Low profile tires and big wheels, Like or dislike?

[NOBLNG]

?

[StevenGuthmiller]

To me, those type of tire and wheel combos only detract from the appearance of the car, especially on anything from the 50s through the 70s.

They draw all of the attention towards themselves and away from the car.

In my opinion, wheels should compliment the car.

All too often they do anything but.

 

Big thumbs down for me.

If I "must" use after market wheels and tires, I use only those that were available around the time that the car was made.

Modern wheels on an old car, regardless of size, always look way out of place to me.

 

 

 

 

Steve

[StevenGuthmiller]

8 hours ago, Rob Hall said:

It depends on the vehicle, and the specific tires and wheels.  I think they can look great on vintage cars or trucks built in a restomod/Pro Touring/G-Machine style.   And modern performance cars would look strange with wheels smaller than 18-20 inches because of the large wheel wells and large brakes.

I like the look of these '69 Mustangs w/ modern wheels and tires.  Or this truck.

The wheels on the first Mustang look good.

Pretty much a Shelby style wheel.

 

Don't care for the blacked out wheel treatment as on the second Mustang.

Never cared for that style at all, even on newer cars.

 

The truck?

Blech!!

Would look a thousand times better with a vintage style wheel.

 

Just my opinions.

 

 

 

Steve

[440 Dakota]

for me I almost can't stand looking at a stock wheel car anymore or even one with 5 spoke Crager or Torques, it can be the most beautifully over restored car in the world and nothing, I'd rather see something that's been personalized and most importantly used and enjoyed, so I've enjoyed the pro tour, g machine, pro street cars, but the wheels have to be a careful decision, to muck bling kills the look, I like the 1st 2 Challengers but not the 3rd nope and the Duster not sure what the owner was thinking

Edited October 6, 2020 by 440 Dakota

[StevenGuthmiller]

49 minutes ago, 440 Dakota said:

for me I almost can't stand looking at a stock wheel car anymore or even one with 5 spoke Crager or Torques, it can be the most beautifully over restored car in the world and nothing, I'd rather see something that's been personalized and most importantly used and enjoyed, so I've enjoyed the pro tour, g machine, pro street cars, but the wheels have to be a careful decision, to muck bling kills the look, I like the 1st 2 Challengers but not the 3rd nope and the Duster not sure what the owner was thinking

While I don't necessarily agree with your overall philosophy about stock versus aftermarket, and I really have no love for the wheels on the first 2, I agree completely about the last 2.

Those highly styled, brightly polished or plated wheels just look absolutely "cheap" and in turn cheapen the look of the entire car.

Does anyone remember those cut-rate generic chrome wheel covers that you used to be able to buy through JC Whitney, and the like. many years ago?

These things look no better and just as cheap.

 

 

 

 

Steve

[Bucky]

I own a '68 Imperial Crown convertible. It weighs about 5000 pounds. It rides on the factory stock 15" wheels that came on it. Floats like a cloud! I pulled into a gas station one day, and a young dude in a rice rocket yelled out, "Hey...put some 22's on it!"

That'll be the day!! 

The only reason my 2017 300, and 2008 Ram 1500 have 20" wheels is because that's what came on the vehicles. Neither one of them ride as good as the old Imperial!

[Oldcarfan27]

Personally, I don't like anything bigger than 17s, maybe 18s at most. With tires no thinner than 60 or 50 series profiles. Especially on a classic car.

While were at it, can we just STOP with the all black wheels on black tires! To me it looks like someone forgot to put the hubcaps back on the car.

Seems like people buy black wheels because they're too lazy to clean them regularly and they think it won't show dirt and brake dust.

It does!!!

[slusher]

Depends an the build.  As long as there no too big.  I build box stock mostly.

[Bills72sj]

I am a 17 to 18" fan. Anything bigger is just cartoonish.

[DonW]

As I always say, just look at the wheels on an F1 car. No stupidly low profile tyres there!

And I know that putting anything bigger than a 17" diameter wheel on a BMW 3 series makes it horrible to drive.

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

It depends.... -RRR

[DonW]

2 minutes ago, Rocking Rodney Rat said:

It depends.... -RRR

On how keen you are to snap your spine and break your teeth? ☺️ 

[jamesG]

14 hours ago, Lorne said:

Depends on the ride!! LowRider wheels (and killing a classic car by making it bounce) not for me! GIANT wheels,.... what??? get me a step ladder!! But,.... a classic pro touring or pro street car,.... OH YA!! 18" and 20/22" on the back,... that is sexy! Don't get me wrong original hubcaps with spinners and white walls ROCK! 

