[Porsche2018]

If you were to spec a new Porsche or buy a pre-owned one would you prefer the stock wheel color or black wheels. It was interesting to hear Andreas Preuninger, Mr. GT, state he is not a fan of black wheels. I wrestled with the black wheels with my Guards Red GT3 but I think, for me at least, it makes the wheels look smaller and also there is less contrast.........possible exceptions......Lava orange and black wheels look pretty cool but what are your thoughts do you prefer stock or black wheels.......What I like about black wheels is they don't reveal all that brake dust but, for my personal esthetic sense, I could not make that leap and spec black wheels. Thoughts?

 

[lajoiedp]

If you were to spec a new Porsche or buy a pre-owned one would you prefer the stock wheel color or black wheels. It was interesting to hear Andreas Preuninger, Mr. GT, state he is not a fan of black wheels. I wrestled with the black wheels with my Guards Red GT3 but I think, for me at least, it makes the wheels look smaller and also there is less contrast.........possible exceptions......Lava orange an black wheels look pretty cool but what are your thoughts do you prefer stock or black wheels.......What I like about black wheels is they don't reveal all that brake dust but, for my personal esthetic sense, I could not make that leap and spec black wheels. Thoughts?

Of course this is a personal choice, just like everything about specing a new car, but like you, I am not a fan of black wheels. To me when the wheels are black they command too much of your eyes attention. I prefer the wheels accentuating the beauty of the car, and not be the dominating feature.

 

[duegatti]

As a rule, I do not like black wheels. For my Boxster S build (if it ever happens) I wanted Carrera S wheels. The standard silver, combined with Miami Blue, seemed a little too cheerful. Wanting something a little edgy, and disliking black, I went for platinum satin. So my answer is neither stock nor black.

 

[Peter]

Platinum satin are good, depending on car colour. See mine on carmine red (picture if you click on my garage). Good also on silvers and graphite blue. Darker colours, especially black, I prefer standard alloy colour. Not sure about the brake dust argument. Think black and platinum both look very dull when mucky.

 

[TheWaitingGame]

I am also not really a fan of black wheels generally but I do like the Carrera S Sport wheels in black because they keep the silver lines in them so it is a nice contrast (rather than having them all black). Unfortunately, I blew through my budget and opted for the Carrera S wheels. I will have them painted platinum satin later on though, I think. Just to have a bit of contrast as the car itself is rhodium silver

 

[Porsche2018]

Platinum satin are good, depending on car colour. See mine on carmine red (picture if you click on my garage). Good also on silvers and graphite blue. Darker colours, especially black, I prefer standard alloy colour. Not sure about the brake dust argument. Think black and platinum both look very dull when mucky.

That is a beautiful car Peter......I think the Platinum wheels look real good....thanks!

 

[ldamelio]

Black 20 inch Carrera S on agate grey 718 CS here. I like them as it makes the car look more aggressive, i.e. more sports car than GT. No right or wrong here IMO. May get stock alloy when I get a winter set next year.

 

[Porsche2018]

Black 20 inch Carrera S on agate grey 718 CS here. I like them as it makes the car look more aggressive, i.e. more sports car than GT. No right or wrong here IMO. May get stock alloy when I get a winter set next year.

Share your pictures......

 

[ldamelio]

http://www.718forum.com/forum/new-member-introductions/10609-greetings-bucks-county-pa.html


As requested - the only picture I have of the car is in the thread above. Have had it for 5 weeks, that was on delivery day. About 750 miles so far, lots of rain/snow/salt keeping it in garage. Eager for spring to knock off break-in mileage. So far only able to hit 134 mph and keep it under 4500 rpm.

 

[greywing]

I am also not really a fan of black wheels generally but I do like the Carrera S Sport wheels in black because they keep the silver lines in them so it is a nice contrast (rather than having them all black). Unfortunately, I blew through my budget and opted for the Carrera S wheels. I will have them painted platinum satin later on though, I think. Just to have a bit of contrast as the car itself is rhodium silver

+1 on this configuration but as you observe, hard on the budget. (Full disclosure; I am still trying to get a CS ordered without much success, so don't yet have first hand experience.) To me all black makes the wheels disappear instead of making their design contribution to the overall optics and IMO creates kind of an incomplete look.

 

[Porsche2018]

So far only able to hit 134 mph and keep it under 4500 rpm.

Great car whatever the wheel color.....rock on!

