re black steel wheels..
my South African 15 inch steelies are black .....and they apprear to be
powder coated..very 'just right gloss' surface..super durable ..look new
after 5 years or so of use.

I've always like the 'cop car' look of black painted steel wheels.
Many vanagons came stock with black steel wheels.

I've seen a lot of silver paint flake off wheels .
all personal preference of course..
silver painted wheels look cheap or tacky to me.

I recently painted some for a Double Cab Syncro ...starting with 16 inch
stock VW/Audi wheels for vanagons or syncro's.
I wanted a really good paint.
I started with my favorite Zero Rust paint ...just love this stuff.

then I asked at a professional automotive paint store for their best
semi-gloss black paint ..
I think I paid 20 bucks for a can ..
and that stuff went on very nicely ..
the look is 'just right' ..and their ain't gonna be no hubcaps for sure !

heck ....stock plastic Eurovan 15 inch hubcaps will fit just right on
many 15 inch steel wheels...
nice and plain  too.... silver plastic ..nice VW logo ..very tasteful.

but I won't put them on my personal best vanagon with 15 inch steel
wheels...because I don't want to gouge up the pristine original paint on
the wheel, where the clips dig in.

Plane black steel wheels are a fine look IMO ..
you'll notice there is a trend to black alloys in street performance
cars now too .
On 3/7/2014 11:28 AM, Craig Cowan wrote:
> Alloys make any van look sharp and stand out. Vanagon 14" alloys fit every van perfectly and add a bit of a modern touch, and they are available if you look for them.
> More modern, 15", 16", or larger alloys, particularly off an Audi or a later vw are my preference, as they tie in a modern piece people recognize and can really look awesome! I also am particularly more fond of the handling characteristics of a larger wheel and lower profile tire, though that is its own debate, as is proper tire selection, size, and "what wheels fit".
>
> Enjoy!
>
> -craig
>
>> On Mar 7, 2014, at 12:47 PM, Stephen Engel <sengel543@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Eric,
>>
>> I bought my 87 Syncro GL with black steel wheels and chrome hubcaps. I ditched the hubcaps mainly because they are easily lost or stolen and they are worth a few deutsch mark. I painted the wheels silver and the bolts black. It looks pretty good in my opinion although the bolts need frequent touch up. I forget what year your van is, but if you still have your other chrome bits I think silver wheels tie in nicely with the chrome.
>>
>> When you show up at the next camping event you can let the kiddies have a go at your wheels or even the rest of the van for that matter!
>>
>> Steve
>> --------------------------------------------
>> On Thu, 3/6/14, Eric Caron <ecaron1@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>>
>> Subject: Paint questions
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Date: Thursday, March 6, 2014, 8:28 PM
>>
>> Hi Listers,
>>
>>
>> I will have my van painted either this year or in one
>> year.  I'm still deciding. I'm leading toward this year
>> as the painter still has time for me.
>>
>>
>> So, I've stirred up some paint questions for you
>> folks.  Remember, my questions are unlike others in
>> that not only do I not have a lot of paint knowledge, but
>> being blind I'm counting on the list for artistic
>> suggestions and tasteful ideas as well as practical
>> advice.
>>
>> Here is my first paint question.
>>
>> I'm keeping my original steel wheels and plan to use the
>> chrome hub caps.  The painter has offered to paint the
>> wheels silver rather then the black they are now.
>>
>> So, What color looks best on a white Vanagon with chrome
>> hubcaps and steel wheels?
>>
>> Currently wheels are rust free.
>>
>> Help me out here.  I don't want to make a fashion
>> blunder.
>>
>> It might help if you can tell me what the original bus wheel
>> color is.  I'm guessing metal silver but have to ask to
>> be sure!
>>
>> More critical paint questions to follow.
>>
>>
>> Eric Caron
>> 85 GL Auto Westfalia