Wheel color opinions

[Jose's 69]

I ordered a set of the 8 lug smooth wheels from Detroit steel wheel. I ordered them raw and I'll have them powder coated. I originally was going with red and early 90s center caps but some of my friends have suggested a dark grey and now I'm having a hard time coming up with final color. Here's a pic of my truck and some wheel pics that I found online. What do guys think? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[cebra]

I like the dark grey personally as I feel that red steelies are a bit played out. I saw a Honda Civic buzz by me with red steelies on it so that concluded it for me.

[sick472]

I'm not one to put wheels on a vehicle that take away attention from the vehicle AND, I lean towards white steel wheels with caps for trucks and plain aluminums for cars - nothing too fancy.

With that said, I think the red wheels on your flat painted truck would be pretty sharp and somewhat in the common favor. I would lean towards a darker red, not quite maroon, and somewhat flat, not glossy. This would remove the "look at those wheels!" affect from spectators and focus their attention on how they accent the truck.

The dark gray wheels are really nice too, but they might disappear because they would be a very similar color as your truck. My mind says that wheels should accent a truck, but not stand out as the first thing you notice, nor blend so well that you don't notice them either. It can be a fine line. Shiny beauty rings and center caps would help the gray wheels out regarding this disappearing aspect. Now, if you plan on painting the truck a different color, that changes the whole thing. I'd have to reconsider the options.

BUT Really! It's your ride. We've all seen those extreme ridiculous color schemes and add-ons that make us want to puke, BUT the owner loves it. Their happy, I'm happy. Not to suggest that your ideas are anywhere near extreme however. Either way you go, you'll still be on the fat part of the bell curve as far as normalcy goes. Just don't do neon green please!

[special-K]

Doesn't matter what others do, red can look fantastic, which is why that has been a look for the ages. They scream hot rod when on on a black vehicle. White screams factory look. Silver is a Euro look and is a more "blendy" color than black, white, red, or about any color. Silvers and greys are the colors of metal. They are the neutral on a vehicle, the default fresh metal colors. There is always silver in the grilles, door handles, wipers, so it's like you aren't adding any new color yet staying away from too much black. Silver says "Sport". I think a shade richer than Argent found on rallyes

[Jose's 69]

Thank you guys for your input. I'm going to stick to red.not so bright though. I came up on these caps on eBay. I think with the caps and trim rings it'll be a nice contrast. I'll try to post pics when it's done.

[special-K]

Those are my favorite 8-lug center caps, the original smooth. Red will look good and you can always change the color.

I play around with color on my stuff from time to time. On my '92 K3500 I went from stock wheels with those center caps (and beauty rings) to 7" Accurides with 76-91 hubcaps. I painted the wheels the factory color for a "Is that factory?" look. Then the wheels went on my '95 K2500 Suburban and I painted them charcoal to match the early W/T grille I have yet to find. It's too dark anyway, darker than the Cheyenne grille. I was really wanting a gun metal shade but used off the shelf color. Now I want to go back to the rallye wheel argent. Thought about white for an even more retro look, but plain Jane stock utility is what I'm after.

Yeah, these are '90s trucks. But this is about wheels. And red it is. But this can help future referencing. So for some comparisons with all the same wheels except the first one, that is what he has now.





EDIT: I even had the same wheels/tires on my '72 a while, for another example... w/o caps

[special-K]

And I'm not done. Here is same '72 with white 8" no hubcap same lug nuts.


How about people show other colors they have pictures of. I like matched to body color on some trucks

[Jose's 69]

Yeah I love those caps. If my truck was a different color i would definetly color match the wheels. They look really good.

[thehata1]

Your truck looks flat black. If so, I think they grey wheels would look great. If you're going to paint the truck soon, you should consider the new color before you go too far or you'll be redo'ing the wheels too.

