Picking A Custom Wheel Color

Picking a custom color for your wheels can be challenging.  While many factory wheels are stylish, they typically come in silver, black or gray.  Those can be attractive for most applications, but I like to add a more vibrant color to my wheels.

When I bought my Blank Slate Bronco, I knew my work was cut out for me.  The truck is white with a gray hardtop and wheels.  It is a good color combination, yet it needs a splash of color to make it truly interesting.  You can make a big change for low expense if you are willing to do it yourself.

Related articles: Wheel Color: Green Is The New Black; Create Wheel Accents With Spray Paint; 2025 Ford Bronco:  A Blank Slate

Green Again?

The related articles above go into detail how I get my inspiration for wheel accents and color changes.  In the case of my Bronco, I had two directions in mind.

My first idea was to carry on with the green wheel theme established with my Ranger.  The green I used was very dark, so I looked for a brighter green.  Ford uses Eruption Green on many of their vehicles (including the Bronco), so this seemed like a good fit.  I went to my favorite paint supply house, Pete’s Auto Paint Supply, for help.  Pete earned my business from his help with the Ranger green paint, so of course I went back to him.

After getting my paint from Pete, I prepped the wheels for primer, color coat and clear coat.  The result was rewarding and high quality, if I do say so myself!  Once the wheel was dry enough to handle, I took it outside and set it on a stand in front of my existing wheel.  Sadly, I discovered that the green was too “blingy” for me. In fact, it really turned me off to the color green.  It was time for more inspiration.

Inspiration Comes From Many Places

Inspiration does come from many places, and in my case it came from an older YouTube video from creator Sarah-n-Tuned.  Sarah bought a Cactus Gray Bronco about four years ago.  One of her first modifications was a set of custom blue wheels.  She detailed that purchase and installation in her video, Going Bigger And Wider The Clean Way!

Sarah’s custom blue wheels can best be described as dark denim blue.  That color has been stuck in my head for a number of years, so I visited Pete to get help matching that color.  Pete had to use the picture above to begin his color selection.  He pulled three different blues, so I chose “Grayish Blue,” which is a Toyota color 8N6.  Pete also recommended a matte clear coat to finish the look.

More Painting

Once I got my new paint color from Pete, I was off to the workshop for more painting.  I decided to only paint one wheel this time, in case the color was not right.  The new blue applied smoothly and the matte clear coat proved to be a good choice.  Sadly, my choice of the lighter denim blue proved to be a mistake.  

Once I got the blue wheel placed in front of the Bronco, it was clear that it was too bright.  I took a chance and it did not pay off.  Luckily, I only painted one wheel.  That allows me to make a course correction with little effort.

Other Options?

At this point, I am going to take a break to consider other paint options.  I am leaning toward the darker blue that Pete recommended; however, I am going to take some time to get inspired again.  I actually tried Google Gemini to get some ideas.  Surprisingly, Gemini suggested this:

“Since your hardtop is gray (a cool tone), a deep blue wheel can create a sophisticated, cohesive color palette.

• The Look: A matte navy or a slightly desaturated “denim” blue looks purposeful and unique without being overly “loud” like a bright primary blue.

• Why it works: It leans into a maritime or heritage theme that fits the Bronco’s history. It’s a subtle way to add color while keeping the overall look grounded and professional.”

It’s nice to know that AI thinks I am heading in the right direction, or it is scanning my search history to fool me!  Either way, selecting custom color is a process, and involves some trial and error.  It is just paint, so some light sanding and a reshoot is all it takes to move on to the next option.

Color Update

Since publishing this article, I explored more blue colors.  As much as I like the visual impact of a blue wheel, it was hard to find the right shade.  That’s why I went through my color charts looking for inspiration.

After looking at color charts, I remembered an article I wrote in April 2024:  Are Black Wheels Still Popular?  In it, I shared a new trend I noticed at the Detroit auto show.  Black wheels were being replaced by titanium gray on performance cars.  That sparked an idea, so I went to my paint shop and had them mix a GM color (code GHA) named Magna Steel.  That was used on a variety of GM vehicles in the 2011-2014 timeframe.  I just painted one wheel to see if I liked it, and was pleased with the result.

The base Big Bend wheel is shown on the left, and my sample Magna Steel painted wheel on the right.  The Magna Steel is much warmer and really goes well with the gray roof on my Bronco.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right custom wheel color is often a matter of trial and error.  My eye for color is not reliable, which is why I seek input from friends and AI.  Ultimately, follow your gut to the right solution.