Reproduction wheels vs forged
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Reproduction wheels vs forged
Ok so I just bought my first corvette.( a 2000 yellow 6 speed ) and I love it, but it really needs wheels. I just don't like the stock wheels, however it a 50,000 mile driver, not a show car. Is it really worth the extra money for forged for a driver. I do like the look of the split spoke z06 wheels and the spider wheels, but I love the ccw t-10 wheels. Anybody ever had a problem with repros. If you have any pics of your car with wheels on it it would be a great help. Thinking of 18/19 combo also, any advice would be appreciated.....
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,504
Likes: 1,830
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Look for some forged wheels in C5 Parts For Sale or e-Bay or somewhere. I found my i-Forged swifts on e-Bay and have about as much in them as some reproduction wheel.
Last edited by jrose7004; Aug 6, 2012 at 01:10 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,506
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From: This is not a Song, It's an Outburst: Or, The Establishment Blues; Sixto Diaz Rodriguez
Prices for new forged wheels, you could probably get 3 sets of repros....but like rosie said, check the "parts for sales" forum, you can find deals there. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 870
Likes: 7
From: Andreas Pennsylvania
It depends on what you want to do with the car. If you are after a look, and that is it, then repos are pobably good enough. There are alot of guys on here running them, and they are happy. If you plan on taking it to the track (1/4 mi, autocross, or HPDE) then the forged wheels might be worth it. Nothing worse than rotating mass. I have seen Corvettes show 10 more RWHP when switching from repo wheels, to quality forged wheels. Good luck on your search!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
Likes: 302
From: Columbia SC
Reproduction does not mean "cast". I am not sure but I have to assume my 2001 factory wheels are cast do to the curved surfaces. Wheels can be forged or cast. Cast wheels can be heat treated to increase strength. This is not normally done, but many of us with Panteras have had our magnesium wheels heat treated to increase strength since they were cast and don't have the inherent number of stress cylces as does aluminum but boy are they light. Forged wheels can be thinner do to inherent strength. Ask the manufacturer how the wheel is made if you go with an aftermarket wheel.
