The Aesthetic is in the Alloy: Matching Wheels to Your Car Core Vibe
Car core isn't just paint and seats—the design, size, and color of your wheels do a lot of heavy aesthetic lifting.
A proper set of wheels complements a car’s look and personality (or “core”) like shoes complete an outfit. If you coordinate your outfit to be black for a cocktail party but then wear a pair of raggedy Converse, the vibe is just off. The same can be said about a car’s wheels. If they’re the wrong size, don’t have a cohesive design, or they’re the wrong color, it can tarnish the image a manufacturer is trying to present to their intended audience.
Therefore, if you’re looking to fit within a certain Car Core, you need to know what you’re looking for. As women in the industry who have both an eye for function and style, we’re here to tell you—the wrong set of wheels is not the vibe. You can still abide by your fashion preferences and still rock a gorgeous pair of wheels.
Before falling too deep into the Car Core rabbit hole, we’ll explain some of the Core designs we’ve come across, and how to complete those looks with the perfect set of wheels from the factory—we’re not advertising for aftermarket companies here.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
First Off: What the Heck is a “Core”?
Unless you have a teenager at home or you spend a lot of time online (think TikTok or IG), you probably got to this point and asked yourself, “Besides that thing in the middle of an apple, what is a ‘core’?” In simple terms, saying something has a “core” describes a style of vibe, and it’s usually used to describe the way that a person’s outfit, home decor, jewelry, or, in our case, a car, helps tie it all together.
For example, if you read the word “cottagecore,” you likely picture a vibe that would suit a cottage in the woods. So, lots of florals, warm colors like brown, yellow, orange, or green, rustic and loose-fitting clothes, every food item is made from scratch, and all the ingredients used in those things would be organic. If someone says, “That outfit is very cottagecore,” they essentially look like a Hobbit. Words to describe the outfit would be cozy, country, old-fashioned, and rustic. Makes sense?
If “cores” can be applied to shoes that button-up outfits, they can certainly be applied or extended to the wheels on a person’s car. We’ve identified six Car Cores so far, and we’ve found cars with wheels that can be categorized under each one.
Related: We Track Tested Every Maserati. Which One Came Out On Top?
Adventurecore: Smart and Capable, Without Cutting Class
When you think of a modern off-road-ready SUV, like the Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus LX 700h Overtrail, Jeep Wrangler, or even the Ford Bronco, you’ll notice something they all have in common in regards to their wheels. Most of them are glossy or matte black. And while we are all suckers for black wheels, there’s something about a bronze wheel on an off-roader that still complements the image while breaking away from the norm.
The Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter was no slouch off-road, and trust us—the model-specific 18-inch bronze wheels paired with Toyota’s dusty earth color simply looked *chef’s kiss.* The Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler also have varying wheel colors, too. The Bronco’s heritage edition has white five-spoke wheels that speak more of a retro language, and the Wrangler can have silver, black, or grey wheels, but there’s something about a bronze rally-style wheel that helps keep style in the front row.
Plus, if the Trailhunter isn’t being used to hunt trails, it will still look stunning parked at the Target parking lot. And similar to wearing Hokas while shopping, everyone will know you mean business once the tarmac turns to dirt. Or rock. Or mud.
Stealthcore: All Black, No Take-Backs
Black has always been known as the most flattering color, and for the Dodge Durango with the Black Top package, that rule fully applies. We already loved the stealthy yet aggressive sleeper look of the Dodge Durango, but when you pair it with a glossy black exterior color, tinted windows, blacked out grille, mirrors, door handles, and truck-style matte black wheels? The mommobile suddenly transforms into more of a gothcore SUV.
The Durango isn’t the only model to rock a Stealthcore look, though. We also loved the Nightshade trim of the Toyota Highlander, Night Edition of the Hyundai Palisade, Onyx Edition of the Subaru Ascent, and the Night Package on the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen.
The best part about an all-black car is that you don’t have to match an outfit to look amazing in it. Your car will look amazing no matter what you’re wearing, just like the all-black slip-on Vans that still have you in a chokehold.
READ MORE: Go Home Chrome: Blacked Out Car Accents Deliver Chic, Stealth Luxury
Cybercore: It’s Still You, But From the Future!
