Are Black Wheels Still Popular?

Are black wheels on cars still popular?  I think the trend started about ten years ago, when luxury car makers began putting black wheels on their basic models.  Since then, they have become very popular and are an option on nearly every new car.  Is it time for a change?  I think so.

Over the last decade or so, I’m guilty of painting the wheels on my fun cars black.  I even did it for a couple of friends’ cars.  It seemed like an easy way to add a sporty look and to stand out from the crowd.  Heck, the last two MINIs I owned had black wheels from the factory.

I’ve had enough of it.  While initially cool, black wheels have a number of shortcomings.

Black Wheel Dress-up

Once the initial impression of having black wheels wears off, what are you left to do?  Some really good wheel designs get lost in the sea of black.  Stand about thirty feet from a car with black wheels, and you will see what I mean.  Nothing but black.

For a while, I found ways to add some highlights to my black wheels.  I either painted or applied a vinyl stripe (like the TapeWorks Rimstripe) around the perimeter of the rim, or added vinyl stripes between two spokes.  If you still like the idea of a black wheel but are not ready for a different color, these little touches can go a long way.

Related article:  DIY Vinyl Wheel Graphics

New Color Trends

Last fall, I went to the Detroit Auto Show with my friend, Todd.  I think he is one step ahead of me with the dislike of black wheels, so he helped set my radar on alert.

As we roamed the display of cars at Huntington Place, I noticed a smaller number of vehicles with black wheels.  Instead, more vehicles were shown with matte silver wheels.  This is not a bright silver, but a “dirty” silver with a matte finish.  The shade is very close to the Argent Gray rally wheels from the 1970s, but with a matte finish.

A good example of matte silver wheels can be found on the blue Corvette Z06 below:

Gold and bronze wheels are also gaining popularity, but selectively.  Those colors are not as universal as black, but look great on green, black and blue vehicles (especially sports cars and off-road vehicles).

Testing New Colors

As you may know from past articles, I like to paint wheels.  Black has been a popular choice in the past, but I have also branched out to gold, bronze and many shades of gray.

Related Articles:  Paint Your Own Wheels; Fixing Wheel Paint Mistakes

I have a couple of extra wheels in my basement that I use for color samples.  It’s a nice way to test out a color without committing a real wheel to a permanent color change.  I was bored this week, so I decided to try a new color on a black wheel.

The wheels above are from an old VW Beetle, which resembles the rally wheel design that was popular in the 1970s.  I took it from gloss black to matte nickel silver with relative ease using Rust-Oleum paint.  The paint was already a matte finish, but I still applied a matte clear coat to give it a little more depth and protection.

I did the same with the wheel from a 2017 MINI Clubman, above (the original factory black wheel is shown above the earlier “Putting Lipstick On A Pig” section).  You can see how the color looks between the old and new wheel designs.

While I like the general look of the matte nickel, I would like to find a silver that is one shade darker.  I may need to go to a true automotive paint to get the right color.

Ongoing Updates:  Trying More New Colors

Update (7/25/23):  I recently bought a new Camaro that came with black wheels.  I quickly ditched those wheels for something much better.  More details (with pics) can be found HERE.

I also traded another set of Camaro wheels for the optional forged aluminum wheels available on a 2023 Camaro SS.  Those came in satin black, but I painted them a “warm gray metallic” single stage urethane.  I like that tone of gray and installed them on my Camaro.

Two years later, I’ve sold the Camaro and bought a 2024 Ford Ranger.  It came with dark gray wheels, which look really good.  Not being able to leave well enough alone, I bought a set of used Bronco wheels and painted them green.  You can read more about that in the article Wheel Color: Green Is The New Black (or Gray and Bronze).

Final Verdict and Questions?

I’m not sure the trend is shifting quickly from black to other colored wheels, but I think it is coming.  Black wheels used to be a sign that you either lost your hubcap or were driving an engineering vehicle (my Detroit roots are showing).  Today, it is reserved for luxury and sports cars and trucks.  I’m done with black wheels.

How about you?

Please let me know if you have any added thoughts or questions in the comments below.