White wheels on my white 500? What do you reckon?

[Moglet]

Just thought I'd ask for your opinions on some wheels for my 500. I'm probably going to be going for some BK 299 wheels in 16" (17s would look stupid on my car) but I'm stuck on what colour to have them in!

The choices are;
-Gold with polished lip (Would look a bit silly on a white car IMO)
-White with polished lip (My initial choice, never seen any on a white car!)
-Matt black with polished lip (Also a consideration, but the matt black might just make it look dirty)
-High power black (A VERY nice colour, subtle and effective)
-Silver (Bit plain for me)
-Chrome (Errr...yeah.)
-Anthracite (Another understated choice, might look decent)

Here's how they look in black;

and in silver;

and the car they're going on;


What do you reckon? Would the white look a bit tarty? My initial choice would be high power black but the 500 is a quirky little thing that's already quite blinged out with it's chrome and whatnot so I reckon white wouldn't be bad!

 

[Philly]

I'd avoid the gold wheels. It's not a Subaru, after all.

Have you thought about something all white, like the Type-R Hondas?

 

[DaddyVDUB]

Black may be interesting. When I was shopping for wheels,I found a couple of web sites that have a function where you choose the make,model,etc of your car,then the wheel, and it shows a car like yours with the wheels you are interested in. Sorry I dont remember which site, but just check around I'm sure you will find a site like that.

 

[Moglet]

I'd avoid the gold wheels. It's not a Subaru, after all.

Have you thought about something all white, like the Type-R Hondas?

Hmmm....I hadn't considered all white yet as the chrome lip would match the trim nicely, but I'll definitely have a look around 👍

Black may be interesting. When I was shopping for wheels,I found a couple of web sites that have a function where you choose the make,model,etc of your car,then the wheel, and it shows a car like yours with the wheels you are interested in. Sorry I dont remember which site, but just check around I'm sure you will find a site like that.

I've seen sites like that, but I don't think any of them have the 500 on there yet! I'm quite handy with photoshop so I could always mock up some images on that, I just haven't found a decent image of the white wheels to put on yet. I took a photo at a show though;

 

[C-ZETA]

Well, one thing is certain: it would blend in with the color of the car. Having wheels that blend in with the car's color is always nice, because it makes the car look a lot more stylish.

 

[DaddyVDUB]

Those are pretty cool,are they rimmed in red or a reflection?

 

[Moglet]

Those are pretty cool,are they rimmed in red or a reflection?

Just a reflection. 👍
I've just thought, they're bright white so if I kerb them I'm totally screwed

 

[buickgnx88]

Using American cars as an example, here's gold with chrome lip

and white with chrome lip

I do like the white with chrome lip, since I'm preferable to body color wheels, but the chrome lip helps keep it from looking too white...if that makes sense.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

Now thats actually not bad at all. If you go with a white wheel you would want a chrome lip for sure. That would go perfect with your car.

 

[YSSMAN]

Just my crazy opinion:

I like the look of the stock wheels. No change needed.

 

[CyborgGT]

I'm quite handy with photoshop so I could always mock up some images on that, I just haven't found a decent image of the white wheels to put on yet.

Just take a picture of your car at that angle, crop off the back of the rim, and stick it on?

After seeing that Pontiac, I think I'd go with a gloss black w/chrome lip.

 

[Jondot]

I wouldn't touch them, to be honest - the 500 is interesting enough not to need aftermarket rims (you get away with them on a Corsa because a Corsa is dull). But if you're desperate to, I'd avoid white - get the shade even a little off that of the 500 and it'll look silly.

 

[Roo]

I know you wash the 500 every week or less, but white wheels are still a pain in the backside to keep clean. I've got white wheels on the Mini (standard for the edition) and I can clean them, drive < 100 miles and the fronts will be dirty again.

Can you have the wheels you've already got painted? Then you could have the paint mixed to match the car.

 

[Nicksfix]

Tough choice , glad you have to make it. . The black ones are really cool , if you go with the white , they must have the polished outer bead to break the look up.

 

[Jim Prower]

Actually, when I heard the thread title, I imagined Honda Type R wheels on it...

It's actually an appealing look. I say go with it.