EVs are most definitely the future, but if you remember when they were first becoming mainstream, manufacturers struggled to keep the all-electric models looking normal. Those who were on the fence were revolted by the all-new EVs that looked like they had a “Hover” button on the center console, or as though they had a gear on the dial that could fold the wheels in for takeoff. The angular lights, outlandish wheels, sharp curves, and lack of a true grille freaked a lot of people out.
Because people weren’t ready for the future to come just yet, many automakers dumbed down their designs and made them look like their gas-powered counterparts to fit in. Not the 2024 Kia EV9. The three-row EV SUV fully embraces that just-stepped-out-of-a-time-machine aesthetic. The “cyber” blue paired with uniquely styled and “closed” 19-inch wheels lends it a look that would land it a leading role in the movie Tron. Without the closed and futuristic styling of the wheels (and there are several more designs to choose from that are just as Cybercore), the EV9 wouldn’t look like it came from the future.
Other EVs that rock Cybercore looks are the Hyundai IONIQ 6, Polestar 6, and Hyundai IONIQ 5. The Lucid Air Sapphire also has a very Cybercore look to it, too.
READ MORE: Kia EV9 First Drive: The Family Electric SUV We’ve Been Waiting For
Minimalistcore: For Those Who Just Want to Fit In
Some seek to stand out, and then some just want to blend in and go unnoticed. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. With the Toyota Corolla Cross, there are a few different wheel choices to choose from, ranging from the minimalist look—we’ll compare to Keds with a simple, comfy outfit—to hip and chic, like those on the Hybrid model, which are more of the trendy wedge sandals with your beach fit.
The body style is the same, but it goes to show that wheel designs change the vibe. The standard wheels are still complementary, but they’re more of a golf clap compared to the roaring applause on the wheels of the Hybrid. Other cars we loved the minimalist look of were those on the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla sedan, and Ford Mach-E. All of which have more “fun” wheels to choose from, depending on the trim.
But the beauty is, you get to choose. Do you want something more demure and subdued, or would you rather something a little louder and prouder? You truly can’t go wrong with either.
READ MORE: The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Is Hip, Vivacious and Spacious
Trackcore: You Want That “Ready to Hit the Corkscrew” Look
If you paired a Nissan Z NISMO with the same chunky, five-spoke stock racing style wheels typically seen on a Ford Mustang, it just wouldn’t look right. It may look good on a loud, American muscle car, but on something steady, chic, and Japanese, Trackcore just doesn’t hit the same.
The Z NISMO has 19-inch black wheels, forged by RAYS, that help give it a track-ready look while paying homage to the history behind the “Z” name (the Mustang example fits with this trope, too—five-spoke wheels are historic for the moniker). They’re lightweight, aggressive, and say, “Why yes, you see me at Whole Foods, but I’m heading to the track after this.”
The subtlety of the black wheels also helps keep the horsepower in the Z NISMO a secret, too. Likely no one would guess that there are 420 eager horses coming from a twin-turbo V6 under that $66,000 hood.
READ MORE: Nissan Z + Circuit of the Americas = All Day Thrills
Quirkcore: Who Said “Quirky” Was a Bad Thing?
Highlighter yellow on the mirrors, grille, and the outlandish and crazy-looking wheels? If you truly want to start a conversation, have pictures taken of you, or have kids drool near your car, the Mini Cooper EV is all that and a bag of chips. It looks like a normal Mini Cooper, but at the same time, it doesn’t. It’s funky, it’s spunky, it’s retro-chic, and it has a lot of personality for something so… Mini.
Also, nothing says cute and quirky like the wheels. They’re 17-inch “scissor spoke” wheels in a two-tone color pattern, which is such a complement to the unique and curious vibes that the Mini Cooper moniker has always carried. Bold shapes and colors help bring so much out of the funny little Brit.
If you like small EVs with big and bold styling, look also to the Hyundai IONIQ 5, BMW i3, and the Volvo EX30—which comes in a highlighter yellow that gives Pikachu vibes.
No matter what fashion core you subscribe to, there are cars that help accentuate your personality, your style preferences, and your lifestyle. Just be sure to pay special attention to the wheels—the wrong look can easily cramp your style.
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