[Jose's 69]

I had decided on red but when I was test fitting them yesterday I'm feeling undecided again. I liked the shade of gray the raw steel has. Lol. Dammit. What do you guys think. If my interior is red and black would the gray wheels look good on my truck? I don't really plan on painting it soon. Maybe paint the little bowtie red to the it in. They will also have a trim ring I just haven't received them yet.

[B. W.]

I like them both, have run red wheels on two different hot rods but I'm leaning toward the gray!

You can solve your dilemma with two sets of tires & wheels!

[sick472]

I think both colors look very good.

With beauty rings, the gray wheels will not be lost in the wheel wells and will not draw much attention, other than they ARE pretty cool rims.

Red has a look of there own and a are a bit of a fashion statement. You see quite a few 50's era hot rods with them. You now, "Back in the day" when your options were factory black or paint your own...Red was flashy! With the red wheels, your truck will be described around town as... "the cool black truck with red wheels".

After seeing the gray ones on your truck, that's the way I would go. Around town your truck is now..."that really nice flat black truck". I will be considering this for my truck in a few years when it's time to buy the wheels.

EDIT: it a shame Detroit steel wheel does not offer 15 and 16" wheels. Maybe I'm too old, but a lot of side wall is my style!

[Jose's 69]

Thanks for your input guys. I went to the powder coat shop and pulled the trigger on a dark red . I think it will come out good with the rings and caps. "Sick472" if you have a 5 or 6 lug pattern I believe I've seen similar style wheels but I forget who makes them. Now to look for tires. I'm going try and get some 255/45r20 on them. I'll post pics once done.

[MikeB69C10]

Originally Posted by Jose's 69

Thanks for your input guys. I went to the powder coat shop and pulled the trigger on a dark red . I think it will come out good with the rings and caps. "Sick472" if you have a 5 or 6 lug pattern I believe I've seen similar style wheels but I forget who makes them. Now to look for tires. I'm going try and get some 255/45r20 on them. I'll post pics once done.

What powder coat shop did you use and what did they charge you? I’m not far from you and will need to have some wheels done. PM if you would like. Looking forward to the finished look.

[Jose's 69]

Originally Posted by MikeB69C10

What powder coat shop did you use and what did they charge you? I’m not far from you and will need to have some wheels done. PM if you would like. Looking forward to the finished look.

I used a place in Santa fe springs called Macias powder coating. It's a mom and pop shop. Seemed pretty good. Had a lot of work. If the wheel is clean it's 55 a wheel. Don't know what they charge if it need a sand blasting. I paid 65 a wheel for color and clear.

[ho70]

OK-How about the grey rim with the cap painted grey to match and the bowtie centerpiece left stock (or red instead of yellow bowtie). The red takes away from the truck and the 'chrome' caps take away from the grey. IMHO.

[Jose's 69]

Well here it is, just got the tires mounted. I fell in love with my truck all over again. I really like how it came out. Still missing trim rings but I love the way it looks already.

[Jose's 69]

Trim rings on.

[thehata1]

Jose,

Looks good. What size tires?

[Jose's 69]

Thanks. I tried on a 255/40 but didn't like how the tire looked stretched out. Went with 275/40. It's close up front but turned lock to lock no issues. Drove around town no rubbing. Haven't hit a hard bump yet though.

[thehata1]

Originally Posted by Jose's 69

Thanks. I tried on a 255/40 but didn't like how the tire looked stretched out. Went with 275/40. It's close up front but turned lock to lock no issues. Drove around town no rubbing. Haven't hit a hard bump yet though.

That's funny. I am looking at the 275/40, as well. May look at the 275/45 since I'm not going that low.

[thehata1]

Jose,

You hit my Instagram feed today. Congrats and looks great.

[Jose's 69]

That's awesome. Thanks for the heads up. My wife keeps trying to get me to make an Instagram account. Maybe it's time. Lol.

[special-K]

You done good Jethro... I mean Jose. Juicy red!

[TDH1989]

Originally Posted by Jose's 69

Trim rings on.

Those look awesome man! What size rims did you get? Also what drop did you do on your truck


I have been really wanting the Steeies from them to put on my 67.