I am about to order the CI repro wheels for my Jamaica Yellow 92 TA.
All of a sudden I am having a dilemma. The car came originally with Black wheels and black interior. I really like the way that looks, but I am quite partial to gold wheels also.
So here are some pics, opinions please...

 

Wow... I agree, hard choice. Too hard I would say. So I'm going to have to say keep them original and black.

 

I agree!! I'm a bit of a purist, so black it would be for me.

 

I would keep them black, unless you put the GTA emblems on it. Then yes I would go with the gold wheels with the yellow and gold emblems.

 

I prefer the gold ones.

 

Here's the thing, both wheels were available on the car. The question is which one looks better? Do the gold wheels look weird with the black interior?

 

I don't think he is trying to make a GTA clone. In 1992, gold wheels were not restricted to the GTA only.

 

Correct JT, It is my understanding from what I have seen and not really based on any hard facts, that the gold wheels are usually on tan and grey interior JY cars, and I have only seen black wheels on black interior JY cars. But I am not sure that you could not option the black interior cars with the gold wheels.
I just happen to think that the gold ones look better/brighter on JY cars.

Not making a clone at all!

 

DO I HAVE TO CHOOSE?!?! I CAN'T!

 

good question! Damn!...that's a tuffy for sure! I'm all about original myself but in compare to the poster, (btw where did you find that?) I have to say stick with the black wheels...

oh yeah i sent ya another pm...ttyl

 

tough choice both look great....you could go nuetral, and go with gunmetal ones

 

Black

 

Screw black or gold....why not put some Ronal wheels with the inserts painted yellow if you're going to pony up for new wheels?

Otherwise I'd keep it black!

 

My vote is for black.

 

I read the title and was going to post: "Black, FTW. No question." But then I looked at the pics. Damn, it was tough, and I fought it for as long as I could, but eventually *based only on the pics you posted* the gold won me over.

If the pics were in the same lighting, and you had an ARMORALL SHINE ON YOUR TIRES, then I think black might held on to it for me.

Basically, I don't 100% trust the picture with the gold rims to be an accurate depiction of what the gold wheels would look like on your car since it's an ad photo with special lighting. I think there is the potential for an awful conflict between the JY and the gold.

EDIT: If, and only if, it was a Formula... Ronal rims FTW.

 

why not one side black one side gold. you cant see both sides of the car at the same time...

 

gold.

Black looks very ...well flat and lifeless against your screaming, "look at me!" yellow.

 

Gold! Aren't the sail panel decals gold? It would match those well.

 

lol that'd be kinda interesting. most people would never notice. I prefer the look of the gold ones... I just think that black hides the awesome pattern of the wheel and the gold really pops. You might want to read some posts on the aftermarket vendor feedback forum though. The Classic Industries reproductions haven't gotten good reviews from what I've read. I'm currently refinishing a good condition set that I have and its going pretty well so far. just time consuming.

 

Greg, the R15s are very very tempting but I already have one car with them, also they would be 3 times the price and IMO a car really needs to be lowered 1" like my red car in order for the R15s to look best.

Pyroviking, I agree it is not a fair comparison bc the wheels on the car are faded and dirty and the poster is brand new, wish I had an even comparison.

Jeremy, I read the post here in the history section about the quality, but then a member purchased a set for his TTA and posted some up close pics and everyone seemed to agree that they look good, myself included. So for the price I am willing to take a chance on them.

Ward, all the decals are charcoal, as was madated for the JY cars.

 

Here's a pic of Leo's JY 1LE car, tan interior gold wheels.

 

I prefer the Black, or the Charcoal. I think it creates contrast. The gold is ok, and I agree that it makes the pattern pop a little more, but the difference between the JY and the Gold is just enough to see that it does not match...

If it was me, I would be tempted to match the color of your decals, they are a charcoal metallic pearl. The charcoal Metallic Pearl is what I painted my Wheels...

If you remove your black wheels, let me know I want to be first in line for dibs...

 

My vote is for black..

Got any laying around you wana sell ?? lol

 

There's a set for sale on the board, Bull has them. You know you want them Tony, JY inlays on the Formula with the SLP package and the TOTL! Beautiful, but you'll have to lower it to Firehawk ride height!

 

Black. No question. As I understand it, only GTA's and some convertibles got the gold ones from the factory. More than that, I think the car just looks awesome with the black wheels contrasting to the bright yellow paint.

 

My vote is black!

 

Actually, I just found this out, about 10 seconds ago. In 1986 Champagne Gold PW7 wheels were available on the Trans Am, In 1987 the color was Gold Met 52P, which became the standard on the GTA in 1987 thru 1992. The Trans Am was NA from 1987 thru 1990 with the Gold wheels, but they made Gold wheels an option on the Trans Am in 1991, much like they made the Black wheels available on the Formula that same year.

There is some confusion about this, as many 91-92 Trans Am Convertibles came with the Gold wheels and were mistakenly called a "GTA" even by the media.