 

[Aldo]

gotta be black or red
that could look spectacular

 

[homeforsummer]

As Jondot said, I'd avoid white. Wouldn't look right on the shade of white Fiat do.

Personally, I'd suggest something retro. The car is very obviously retro anyway, so why bother the design with modern rims?

I've mocked up a few ideas...

Minilite style...

Cromodora style (very Italian)...

Old-school Fiat rims...

Obviously, I've no idea if you can get anything for the 500 like the above, but IMO they'd look a hell of a lot better than big multispokes.

 

[Jim Prower]

Minilites you could get. Minilite themselves are still in business, and there are knockoffs like RS Watanabe and other brands that make the 8-spoke-style wheels. Unfortunately...I feel those wheels make the car look TOO much like the Mini. Closest thing in a low-price range would be Konig Rewind.

Cromodora: I can't tell you if anyone still makes wheels to those patterns. If not, I wouldn't reccommend it: I would feel quite nervous putting such old wheels on a brand new car. as well, they'd probably be smaller than stock. However, I looked at some of their designs, and I must say, they do look good.

EDIT: a quick search shows that Cromodora IS still in business. But they don't make their old stuff anymore. http://www.cromodorawheels.it/info.html

Old FIAT rims: Would DEFINITELY be smaller than stock. and be Steelies with Wheel Covers, at that. I think there's only one way to rock steelies...in black, with a stainless trim ring, and a silver center cap.

Crazy idea? Ronal Turbos?

 

[homeforsummer]

Cromodora: I can't tell you if anyone still makes wheels to those patterns. If not, I wouldn't reccommend it: I would feel quite nervous putting such old wheels on a brand new car. as well, they'd probably be smaller than stock. However, I looked at some of their designs, and I must say, they do look good.

Old FIAT rims: Would DEFINITELY be smaller than stock. and be Steelies with Wheel Covers, at that. I think there's only one way to rock steelies...in black, with a stainless trim ring, and a silver center cap.

I was talking more stylistically than literally Those Fiat wheels I used for the pic are probably only 10". But something like them would be cool. Ditto for the Cromodoras.

EDIT: Though for some FIAT steelies that probably would be big enough (I think they're 15", so not huge, but not tiny either), the steel rims they used on the Barchetta might look cool:

 

[TheBook]

Those wheels on the 500? Pass.

I'd go with the black wheels, but that's just me. White with polished lip wouldn't look bad either.

 

[eiriksmil]

Not feeling the wheels in the first post at all. Fake splits scream cheap, especially with spokes like that..

I'm not usually the one to hint to what people should do, but..

 

[EA11R]

Those Barchetta wheels look the best here, followed by Cromodoros. Too bad the bronze ones are out of production now...

The stock wheels look way better than the other ones.

 

[Casio]

It's not white wheels you need, but white walls...

 

[eiriksmil]

IMO you've forgot polished to the finish options. Chrome wheels are for loosers. Polished are for winners.

What's the stock dimensions on wheels/tyres? PCD? What specs on the wheels are you looking to end at? Lowering? Stance?

 

[niky]

Polished is a pain-in-the-butt to maintain... (I have a set) but chrome is worse...

I'd say go for erik's BBS's or some Minilites... Minilites are full of win.

 

[Perfect Balance]

First wheels posted look super cheap. I'd pass.

 

[Rue]

I'm not a fan of the wheels in the first post and those spoke designs fit much bigger cars better than a tiny 500. Eriksmils silver lipped BBS RM suggestion are the ones for me they just ooze cool and fit the retro style of the car, just a matter of choosing between black or gold.

The only choice for me...

 

[Moglet]

Those BBS' are awesome Would have them in black though, not gold.

However they are well out of my price range. Looking on various websites there's a set of them for sale for $3000, and brand new BBS wheels of other styles are about £800 each! Sod that!

 

[Speedster502]

I thought you were looking at getting a new car completely rather than keeping the 500? Or have you changed your mind?

 

[Moglet]

I thought you were looking at getting a new car completely rather than keeping the 500? Or have you changed your mind?

I gave up on that idea since the insurance was too high on the Panda 100hp. It's only 2 insurance groups higher than the 500 but it went up by quite a bit, probably because of my location.