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Personally, I am not a black wheel fan. So, when I purchased our 2019 GS last week, I ordered a set of Machined Faced Cup Wheels to replace the black ones that came on the car. Those have already been tentatively sold and will be shipped out sometime late next week .
I went with Black wheels when I bought my '17 BRM Grand Sport. I was going for the "Blackout" look. All of the wheel detail just got lost, what with the Black Calipers, Wheels and Tires. I recently had the OEM Black wheels machine faced. I really like the way it came out. You can see the wheel detail, and there is much more contrast with the calipers and tires. I know some will not like it, but it works for me!
Not to ruffle any feathers, but can someone please explain how the popularity has risen so well for black wheels?
Absolutely no disrespect to those who own them and like them, heck I have them on mine but just don't care for them, l just can't figure how they became so popular...
To me, and again absolutely no disrespect, they resemble a car that's missing hubcaps.
Is it that they resemble NASCAR racing, or something like that? How did they become so popular? And what is the attraction?
Thanks
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The black wheel fad is fading fast. I'm seeing a LOT more cars sporting various colors and silverish wheels.
Not sure how they became so popular. Probably just like anything else. Parachute pants and Cabbage Patch dolls were once very popular as well.
When I had my Camaro SS 1LE it came with black wheels and red calipers I thought it looked awesome at the time. I have a C7 Stingray now with machined faced wheels with black painted pockets. I don’t particularly care for them, they remind me of a Honda Accord wheel from a distance as the machine faced twin spokes look too shiny to me. Nowadays, I prefer a graphite or nickel color so they are not too shiny but also have enough contrast with the tire and wheel well so that you can actually see the wheel design. I went with the pearl nickel for my GS and think they are a good compromise and they don’t cost any extra.
Chrome wheels are more like parachute pants or cabbage patch dolls in that they are more a thing of the past than the present. Currently, black wheels are more popular than chrome, and in the future they'll probably come up with another look that will make the black wheels look dated to that generation. And over time chrome and black will make comebacks, that just how things work - tastes change and trends change, ultimately, there is no 'right' or 'wrong', it's just a matter of personal preference.
When I first saw black wheels I thought they looked lousy, but over time they grew on me, to the point now where I wouldn't want chrome wheels on my GS and I LOVE the black wheels I currently have.
Here we go again! The reason black wheels are popular right now is for the same reason whitewall tires or skinny ties were once popular. It's simply a FAD. What most people do is go along with what's the latest trend. I personally don't think they do a damn thing for any car except if a wheel thief goes by the car it looks like someone beat him to it! However, I have no problem with people who like them or people who like machined, aluminum or chrome wheels. As far as racers go and as one myself, you bought the biggest tires and biggest wheels you could for performance, not for show, and for the best price. You didn't really care what they looked like as long as you won. Why wreck your expensive pretty wheels while whipping around a track or blasting down the strip?!? Just my opinion.
I'll also point out that it's not surprising that there is a lot of support for 'old-school' chrome on a site populated by, lets say, a more mature crowd...
For instance - I would never put black wheels on a Chrome Bumper C3. They would be totally out of place. Most cars of the 50's 60's and 70's had large amounts of bright chrome trim. Those cars would obviously look best with Chrome or polished wheels.
In the last couple of generations (most cars, but Corvettes in particular ) have lost all chrome accents and trim and instead have dark plastic or painted trim.
To me - for a C7 with black accents (Carbon flash spoiler, skirts, and etc) and tinted dark windows the best look is to compliment those accents with black wheels. Chrome wheels would look just as out of place on that as black wheels on a 69 chrome bumper car.
I'll also point out that it's not surprising that there is a lot of support for 'old-school' chrome on a site populated by, lets say, a more mature crowd...
Chrome wheels are popular in general, always have been and will be. Sure we see ups and downs as fads come and go just like the super hot black wheels of recent years are currently falling out of favor.
In my opinion they are popular because they are different. I find they look more aggressive and play much better with the popular colors of today's cars.
I much prefer dark gunmetal or platinum (in Porsche speak) to black, as I agree that some wheels get lost with the tires in the wheel wells. My old 370Z was gunmetal and I had the rims painted 40th Anniversary gray (hint of purple) to differentiate from the body color.
I went with Black wheels when I bought my '17 BRM Grand Sport. I was going for the "Blackout" look. All of the wheel detail just got lost, what with the Black Calipers, Wheels and Tires. I recently had the OEM Black wheels machine faced. I really like the way it came out. You can see the wheel detail, and there is much more contrast with the calipers and tires. I know some will not like it, but it works for me!
Before After
Much, much better. Adds class to the previous boy racer look.
Like many, I didn't care much for black wheels when they first started appearing a decade ago, but now prefer them on many vehicles. On a C7, I like black best on most colors. But, as someone else said, there is no explaining personal preferences.
I put black plastic coat removable paint on my silver rims because, next to other Vettes my wheels looked small. By painting them black it's harder to tell and it make the car look lower. My opinion of course.
Not to ruffle any feathers, but can someone please explain how the popularity has risen so well for black wheels?
Absolutely no disrespect to those who own them and like them, heck I have them on mine but just don't care for them, l just can't figure how they became so popular...
To me, and again absolutely no disrespect, they resemble a car that's missing hubcaps.
Is it that they resemble NASCAR racing, or something like that? How did they become so popular? And what is the attraction?
Thanks
.
.
I could never understand chrome wheels. To be quite honest, I would never run a car with hubcaps.
Last edited by juanvaldez; 10-10-2018 at 01:11 PM.
10-10-2018, 09:40 AM
Here we go again! The reason black wheels are popular right now is for the same reason whitewall tires or skinny ties were once popular. It's simply a FAD. What most people do is go along with what's the latest trend. I personally don't think they do a damn thing for any car except if a wheel thief goes by the car it looks like someone beat him to it!
However, I have no problem with people who like them or people who like machined, aluminum or chrome wheels.
As far as racers go and as one myself, you bought the biggest tires and biggest wheels you could for performance, not for show, and for the best price. You didn't really care what they looked like as long as you won. Why wreck your expensive pretty wheels while whipping around a track or blasting down the strip?!? Just my opinion. 