As for the colors of the PW7 Wheels, here we go...
1986
Champagne Gold (60P?)
Charcoal Metallic 18P

1987
Gold Met - 52P
Charcoal - 18P

1988
Gold Met - 52P
White - 11P
Black - 19P
Red - 81P

1989
Gold Met - 52P
White - 11P
Black - 19P
Red - 81P
Silver - 16P

1990
Gold Met - 52P
Black - 19P
Silver - 16P

1991 & 1992
Gold Met 52P (stamped XKN or XKP)
Gold Met 52P (stamped XNB or XND)
Charcoal 18P (stamped XKR or XKS)
Black 19P or 41P

John

 

REEEEEEEEEAAAAALLLLLYYY!!!!!!!

 

John is correct, here's my 92 TA with factory 52P PW7s, it is not a GTA. I think that in 91-92 the wheels were color coded to the interior unless ordered otherwise.

 

My 1992 Trans AM Convertible also has the factory Gold wheels. It came with tan interior and tan top as well.

 

I voted but I was partial.
I think with the gold wheels with the black interior looks OK, I do not think so the other way around.

 

Thanks Leo,
The poll is 50/50 right now. Damn it.
All of you make valid points, I appreciate the opinions. Still have not decided myself.

Now, does anyone have a nice set of tires they wanna sell? 245 50 16, no Sumitomo,Falken,Hankook or Kumho.

I've been looking for something that will look good but cannot find a tire that pleases me. I can get a set of GS-Cs brand new for a moderate price, I like the RSAs but they are also the same price, BFG I have had bad experiences with appearance on a 16" wheel even though the same tire looks killer in a 17" size.

Ideas? Leo, I want the tires on your car but they are no longer made.

 

I am not sure how they would look on stock rims, but I like the profile of my Yokohama AVS ES100's... They are probably not the best tire in the world, but I think they look killer with the rims I have.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....odel=AVS+ES100

I liked the squared off look better than the bulged sides with the wider and taller 17" rims...

Honestly I was going for looks more than performance or tread wear, as I figured I would have to replace them before they wore out anyways with the amount I drive the car...

John

 

You said you don't want to go with Ronals on the JY car because you already have a car wearing Ronals. And it looks like you have another car already wearing the gold wheels. So by that reasoning, keep the black wheels on the JY car.

But your test-fit is right there in front of you. Just swap the gold wheels from your one car onto the JY car to, at least, see how it will really look. That might help with your final decision.

But if you go with the CI repro wheels, search the forums first. A local checked them out in person last year, and his review trashed them badly.

My vote... the black wheels don't look bad in the pic. But if they need some tlc, give it to them and keep them on the car.

 

I'm looking at Firestone Firehawk Wide Ovals to put on my crosslace rims when I'm done refinishing them. They have very good ratings on tirerack and I like the sidewall design

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e1=yes&place=3

The Bridgestone Potenza is also ranked highly
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....1=yes&place=10

 

Those are some nice looking tires...

John

 

That's supposed to be one of the best performing tires. And its tread width is the widest compared to other tires of the same size, evidently because of the squared-off look you described. But how are those tires for road noise? They're supposed to be great tires, and they're what I was considering getting when/if I get 17" rims. But the reviews I've read said they're noisy.

 

And this was my other choice for new tires, but purely for asthetics and the name. I like the Firestone Firehawk tires on a Firebird. And I figure they're all going to perform about the same under normal driving conditions anyway.

 

The wheels on the car are 146K mile crosslace wheels, the lacing has never been properly cleaned so it's not even black anymore, they need a resto. That is why I am just gonna get the new ones.

I totally forgot that my GTA has the gold wheels and that I could swap them over! But I'm not gonna do that, I know it will look good with the gold ones from the pictures posted.

John, there can be a BIG differnce between the same tire in a 16 and a 17 size. BFG KDWs for instance. I got them on my Formula a few yrs back, and they looked like crap quite frankly. The tread width made it look like it was a 235, and the sidewall was just too bland for my liking. HOWEVER, the same exact tire in a 275 40 17 is one of the best looking tires IMO. I have them on my R15s and they are wider than most 275s and the sidewall has just enough stuff going on on it. I wouldn't consider any other tire in a 17 except for GS-Cs if they were available.

So that experience puts me off of any BFG in a 16" size.
I do not know of anyone that has the Wide Ovals, nor have I ever seen them in person in a 245 50 16 size. If anyone actually has these tires on their car please post some pics, I would get them but do not know what they will look like at all!

I have been looking at the General ExclaimUHP, I like the sidewall and can live with the tread pattern.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e1=yes&place=5

 

Nitto nt 555 arnt bad either ! I still dont know what to put on the 92 car..
I wish Cooker tire would start repoping gooyear gatorbacks with a better tread compound!!!

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...=ILSINT&cs=275

 

I like the 555s for track use and dry pavement, but they aren't very well suited for rain.

 

I do not have any problems with the road noise personally... At least I do not notice them being noisy... My engine is louder than anything else with the SLP Headers and SLP "glass pack" muffler...

John

 

I voted black because of the black interior.

 

I agree. I've always preferred the gold look. The black are easier to keep (looking) clean though.

 

The black for sure. Something about the gold/yellow mix I don't care for.

 

Well after many days of going back and forth, and considering the opinions of many many people, I have ordered the Gold wheels. Gonna see how they look, and probably at some point down the road I'll order a set in Black too, just in case I feel like I want to change the look a bit.

Thanks for all the input!