also “in" in the early 1060's! After rebuilding and "stuffing" in a bored out Olds engine no money for white wall tires. Those were rubber while walls added to blackwall tires! You broke the tire bead and fit them in between tire and rim! Pep Boys specials! Note "dog dish" small caps on the rear! Pic from school paper. 
Last edited by JerryU; 10-22-2018 at 09:39 AM.
10-22-2018, 09:43 AM
#138
Race Director
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Full aluminum disks and white walls were "in" in the early 1060's! After rebuilding and "stuffing" a bored out Olds engine no money for white wall tires. Those were rubber while walls added to blackwall tires! You broke the tire bead and fit them in between tire and rim! Pep Boys specials! Those rubber white walls were called "Porta Walls" and they almost always looked as fake as add on "Caliper Covers" look today. As for white wall tires, it was well into the 70's before you could buy a top line tire from any manufacturer that wasn't a "white wall". That's when we had to put the white wall side on the inside if we didn't want white walls showing.
10-22-2018, 11:32 AM
#139
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
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^^^
Yep, they were not as good as "real white walls" but my source for tires was like many parts of the day, a junk yard! That is where I recall getting those 15 inch wheel and wider tires as that Olds engine lowered the front several inches! The fronts and rears were 16 inch when I got the car. That Olds was heavier than the flathead it replaced! That Pep Boys paint was what would be called "primer surfacer" today! Form Followed Function even then! And it did perform!
Yep, they were not as good as "real white walls" but my source for tires was like many parts of the day, a junk yard! That is where I recall getting those 15 inch wheel and wider tires as that Olds engine lowered the front several inches! The fronts and rears were 16 inch when I got the car. That Olds was heavier than the flathead it replaced! That Pep Boys paint was what would be called "primer surfacer" today! Form Followed Function even then! And it did perform!
Last edited by JerryU; 10-22-2018 at 11:33 AM.