 

[Viffermike]

Like most other situations, I personally think black wheels have to benefit the rest of the look to work. Yes, I'm a fan of them, but only on certain wheels, against certain vehicle colors, with certain hardware behind them, and so on. Some of my guidelines:

- Brakes should be fairly large and fill well more than half of the negative space within the inner rim. Also, the fairly recent trend of coloring calipers has a direct correlation to the black-wheel trend because black wheels make these pop more.
- Good colors: Most bright flat colors and darker blues and grays. Bad colors: Most metallic colors (silver, gold, champagne, etc.). Best color: White, or a bright flat color like that Lava Orange.
- Good wheel types: Ones with light, thin spokes or no more than six thicker spokes. The former de-emphasizes the size-reduction illusion effect, while the latter increases it.

Also, some historical background: Black wheels first gained a foothold among autocrossers and track-day addicts who realized that keeping traditional alloys looking clean -- particularly the polished and machined ones that were popular 10-15 years ago -- was far, far easier if they were dark colored. With a black wheel, all one needed to do was hose it off and it looked relatively clean. Also, brake dust and other solvents naturally corrode aluminum, so that eventually wheels that weren't cleaned regularly would begin to suffer pitting that was far more noticeable on lighter-colored wheels. Most black wheels of this time were matte in color so that polishing wasn't necessary; the high gloss of many black wheels on passenger cars today is simply bling.

 

[MattRG]

I like black wheels on a case by case basis. The Carrera S wheels are gorgeous in black, for example, but there are plenty of aftermarket wheels out there that just aren't. I tend to prefer black wheels on red, white or yellow cars but I have seen some great pics on this forum and elsewhere where they have been used to good effect with other colors also. I like the fact that they hide brake dust but on most cars I would not pay extra just to have that feature. I consider cleaning my wheels (and my car) to be a privilege and a pleasure the vast majority of the time!

 

[TheWaitingGame]

Like most other situations, I personally think black wheels have to benefit the rest of the look to work. Yes, I'm a fan of them, but only on certain wheels, against certain vehicle colors, with certain hardware behind them, and so on. Some of my guidelines:

- Brakes should be fairly large and fill well more than half of the negative space within the inner rim. Also, the fairly recent trend of coloring calipers has a direct correlation to the black-wheel trend because black wheels make these pop more.
- Good colors: Most bright flat colors and darker blues and grays. Bad colors: Most metallic colors (silver, gold, champagne, etc.). Best color: White, or a bright flat color like that Lava Orange.
- Good wheel types: Ones with light, thin spokes or no more than six thicker spokes.

I mostly agree with that. I do think black wheels suit certain colours more and I also agree black wheels do not really go well with silver, with the exception of the Carrera S Sports (even though they are not thin spokes) I actually think they look great on silver (because they have a silver line in them which blends with the car nicely), as per this example: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SM9K17wI2kQ. I don't have them myself unfortunately but I think my next configuration would be those wheels with sapphire blue exterior. Anyway, I mostly agree with your guidelines but I guess at the end of the day what works for one person, doesn't necessarily work for the next. But I love that about these cars... The opportunities and combinations are endless!

 

[Acky]

I really like my 20" Carrara wheels in glossy black. I woudn't have ordered them glossy, but they come with the car a bought second hand. Right now I have to say it would have been a mistake not ordering them in glossy black. Looks great with any bright color. But they need to be cleaned often.

 

[nineball]

i have the 20" carrera s wheels in silver on my white cayman s. while i like the look of it i saw one at the dealer with the same setup only black wheels and it looked good. really good. i had thought about ordering them like that but the cost i felt wasn't worth the final product. i could have them powder coated for less than the paint and it would last much longer. i may still get them coated in the not too distant future but right now i'm spending money on track stuff

 

[YD718]

Is there a real noticeable difference between the 20” carrera s wheels in high gloss black vs them in the satin black?
Ive searched YouTube extensively and couldn’t really find a big difference.

 

[boxedindc]

I think this is one of those where what you see online doesn’t match real life. i have the 20” Carrera S wheels in satin black and although in pictures online they look pretty glossy, in person and pics I take they’re pretty matte and dark with very little gloss/reflection.
FWIW I’m happy with them.

 

[Third]

I think this is one of those where what you see online doesn’t match real life. i have the 20” Carrera S wheels in satin black and although in pictures online they look pretty glossy, in person and pics I take they’re pretty matte and dark with very little gloss/reflection.
FWIW I’m happy with them.

I agree. There is a huge difference. Order gloss only if you want gloss!

 

[YD718]

Thanks for the info. That was my notion too that online its hard to differ but that there must be a difference. Ive seen the satin black in real life as my neighbor has them but not the high gloss.