[Z06] New owner question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 242
Likes: 7
From: Fair Oaks, CA
New owner question
I have had my 2003 for 30 days today. I've already bored some of you with the purchase event last month and the frame rail vin number freak out.
I just received in the mail today, an original 2003 anniversary brochure I purchased on Ebay. I'm reading all the cool things GM introduced in 2003 and in the back of the book it talks about the Z06 aluminum wheels, complete with pictures of flat (dull) silver wheels never mentioning chrome wheels. I have chrome wheels on the Z06 I bought.
Question: Are the highly polished chrome wheels on my Z06 correct? Are they stock wheels or were polished chrome wheels optional in 2003.
By the way.....there are lots of brochures for sale on Ebay for various prices and for various models. I have two currently listed on Ebay for a 2004 and a 2006. If they don't sell, I plan to offer them first come first serve on this forum, FREE. I was only trying to get a buck or two to offset the cost for my own brochure purchase. It this point I don't care.
Thanks in advance for answering another newbee, question...
Dave Bunker
I just received in the mail today, an original 2003 anniversary brochure I purchased on Ebay. I'm reading all the cool things GM introduced in 2003 and in the back of the book it talks about the Z06 aluminum wheels, complete with pictures of flat (dull) silver wheels never mentioning chrome wheels. I have chrome wheels on the Z06 I bought.
Question: Are the highly polished chrome wheels on my Z06 correct? Are they stock wheels or were polished chrome wheels optional in 2003.
By the way.....there are lots of brochures for sale on Ebay for various prices and for various models. I have two currently listed on Ebay for a 2004 and a 2006. If they don't sell, I plan to offer them first come first serve on this forum, FREE. I was only trying to get a buck or two to offset the cost for my own brochure purchase. It this point I don't care.
Thanks in advance for answering another newbee, question...
Dave Bunker
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach California
If the rims are chrome they are either after market (or) the dealer removed and had them chromed as their option - they were not offered by GM chrome only argent gray.
If they are polished they are off a 2004 Z16 (only model / year offered by GM with polished rims), or someone removed and polished them their selves?
NOTE: after market rims are heavier and affect the cars performance (rotating mass).
If they are polished they are off a 2004 Z16 (only model / year offered by GM with polished rims), or someone removed and polished them their selves?
NOTE: after market rims are heavier and affect the cars performance (rotating mass).
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 242
Likes: 7
From: Fair Oaks, CA
Well you all are right on, I contacted the previous owner. He told me the wheels are aftermarket. ZEE-OH-6.....you mentioned in your note that aftermarket wheels affect performance because of weight. I'm not sure what to do. MY choice is to keep the look and not care about performance or find a set of OEMs. I'm sure I could trade someone my wheels for the Chrome ones, if I really wanted to put the Argent Gray OEMs back on. The chrome ones look much better. Is there really a big performance difference? What are my chrome ones worth vs original wheels?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 8
From: Champaign IL
To some people it's more about looks than performance. The above comments are correct. All Z06 came with light weight Rims. The 2004 Z16 came with Polished Versions. The 2001 Z06 rims were made by Alcoa and 2002-2004 Rims by Speedline.
Stock Z06 Rims :
Corvette Z06 '02 Front -- Spun Cast -- 17x9.5 -- 19.2 lbs.
Corvette Z06 '02 Rear -- Spun Cast -- 18x10.5 -- 21.0 lbs.
The Stock Goodyear Eagle F1 Super Car tires are also some of the lightest tires out there too.
Each additional pound of rotating mass (Tires+Rims) added to your car is like subtracting 1.8hp per pound. So lets say your heavy aftermarket rims are 24lbs and Rears are 26lbs. Compared to the Stock 19.2 and 21.0 rims. So 9.6lbs extra rotating mass for the Front Rims & Tires, and 10lbs extra for the Rear. We get a total of 19.6lbs of total additional rotating mass the engine has to turn. This 19.6lbs x 1.8HP = A loss of 35.28HP. This also applies to braking, but I don't know the conversion.. Someone else here will know.
Stock Z06 Rims :
Corvette Z06 '02 Front -- Spun Cast -- 17x9.5 -- 19.2 lbs.
Corvette Z06 '02 Rear -- Spun Cast -- 18x10.5 -- 21.0 lbs.
The Stock Goodyear Eagle F1 Super Car tires are also some of the lightest tires out there too.
Each additional pound of rotating mass (Tires+Rims) added to your car is like subtracting 1.8hp per pound. So lets say your heavy aftermarket rims are 24lbs and Rears are 26lbs. Compared to the Stock 19.2 and 21.0 rims. So 9.6lbs extra rotating mass for the Front Rims & Tires, and 10lbs extra for the Rear. We get a total of 19.6lbs of total additional rotating mass the engine has to turn. This 19.6lbs x 1.8HP = A loss of 35.28HP. This also applies to braking, but I don't know the conversion.. Someone else here will know.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 312
From: P-town Baby! Virginia
dude...you gotta chill! Unless you are a finely tuned racing instrument yourself....I don't think the wheels are gonna make that much difference in your driving experience. That being said....if the previous owner had the original wheels and you could get them......that would be great...or if you can acquire another set to have around. Your wheels are very sharp...but sometimes it's nice to see a super clean Z on stock rims that's lowered...that is a nice look. My advice..keep the chrome rims and lower your Z...the watch for a stock set to come up for sale on the forum. You can run the stock rims every now and then for a different look or while you clean the chromies. 
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 21
From: Orlando Florida
If you like the way they look and you just wanna cruise around with an occasional romp, I wouldn't worry about it at all.
If you like it, keep it the way it is. It's your car and you can do whatever you legally want!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 242
Likes: 7
From: Fair Oaks, CA
I have to agree. I need to chill. Especially after the original owner said he has the original wheels and will sell them for $1000 rims only. That's more than I will pay, even for the rims that came on the car from the factory. Who cares. There are as good a wheel out there for less if I shop around if I really want OEM rims. I also agree that I probably couldn't tell the difference in performance. Agree?????
Pro
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 590
Likes: 23
From: Orangevale Ca.
I have to agree. I need to chill. Especially after the original owner said he has the original wheels and will sell them for $1000 rims only. That's more than I will pay, even for the rims that came on the car from the factory. Who cares. There are as good a wheel out there for less if I shop around if I really want OEM rims. I also agree that I probably couldn't tell the difference in performance. Agree?????
lemme kno.....i'm in Orangevale (near Folsom).
rich