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This is not just vette drivers; there seems to be a lot of disdain recently in the auto world for black wheels. Now over the many years and cars I have owned every shade imaginable from black steelies to chrome to grey to black. To each their own according to taste until I started to see actual eye rolling and head shaking when they see black wheels. I don't get it.
This is not just vette drivers; there seems to be a lot of disdain recently in the auto world for black wheels. Now over the many years and cars I have owned every shade imaginable from black steelies to chrome to grey to black. To each their own according to taste until I started to see actual eye rolling and head shaking when they see black wheels. I don't get it.
And, there are MANY of us who don't understand why anyone would want all black wheels.
From more than 20 feet away all black wheels just look like a black hole.
Chrome or polished wheels, on the other hand, reach out and grab you from any distance, show their design clearly.
As you say, to each their own.
This is not just vette drivers; there seems to be a lot of disdain recently in the auto world for black wheels. Now over the many years and cars I have owned every shade imaginable from black steelies to chrome to grey to black. To each their own according to taste until I started to see actual eye rolling and head shaking when they see black wheels. I don't get it.
And, there are MANY of us who don't understand why anyone would want all black wheels.
From more than 20 feet away all black wheels just look like a black hole.
Chrome or polished wheels, on the other hand, reach out and grab you from any distance, show their design clearly.
As you say, to each their own.
To me, it seems to be a generational thing. Younger guys don't want the same thing their dad had. The older guys go for chrome or polished wheel so the younger guys prefer black, or anything but chrome.Do we really want everyone liking the same thing?
I have not seen such a thing. As a matter of fact. I have custom flat black wheels which are now satin black wheels with several coats of ceramic coating and I get nothing but compliments and repeatedly asked where I got them and how much. People love them. Now on the other hand. I have seen some people on here say "Anything but black, its played out". Then they go get some chrome or polished wheels. As if they are new offerings.
To each their own. Im the same with you. I have had chrome, polished, black, grey, you name it. I basically put what I like on the vision I have for the vehicle. If you don't like a color you dont have to buy it, just order your car with what you want, or replace if you bought a car with a color of wheels you hated.
Last edited by mtraylor2001; Yesterday at 01:51 PM.
Sadly, I think a lot of it is just the general trend in society now where some people struggle with the concept that other people might not think or have the exact same taste as they do.
Sadly, I think a lot of it is just the general trend in society now where some people struggle with the concept that other people might not think or have the exact same taste as they do.
Some guys are just miserable. They cant let someone enjoy what they have. They have to tell them their opinion on everything.
It's strange, I've been seeing it a lot with older generations. Often, older generations paint the picture of younger generations being disrespectful, but they're often the ones coming up to guys and telling them what they dont like about their vehicles.
I see vehicles that are optioned in a way I dont like, or modified in such a way that I find visually offensive, but I dont find it necessary to tell someone that.
I have the black 20-spoke wheels on a Red Mist car. I don't love them because they are so difficult to keep clean. But the one thing they do is hide the fender gap left by the factory sizes. I am over 60 and I definitely don't want shiny chrome. My dad on the other hand would want blinding chrome. I don't want the wheels to reach out and grab everyone's attention. I thought the car was supposed to be the focal point, and the wheels are a complimentary accessory. I keep going back and forth between bronze, gunmetal or maybe brushed silver but never anything super shiny. I'm also OK with the black 20-spoke wheels as long as they're clean but Z51 brake dust has a different plan.
I like it but they're going out of style. I was super into and had black wheels in the late 2000s when they were catching steam in the aftermarket but extremely unpopular with the mainstream. Wheel color really depends on the color of the car you're pairing it with but because black is a neutral color, it works with any color like silver does. Black is especially used on sports cars or optional sport package upgrades on family sedans (Camry, Corolla, Elantra N, etc.) because of its connotation with motorsports like F1 and IMSA (C8.R/Z06 GT3.R) where black wheels are overwhelmingly used whereas silver was used in the past. How I feel now about black is how I felt in the 90s/2000s about silver. Black is the new silver and nowadays I'd pick silver over black. My last C8's E-Ray-style wheels were Carbon Flash (a barely noticeably lighter tint of black) with machined lip because I thought the contrast worked better on Hypersonic Gray than all black or all silver:
Now that my new C8Z is Hysteria Purple, that opened up more wheel color options to pair it with. Gold was my pick:
Last edited by switchlanez; Yesterday at 02:37 PM.
Part of it may be generational.
when us older guys were kids, plain black wheels were the sign of an entry level vehicle (like a cop car)
Yeah, they may get a small tin hub cap, but it was still the poor-man look.
Fast forward to today, and black rims ooze "cheap" to our generation (I know they can be pricey)... Black wheels are a step back to the 1940s or 60s
2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by dbirdhouse1
This is not just vette drivers; there seems to be a lot of disdain recently in the auto world for black wheels. Now over the many years and cars I have owned every shade imaginable from black steelies to chrome to grey to black. To each their own according to taste until I started to see actual eye rolling and head shaking when they see black wheels. I don't get it.
I'm drawn to bronze/gold wheels. Those often garner similar reactions to black wheels from some guys, but many seem to like them.
I guess growing up with bronze TE37s being the holy grail certainly helped build my appreciation for colored wheels. Plus I always liked World Rally Blue STIs which are always paired with gold wheels.
Simply "fads" and reactions to them. Nothing new about it being wheels. Just move on and wait a while.
Agree, they come and go!
Made this Pic a few years ago recalling what wheels I had for my cars. Started with my 1st car a '41 Ford Coupe Hot Rod I built starting in 1958, a year before I got my driver's license. Made all body mods, finished with Gray Primer paint. Replaced the small 136 cid V8 60 (for 60 hp) flathead with a '50 Olds engine! Spun Aluminum wheel covers were the in thing. So were while walls. Went Plus 1 aftermarket wheels with my 1st new car, a 1967 Corvair. Liked my 2014 C7 Black Wheels BUT after a few years got "Old" IMO! Usually found an OEM wheel option for my 7 Vettes.
Added my current Vette. One of the ONLY times of 7 Vettes I picked the standard wheel, Pearl Nickel finish 5 spoke. Love the finish. BUT for my planned 2027 GSX will get the 10 spoke in Pearl Nickel to have something different!
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.
I don't get it, black wheels
As if they are new offerings.
