I personally prefer the black wheels with chrome (or aluminum) outer rims. 
Black Wheels
Miles of Smiles
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,180
Likes: 559
From: Omaha Nebraska
2016 C5 of the Year Finalist
Race Director
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 629
From: Manheim Pennsylvania
Probably the most expensive to produce. I don't like black wheels, chrome is to gaudy on the C7. I think the standard Z51 wheel is painted silver, my choice. Competition gray would be nice. I have the polished wheels on my C6.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Fort Mill SC
I had chrome on an 03 black coupe, Comp Grey on my Silver 08 and now have a 2012 Centennial GS and think the black wheels really help give it a Wow factor. I get so many looks and thumbs up on this car.
I think it's the car color that make the wheels work. If I get a C7 it would be either black or torch red with black wheels red calipers.
I think it's the car color that make the wheels work. If I get a C7 it would be either black or torch red with black wheels red calipers.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
I think the Crystal Red would look better with chromed wheels.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 896
Likes: 70
From: Orange Texas
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,197
Likes: 41
From: MEMPHIS TN
Black wheels look o.k., it's just chrome and polished look much better. Yes I am an old guy. Used to paint the wheels black on my 1960 Ford Starliner with whitewalls, because I couldn't afford chrome reverse rims. All black wheels loose detail unless in the proper light.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,683
Likes: 84
I like the black rims. I think it sucks that they are only offered as an option on the Z51 model, which I'm not planning to get since I'm on a budget.
But I do want black wheels - does anyone know if one could simply order a Vette with the base wheels and then once it's delivered to the dealership ask their service department to have the wheels painted black before I come to pick it up? I wonder if the charge is similar to the $500ish option of black painted wheels. If so I'll definitely do that.
But I do want black wheels - does anyone know if one could simply order a Vette with the base wheels and then once it's delivered to the dealership ask their service department to have the wheels painted black before I come to pick it up? I wonder if the charge is similar to the $500ish option of black painted wheels. If so I'll definitely do that.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Westminster Maryland
I like the black rims. I think it sucks that they are only offered as an option on the Z51 model, which I'm not planning to get since I'm on a budget.
But I do want black wheels - does anyone know if one could simply order a Vette with the base wheels and then once it's delivered to the dealership ask their service department to have the wheels painted black before I come to pick it up? I wonder if the charge is similar to the $500ish option of black painted wheels. If so I'll definitely do that.
But I do want black wheels - does anyone know if one could simply order a Vette with the base wheels and then once it's delivered to the dealership ask their service department to have the wheels painted black before I come to pick it up? I wonder if the charge is similar to the $500ish option of black painted wheels. If so I'll definitely do that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,269
Likes: 25
From: Simi Valley Ca
I like the black rims. I think it sucks that they are only offered as an option on the Z51 model, which I'm not planning to get since I'm on a budget.
But I do want black wheels - does anyone know if one could simply order a Vette with the base wheels and then once it's delivered to the dealership ask their service department to have the wheels painted black before I come to pick it up? I wonder if the charge is similar to the $500ish option of black painted wheels. If so I'll definitely do that.
But I do want black wheels - does anyone know if one could simply order a Vette with the base wheels and then once it's delivered to the dealership ask their service department to have the wheels painted black before I come to pick it up? I wonder if the charge is similar to the $500ish option of black painted wheels. If so I'll definitely do that.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 133
Likes: 2
Black wheels are hard to pull off. Gloss looks terrible, matte/satin usually looks pretty good. 97% of the time a contrasting/polished lip looks cheap, unless it's on a modular wheel like a CCW Classic or similar. Also, black wheels on a black car aka "murdered out" is played out. It doesn't say "I'm sinister", it says "I'm trying too hard to look sinister."
Oh, and chrome wheels should have gone out of style during the Carter administration.
Oh, and chrome wheels should have gone out of style during the Carter administration.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC
GM is a bit late to the party with the black rims. The high gloss black on the red stingray car is horrible. Matte black would have looked much better, or comp grey. Funny enough grey is very cool right now, and GM has been selling those for years.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,263
Likes: 141
From: Short Hills, NJ
I like black wheels but I like dark grey/anthracite wheels (in use on factory Corvettes in some form or another since the 2001 Z06 by the way) MUCH better.
The availability of Competition Grey wheels as a mid-late 2005 model year option ultimately played a small role in my decision to order a brand new 2006 Corvette.
The availability of Competition Grey wheels as a mid-late 2005 model year option ultimately played a small role in my decision to order a brand new 2006 Corvette.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 26,795
Likes: 616
From: Elmhurst, IL (West Suburb of Chicago) & Home of MEGA Horsepower
St. Jude Donor '06
Solid black wheels on a lighter color vette, be it a C5, C6, or C7, is my favorite.
LOVE the solid black wheels on the red C7 that was unveiled on 1-13-13in Detroit, looks GREAT!!
Not a big red guy, but red on a C6 Z06 or C7, with black wheels, is my favorite look (SCREAMS race car)!
LOVE the solid black wheels on the red C7 that was unveiled on 1-13-13in Detroit, looks GREAT!!
Not a big red guy, but red on a C6 Z06 or C7, with black wheels, is my favorite look (SCREAMS race car)!
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 430
Likes: 1
From: San Francisco CA
Gee, I wonder why chrome wheels are found on most C6's(53% for 2012 MY)? Thats more then all the other wheel options combined; the base silvers, the Comp gray, the machined face and the black. Why would someone order the most expensive wheel option if they didn't like the looks of it? Could it be that most C6's are driven by older folks that can afford them and prefer chrome over in-one-day/out-the-next-day fads.
Oh, and the guy who is the lead designer for the C7, just auctioned off his GM ZR1 through the NCM, and it had chrome wheels. Some people just have no sense of style, I guess.
Oh, and the guy who is the lead designer for the C7, just auctioned off his GM ZR1 through the NCM, and it had chrome wheels. Some people just have no sense of style, I guess.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 97,155
Likes: 1,471
From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
