Why GM never offered factory chrome wheels?
02-12-2012, 11:18 PM
#21
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Had my stock Thin Spokes Chrome Plated the first day I bought the car new in 9/2000. Nearly 12 years later of Daily Driving they still look like new - not a noticeable scratch or visible crack (yet).
As to why GM has never offered chrome wheels on the Corvette, probably because they know how some people are going to drive these cars - a high percentage get driven into the ground pretty quickly using them as race cars (street or track) so it would just be one more thing for them to have to warranty. The average Corvette owner also complains to the Dealership about "everything". I have seen lots of non-chromed thin-spokes develop stress cracks and have to be replaced - so not sure chrome would make much difference. Plenty of manufacturers offer chrome wheels with lifetime structural warranties - never heard of one failing, but my guess it if it did, it would have failed anyway.
Then again they scour the world to locate the cheapest carpet, vinyl, leather and some other materials on these, so it might be just economics?
These have looked like new for nearly 12 years through rain and snow:
As to why GM has never offered chrome wheels on the Corvette, probably because they know how some people are going to drive these cars - a high percentage get driven into the ground pretty quickly using them as race cars (street or track) so it would just be one more thing for them to have to warranty. The average Corvette owner also complains to the Dealership about "everything". I have seen lots of non-chromed thin-spokes develop stress cracks and have to be replaced - so not sure chrome would make much difference. Plenty of manufacturers offer chrome wheels with lifetime structural warranties - never heard of one failing, but my guess it if it did, it would have failed anyway.
Then again they scour the world to locate the cheapest carpet, vinyl, leather and some other materials on these, so it might be just economics?
These have looked like new for nearly 12 years through rain and snow:
02-13-2012, 01:10 AM
#22
Le Mans Master
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ArmchairArchitect (11-21-2017)
02-14-2012, 01:03 AM
#23
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Oldvetter - The Corvette Black Book has several mistakes in it like the C5 standard wheels are listed as 8 in front and 9 in rear which in reality is 1/2" too small ( my book goes up to 2001 so maybe they caught the mistakes in the newer books) and other mistakes like gasoline tank capacity unless the C5 has too different gas tank capacities?
So maybe they made a mistakes in calling the C6 wheels chrome plated?
So maybe they made a mistakes in calling the C6 wheels chrome plated?
02-14-2012, 01:19 AM
#24
Burning Brakes
My thin spoke wheels"polished aluminum"Had been on my 2001 C5 since it was new and they looked like they just came out of the box.42K.Sold them last week.Went to a deep dish black spoke with a stainless steel lip.
FRED
FRED
02-14-2012, 02:35 AM
#25
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
memmber - what did you sell your 5 spoke wheels for? What do you mean about the "42K"?
I am thinking of selling my polished aluminum five spoke wheels off a 7k mile 2001 with Goodyear Eagle EMT tires which look new. What should I ask for wheels and for wheels with tires?
I am thinking of selling my polished aluminum five spoke wheels off a 7k mile 2001 with Goodyear Eagle EMT tires which look new. What should I ask for wheels and for wheels with tires?
07-31-2015, 04:23 PM
#27
C-5 Polished Aluminum Rim vs Chrome Plating or Replicas
Here is a link showing the restoration of the "barrels" of my C-5 rims. I have completed the outward facing part of the front rims and will finish up the rears this summer. My wheels have a mirror-like finish, and I will be trying Adams #2 polish and will post pics and results once I finish.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...ml#post1158997
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...ml#post1158997
07-31-2015, 04:24 PM
#28
C-5 Polished Aluminum Rim vs Chrome Plating or Replicas
Here is the proper link for the restoration information on the C-5 rims.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...ml#post1158997
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...ml#post1158997
07-31-2015, 04:25 PM
#29
C-5 Polished Aluminum Rim vs Chrome Plating or Replicas
07-31-2015, 05:50 PM
#33
Le Mans Master
The book mentioned something about the chrome plating process weakening the wheels if used for racing or "extreme" driving. They backed it up by saying there are no chrome wheels being used in racing.
I do remember from metallurgy class about "hydrogen embrittlement" but forgot if that was a factor in chrome plating.
I do remember from metallurgy class about "hydrogen embrittlement" but forgot if that was a factor in chrome plating.
07-31-2015, 06:16 PM
#34
1/4 mile/AutoX
My 99 had chrome wagon wheels on it and were stamped GM ????????
08-03-2015, 09:14 AM
#35
Resurrecting 3-year old thread
The reason I jumped on this old thread was simply to provide some info on how to restore or repair factory clear-coated rims. Some threads may be old but the information is still relevant, so that's the only reason. Thanks for asking - Robert
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Yello95 (01-29-2018)
08-03-2015, 10:41 AM
#36
Burning Brakes
Same here !! (2 cents) 
Don't really care now, their gone !! 
08-03-2015, 10:46 AM
#37
Team Owner
11-21-2017, 04:26 PM
#40
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You kicked a 5 year old thread here... but it is good info.
The C5 is otherwise completely devoid of chrome. I believe they did this for style/design purposes.. not realizing that people still wanted blingy wheels.
The C5 is otherwise completely devoid of chrome. I believe they did this for style/design purposes.. not realizing that people still wanted blingy wheels.