Wheels/colour/stance - all day long make the car/truck!! (1959 IMPALA FOR ME PLEASE)

Sorry but that impala still looks like the owner got to the tires and realized he was too broke to by more rubber.

[jamesG]

10 hours ago, Bucky said:

I own a '68 Imperial Crown convertible. It weighs about 5000 pounds. It rides on the factory stock 15" wheels that came on it. Floats like a cloud! I pulled into a gas station one day, and a young dude in a rice rocket yelled out, "Hey...put some 22's on it!"

That'll be the day!! 

The only reason my 2017 300, and 2008 Ram 1500 have 20" wheels is because that's what came on the vehicles. Neither one of them ride as good as the old Imperial!

Did you tell that pup to pull his pants up and learn how to wear a hat properly??

[Fat Brian]

Personally I like both looks, the black Impala above looks amazing. It would also probably look great with a set of chrome steelies. A lot of it is about overall execution. The yellow Duster looks horrible because the wheel choice is wrong for the car. This looks 100 times better while still keeping a modern look.

[jamesG]

12 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

The wheels on the first Mustang look good.

Pretty much a Shelby style wheel.

 

Don't care for the blacked out wheel treatment as on the second Mustang.

Never cared for that style at all, even on newer cars.

 

The truck?

Blech!!

Would look a thousand times better with a vintage style wheel.

 

Just my opinions.

 

 

 

Steve

I agree,  1st first mustang doesnt look too bad.

[StevenGuthmiller]

27 minutes ago, Fat Brian said:

Personally I like both looks, the black Impala above looks amazing. It would also probably look great with a set of chrome steelies. A lot of it is about overall execution. The yellow Duster looks horrible because the wheel choice is wrong for the car. This looks 100 times better while still keeping a modern look.

And this looks even better.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

[stitchdup]

12 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

And this looks even better.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

has the orange/red one been lifted? there seems to be much more arch gap showing than the green one

[bobthehobbyguy]

15 hours ago, Lorne said:

Depends on the ride!! LowRider wheels (and killing a classic car by making it bounce) not for me! GIANT wheels,.... what??? get me a step ladder!! But,.... a classic pro touring or pro street car,.... OH YA!! 18" and 20/22" on the back,... that is sexy! Don't get me wrong original hubcaps with spinners and white walls ROCK! 

Wheels/colour/stance - all day long make the car/truck!! (1959 IMPALA FOR ME PLEASE)

The bottom line is that this is the look that the owners of these cars wanted on THEIR cars. If would build a car the look would be what I wanted for my money. I'm the one that needs to be happy with the look.

Thankfully everyone has a different taste .Otherwise everyone would be driving exactly the same car all the same color and type, what a boring world.

[Snake45]

12 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

has the orange/red one been lifted? there seems to be much more arch gap showing than the green one

Looks like it. Looks like it needs....wait for it....MORE COWBELL! 

[SfanGoch]

10 minutes ago, bobthehobbyguy said:

Thankfully everyone has a different taste .Otherwise everyone would be driving exactly the same car all the same color and type, what a boring world.

Isn't that precisely the state of affairs today? Your choice of cookie cutter cars in black, dark blue, silver or white with black, gray or tan interiors? Oh, let's not forget the clown car rims.

[magicmustang]

10 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

While were at it, can we just STOP with the all black wheels on black tires! To me it looks like someone forgot to put the hubcaps back on the car.

Seems like people buy black wheels because they're too lazy to clean them regularly and they think it won't show dirt and brake dust.

It does!!!

Agree entirely!

I'm old enough to remember when black steelie wheels meant somebody stole your hubcaps.

[Mr. Metallic]

53 minutes ago, bobthehobbyguy said:

The bottom line is that this is the look that the owners of these cars wanted on THEIR cars. If would build a car the look would be what I wanted for my money. I'm the one that needs to be happy with the look.

Thankfully everyone has a different taste .Otherwise everyone would be driving exactly the same car all the same color and type, what a boring world.

thank you for saying it!

[Muncie]

Unfortunately, black wheels are becoming more practical as more states switch over to magnesium chloride as a winter deicer.  My alloy wheels are covered with dark spots where rock chips in the clear coat allowed the deicer to work its way in and start corrosion on the aluminum.  Next car will have black wheels. 

[Daddyfink]

Nice to see the "Get Off My Lawn!" crowd is alive and well! 

Maybe they should put those 14" wheels back on this thing...