Opinions on darker wheels

[Easyplan66]

sorry but I like the original colour best.

 

[jpmondalek]

Neil, I saw a red 3200 in Dubai with darker wheels and it looked very nice...they were finished in Anthracite.

Good luck!

 

[Paco]

I maintain that from an aesthetic perspective black wheels emphasise the body colour, making the car "appear" bulkier, this is further exaggerated with cars in bright solid colours, i.e. red yellow white etc Metallic paint can lessen this, although if I look at that Elise pic I get the same impression. The wheels look lost. It is purely an optical illusion of course.
A heavy metallic or metalflake effect on a dark wheel would lift this, but basically a bright silver wheel emphasises the wheel by drawing the eye to it, and it compliments the body colour, rather than being swaped by it. I prefer the visual impact of a "bigger" wheel, or perhaps I should say more dominant impact, so I would tend to stick to stock.
Or... I could be tempted by shiny black spokes if the rim edge were polished - not really viable on factory Maser alloys but imagine the Fuchs alloy on classic 911's as an example, Yum.
Purely my humble opinion of course!!

 

[jpmondalek]

Here you go sir...

 

[jpmondalek]

As a finishing touch, have the center cap tridents done in red...this looks incredible, especially if you have red calipers...see mine below:

 

[2b1ask1]

Yeah i'll post some good ones tonite , if you do a search , or AndyK has a good memory ive already posted some a few weeks back , but unfortunately work beckons and ive got to dash in a mo , best about the black mettallic not only looks the bees , its the best at hiding the dreaded brake dust



regards loz

Loz, A hard wax on the wheels will stop the brake debris from bonding (Something like a 38% yellow carnauba is best) you can build a few layers quickly before putting the wheels back on right through the centre of the rim... This will catch the light and lifts the finish on any car.

You can do the same on callipers but not too many coats as the heat can discolour the wax over a summer...

2b1

 

[dem maser]

those wheels on the red are my ones......

 

[Easyplan66]

The anthracite looks great with the red calipers and red car, you still notice the wheels, if they were any darker they would disappear.

 

[Andyk]

Dan love the Elise ...Really gives the car a mean edge that it just doesn't have on silver wheels...All Elise should have dark wheels......Nice job...

 

[Dan!]

Dan love the Elise ...Really gives the car a mean edge that it just doesn't have on silver wheels...All Elise should have dark wheels......Nice job...

Cheers Andy, a man of taste ;-)

 

[Danny]

As a finishing touch, have the center cap tridents done in red..

How did you/they actually do this (just the trident in a different colour)? I like it very much!

 

[rotorheadcase]

I really like the grigio mercury wheels on your car JP. As you point out it looks great with red calipers and the red trident really sets it off. Like Paco, I'm concerned about the wheels disappearing into the tyres but the red 3200 looks really good with darker wheels.

The mercury are light enough to contract with the paintwork nicely and yet not too daark to get lost amongst the rubber. anyone have thoughts about red calipers on a red car? I was thinking aluminio with red lettering but the calipers on JP's car look good under the mercury wheels.

Neil

 

[jpmondalek]

How did you/they actually do this (just the trident in a different colour)? I like it very much!

The body shop I used tried paint, but they said it looked like ****. So, they sent off the caps to one of those car wrap companies (in my case, www.fibrafoil.com) , and had their crafty wizards make 4 red decals...so they look consistent and won't flake.

 

[jpmondalek]

anyone have thoughts about red calipers on a red car? I was thinking aluminio with red lettering but the calipers on JP's car look good under the mercury wheels.

My friend's Rosso Mondiale GS w/ red calipers



vs.

 

[rotorheadcase]

The red calipers do look good. Are the wheels in grigio mercury? They look lighter but that could be the flash effect. The aluminio calipers get a little lost on the silver background of the brake rotor but is more subtle. I think the grigio mercury is a definite and undecided on the calipers. I've yet to bounce the options off my 18 year old son who is the arbiter of good taste in all things automotive.

After looking at the GS wheels, i'm wavering again on upgrading to them. They are the perfect wheel for the car but a little too harsh for a GT I think.

Neil

 

[Andyk]

Think the GS wheels are Ball polished ones......so very shiny silver.

I agree that becaus of the type of wheel the 3200 has black may not be right but anthracite is the way to go with red calipers.....The AC looks great on this combo.

I don't think the GS wheels will fit a 3200...May be wrong though.

 

[MAF260]

I don't think the GS wheels will fit a 3200...May be wrong though.

GS wheels do indeed fit a 3200 - and look the business IMO

[video=youtube;0ne-dc-cNbw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ne-dc-cNbw[/video]

 

[rotorheadcase]

just when you think you've talked yourself out of it...

 

[Andyk]

GS wheels do indeed fit a 3200 - and look the business IMO

[video=youtube;0ne-dc-cNbw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ne-dc-cNbw[/video]

Do they..Yes they look brilliant...Shame they are so much money.

 

[seanchild10]

Had mine done in a smoke/pewter grey and they look fab, will post a pic soon