Wheel RANT !!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 15,449
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From: Everywhere and Nowhere at all
Thanks for clarifying.... Makes total sense now. good luck w whatever you decide to do.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 258
However; regarding your #4 comment...there aren't even many forged OEM wheels around. Even for Corvettes they are hit or miss (think thin spoke variants for sake of argument). When you are working with billet aluminum the material is far more dense than a typical forging that was heated treated and or pressed. The cost isn't just in the machine time. That's why you will see thin intracate spoke patterns that can maintain their strength; shapes not possible for a cast wheel. I'd be willing to bet they are stronger than an OEM; which is why they are used exclusively for racing. Lower weight and stronger.
Bottom line is you get what you pay for.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,892
Likes: 47
From: Helotes TEXAS
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 258
So buy a used set in good shape or in need of cleanup.
It costs damn near $1000 and easily more just to put tires on a 18/19 or 19/19 setup.
So your wheels should cost as much as the tires? I mean I know it sucks but unless you want cheap wheels for the sake of having wheels; OEM or OEM take offs is the way to fly - and they aren't free either.
I've barely over what it'd cost me for a set of cheapo cast knockoffs in my wheels. Yeah; I put in a ton of work restoring them, but I didn't pay $5k for the wheels alone as they cost new and they'll make money if I sold them.
Always some good deals floating around in the FS section here. I was even selling mine at one point when I decided it's not worth it for what I'd spend replacing them with cheaper 'junk'. As already noted, Forgestars** are going to be the best bet on a budget; though I guess you don't like the styles. Even so, you'll be in ~$3k with tires.
Spend $2-2500 on some nice used forged wheels and they'll always be worth within $500 of what you paid. Or go drop $1500-1800 on some generic set that's worth $700 used.
These cars were $40-50k + new; they're aged but you're not getting nice stuff for honda civic prices.
It costs damn near $1000 and easily more just to put tires on a 18/19 or 19/19 setup.
So your wheels should cost as much as the tires? I mean I know it sucks but unless you want cheap wheels for the sake of having wheels; OEM or OEM take offs is the way to fly - and they aren't free either.
I've barely over what it'd cost me for a set of cheapo cast knockoffs in my wheels. Yeah; I put in a ton of work restoring them, but I didn't pay $5k for the wheels alone as they cost new and they'll make money if I sold them.
Always some good deals floating around in the FS section here. I was even selling mine at one point when I decided it's not worth it for what I'd spend replacing them with cheaper 'junk'. As already noted, Forgestars** are going to be the best bet on a budget; though I guess you don't like the styles. Even so, you'll be in ~$3k with tires.
Spend $2-2500 on some nice used forged wheels and they'll always be worth within $500 of what you paid. Or go drop $1500-1800 on some generic set that's worth $700 used.
These cars were $40-50k + new; they're aged but you're not getting nice stuff for honda civic prices.
Last edited by RSbeast; Feb 11, 2015 at 11:53 AM. Reason: Had Forgelines written...def big $$$
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 258
That said; being a knockoff wheel; there are definitely others floating around. Check ebay, call around the wheel vendors here as there's always old inventory, there's search tempest for Craiglist that will let you pool state or national level searches without going town to town.
Sounds like given budget its probably your best bet to just find one; even if it takes time.
Sounds like given budget its probably your best bet to just find one; even if it takes time.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,168
Likes: 21
From: Sunniest city on Earth
TSW's only come in certain sizes which are none of mine by the way.
As mentioned in a previous post, Forgestars only have 6 styles to choose from.... uhh no !
and lastly LG Motorsports only has one wheel shown for a C5, at just under $7K for a set.... NOT !!
And the search continues.....
As mentioned in a previous post, Forgestars only have 6 styles to choose from.... uhh no !
and lastly LG Motorsports only has one wheel shown for a C5, at just under $7K for a set.... NOT !!
And the search continues.....
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,168
Likes: 21
From: Sunniest city on Earth
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,892
Likes: 47
From: Helotes TEXAS
And I didn't see any OEM C6 wheels on LG's site.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 14
From: Honolulu, HI
Would love to hear the logic behind this one. OEM will manufacture a wheel to specific DOT guidelines and testing; further than what is required by an aftermarket. A face loading procedure is one of them commonly found on YouTube showing independent testing; which quickly weeds out the cheap cast wheels. However; regarding your #4 comment...there aren't even many forged OEM wheels around. Even for Corvettes they are hit or miss (think thin spoke variants for sake of argument). When you are working with billet aluminum the material is far more dense than a typical forging that was heated treated and or pressed. The cost isn't just in the machine time. That's why you will see thin intracate spoke patterns that can maintain their strength; shapes not possible for a cast wheel. I'd be willing to bet they are stronger than an OEM; which is why they are used exclusively for racing. Lower weight and stronger. Bottom line is you get what you pay for.
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 435
Likes: 5
From: New Salisbury Ind
I feel your pain, going thru the same thing with the right front on my 97, it has too much runout and will not balance within specs. the manufacturer no longer makes that style, so after a lot of searches, none in stock at the big retailers. so finally found another manufacturer that is making the same wheel(zr1 replica in c5 sizes)just waiting for it to be delivered to my local tire shop. hope its right and matches.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,495
Likes: 332
From: USA
Forgestar F14's are the best looking "cheap" wheel worth spending money on IMO...about $1500 delivered for a set. getyourwheels also has a bunch of nice finish options - like brushed/cleared. I'm considering buying a new set myself.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,495
Likes: 332
From: USA
At that price, my friend, they are obviously just a distributor of Chinese garbage. The cheapest wheels I would ever run would be from Forgestar. They are manufactured in Asia, but they are rotary-forged, reasonably light, reasonably strong for street use, and they are the manufacturer of the wheel.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,892
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From: Helotes TEXAS
And NO rivets.
Last edited by Sinister-one; Feb 16, 2015 at 11:42 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,495
Likes: 332
From: USA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,495
Likes: 332
From: USA
Custom finishes...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...urnaround.html
I think I'm going with some brushed cleared F14's myself.
I know of 2 shops close to me that would chrome plate them if I wanted them to.
Finding the rim style and quality/weight you want is priority one. Finishes of any sort can be had for a bit of $.
