Do all cars look worse with black wheels?

[neilbauer]

[Rockstar]

monamimate said:

Well, my 1:43 scale model has them... does that count?

Yes of course



I've kept the 996 on standard 17" rims which seem small compared to most modern 911's that run on 20" rims these days but they are much more compliant on bumpy roads

Seriously though the modern huge rim diameter fashion is a bit silly, potholes and big bumps at speed are genuine hazards for the oversize 19" rims with 35 profile tyres on my actual car.

[DeolTheBeast]

neilbauer said:

Why is it sitting so high like a Baja racer or something? Would look better with silver or gunmetal wheels - better still, an alloy style that actually suits the car.

[BMWE34FAN]

http://www.tradecentrewarrington.co.uk.razsor.auto...

Going there tomorrow to just see what I think of a Lexus IS, doesn't look too bad on Black wheels in fairness.

[SonicShadow]

I think this looks great with black OEM wheels:

[billy939]

DJP said:

I think this thread proves that very few cars look better with black wheels and that no car is improved simply by plonking black wheels on it.

The ones where it does work all seem to have either rim tape, polished rims or contrasting (usually body colour) callipers behind the wheel giving it a visual “lift”.

Hence the Clio in post #2 looks good – it has red callipers and rim tape which somehow just works. Likewise the Lambo in post #4 with it's body coloured callipers. And then there are numerous Ferraris etc that all sport body coloured callipers. They look good.

But the Pug 205 on page 5, the various Gtis and any big Merc riding on black rims simply look gash.

What this thread 'proves' is that some cars look better on silver wheels and some look better on black wheels, but it is all based on personal opinion.
As someone else has said, from their generation black wheels just reminds them of steel wheels, that is possibly why a lot of people prefer silver. However from my generation a lot of people prefer black wheels as silver can be associated with wheel trims in the same way.

The way I see it is a lot of manufacturers make black wheels a standard item on cars these days, and they wouldn't do that if it wasn't popular with the people buying the cars

[Rockstar]

WRT the oversize rims this is what I am talking about. Not much more than rubber bands around the wheels



They look super cool, much like the cross drilled brake rotors (OEM so apparently not drilled but instead cast perforated-no wonder they are so flipping expensive less cool looking slotted rotors would give the same benefits without compromising the disc's strength) but in reality they are more for looks than functionality. Purists will be pleased to note they are silver

Edited by Rockstar on Saturday 13th December 23:11

[Heaveho]

The original post should be moved to the thread " stupid things non-petrolheads say".

[bigvanfan]

s m said:

How very dare they!

M3 looks nice on those Mark -I like them but I'm sure some don't

I don't , I love e30 m3's but that's wrong, wheels are too big and don't start me on the smoked lights , evo sport spoiler I like

[MissChief]

Heaveho said:

The original post should be moved to the thread " stupid things non-petrolheads say".

A bit harsh for simply posting my opinion and asking if others thought the same?

[neilbauer]

DeolTheBeast said:

neilbauer said:

Why is it sitting so high like a Baja racer or something? Would look better with silver or gunmetal wheels - better still, an alloy style that actually suits the car.

That's standard height and the wheels are Ford Focus RS wheels and very similar to the standard ZS wheels just 17" rather than 16" the Fiesta ST500 came on black wheels as standard. In your opinion they dont suit the car, I like them



That'll be the Baja Focus too

Edited by neilbauer on Sunday 14th December 11:15

[DJP]

e21Mark said:

Reading this thread, it's almost as if some folk like black wheels and some don't?

Can't quite see how some see that black wheels equates to being a chav though?

Erm...

http://memedepot.com/uploads/0/207_not_sure_if_ser...

[ManOpener]

DeolTheBeast said:

neilbauer said:

Why is it sitting so high like a Baja racer or something? Would look better with silver or gunmetal wheels - better still, an alloy style that actually suits the car.

I think it's partially the angle the picture is taken from but 17" wheels look too big for the ZS IMO.
In all fairness, in standard form they sit pretty high as well.

Not a fan of the black on black either, nor am I more generally of black wheels, but in some instances they look okay- plus the fact they hide brake dust is pretty handy. Gunmetal or dark titanium are vastly preferable, also with the added bonus of hiding brake dust.

[AC43]

Paul O said:

rohrl said:

In summary then, in response to the OP's original question of "Do all cars look worse with black wheels?" the answer is that other than racing cars and Porsches on Fuchs, yes, pretty much all of them do.

I agree. I'm from an era where steel wheels were common place, different wheel trims were the option and alloys were special.

So whenever I see black wheels, i just see this:





Black wheels, I just don't get it.

Edited by Paul O on Friday 12th December 18:26

Heh heh. This same mental image I have.

[otolith]

DJP said:

e21Mark said:

Reading this thread, it's almost as if some folk like black wheels and some don't?

Can't quite see how some see that black wheels equates to being a chav though?

Erm...

http://memedepot.com/uploads/0/207_not_sure_if_ser...

Clearly the world splits entirely into chavs who like black wheels and those who think the only thing to drive is a new silver German saloon on finance - that's how PH works.

[e21Mark]

bigvanfan said:

s m said:

How very dare they!

M3 looks nice on those Mark -I like them but I'm sure some don't

I don't , I love e30 m3's but that's wrong, wheels are too big and don't start me on the smoked lights , evo sport spoiler I like

The wheels are that size by necessity as (often used on track) it also has Tarox 6 pot calipers and bigger discs, which wouldn't fit behind 15's. There is also a far wider choice of tyre open to me in 17's. That said, I also prefer the aesthetics and have always thought the OE rims look lost beneath the arches. The Star-tec light clusters come down to personal preference I guess? It seems a lot of folk like them though, as demand and value is pretty high. I wasn't sure myself, as they were on the car when I bought it, but they've grown on me now and I think they suit the overall look pretty well. That said, I'm a chav who likes black wheels, so what do I know?

Wheels are also period correct.

Edited by e21Mark on Monday 15th December 21:07

[Stenn]

With very few exceptions black wheels completely ruin the look of a car for me. Especially when on standard everyday cars, it just looks like your wheel trims have fallen off.

[Tiger Tim]

Another supporter of black wheels on the appropriate car

[Heaveho]

MissChief said:

A bit harsh for simply posting my opinion and asking if others thought the same?

Yeah, possibly a bit direct, guess what colour my wheels are!

[PaulJ37]

So, without trawling through the whole thread, have we all agreed that 'no' cars dont always look worse with black wheels?!