Chrome vs Painted Wheels?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: NC
I thought this was the case as all of the pictures I see, the Z51 wheels always look so much brighter. Now I am confused again.
Jimmy, are the machined wheels that GM sells actually a gray color? They are advertised as being black but they don't look black in pictures I have seen.
Jimmy, are the machined wheels that GM sells actually a gray color? They are advertised as being black but they don't look black in pictures I have seen.
Just to clear up some confusion (hopefully). The base C7 wheel (5 spoke) is PAINTED silver (as is the stock 10 spoke Z51 wheel although it is a DIFFERENT color silver). The optional machined face wheels (base or Z51) are painted ALL black, and then the "Faces" of the spokes and the lip are machined clean of black paint, this area that has been machined is natural aluminum color. Then the entire wheel is clear coated.
Jimmy
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
Just to clear up some confusion (hopefully). The base C7 wheel (5 spoke) is PAINTED silver (as is the stock 10 spoke Z51 wheel although it is a DIFFERENT color silver). The optional machined face wheels (base or Z51) are painted ALL black, and then the "Faces" of the spokes and the lip are machined clean of black paint, this area that has been machined is natural aluminum color. Then the entire wheel is clear coated.
Jimmy
Jimmy
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: NC
This thread is really good because you can see just about all the options for base (5 spoke) and Z51/ZF1 (10 spoke);
In this thread:
Post #5: Base (5 spoke) Chrome
Post #10: Z51/ZF1 (10 spoke) Chrome
Post #21: Z51/ZF1 (10 spoke) Painted (this is the standard Z51/ZF1 wheel)
Post #35: Z51/ZF1 (10 spoke) Machined face
And here are mine. First picture is the STANDARD base (5 spoke) silver wheel (you can see the difference in color between this wheel and the standard Z51/ZF1 wheel....the Z51/ZF1 wheel is MUCH lighter and brighter looking). Second picture is the Machined face wheel (done locally, but the GM wheel will look the same except the GM wheel will have black center caps).
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: NC
Here's a close up:
It is interesting that the machined face wheel looks "leaner", if that makes sense. It's the same wheel but the spokes look thinner (and better, IMO) and the entire wheel looks less clunky than the base. The wheel also looks like it's a larger diameter to me
It is interesting that the machined face wheel looks "leaner", if that makes sense. It's the same wheel but the spokes look thinner (and better, IMO) and the entire wheel looks less clunky than the base. The wheel also looks like it's a larger diameter to me
Last edited by jimmyb; Feb 13, 2015 at 03:03 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,495
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From: Jacksonville FL
I would go with the painted or machined wheels. Went to the New Car Show last weekend and most all manufactures had cars at the show. Machine and painted wheels out numbered all of the other wheels. I only saw chrome on two (2) pickup trucks. I like chrome but it does appear the car companies are getting away from chrome.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 7,137
Likes: 3,176
From: Kannapolis MA.
Here's a close up:
It is interesting that the machined face wheel looks "leaner", if that makes sense. It's the same wheel but the spokes look thinner (and better, IMO) and the entire wheel looks less clunky than the base. The wheel also looks like it's a larger diameter to me
It is interesting that the machined face wheel looks "leaner", if that makes sense. It's the same wheel but the spokes look thinner (and better, IMO) and the entire wheel looks less clunky than the base. The wheel also looks like it's a larger diameter to me
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,232
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From: Chirper Island
I've had three different wheels, from three different Vettes, and I know that my polished aluminum wheels from my '05 still look awesome!
My chrome Torque wheels on my PE look great, and are easy to clean.
I absolutely HATED the painted wheels on my Z06!
My chrome Torque wheels on my PE look great, and are easy to clean.
I absolutely HATED the painted wheels on my Z06!
Enjoy !
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 203
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From: South Hadley/Boca Raton MA/FL
Mine are black, I've got more than enough chrome to polish already
https://www.facebook.com/12945837717...type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/12945837717...type=3&theater
Last edited by mrclean1; Feb 14, 2015 at 07:41 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
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Likes: 199
I would go with the painted or machined wheels. Went to the New Car Show last weekend and most all manufactures had cars at the show. Machine and painted wheels out numbered all of the other wheels. I only saw chrome on two (2) pickup trucks. I like chrome but it does appear the car companies are getting away from chrome.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,934
Likes: 4,257
From: NC
I would go with the painted or machined wheels. Went to the New Car Show last weekend and most all manufactures had cars at the show. Machine and painted wheels out numbered all of the other wheels. I only saw chrome on two (2) pickup trucks. I like chrome but it does appear the car companies are getting away from chrome.
I think the customer is moving away from chrome. Dave from Kerbeck said that he is ordering a lot more black wheels than chrome on C7's.
Jimmy
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 210
Likes: 60
From: Boise, Idaho
Chrome Wheels too Flashy for me
After having Chrome Wheels on 2 previous corvettes, I decided to try the hyper silver (Z51), thinking if I didn't like them, I would do a wheel exchange and for 995.00 instead of the factory price of almost 2K, I would have chrome wheels.....I have used Westcoast Corvette over the years for Chrome exchange, and found the wheels to be perfect, with basically a lifetime plating warranty.........Maybe it's maturity or age or something else, but looking at the car with chrome----it's my feeling the wheels look out of place, flashy, and not in keeping with the design...It takes your eyes away from the car, immediately to the shiny wheels......The hyper silver looks metallic, and if you ever scuff the rims, you can get a mobile surface to touch them up.....With chrome, between rocks and salt, they can become a problem......Just one opinion.....whatever floats your boat.......
Last edited by cobramustang1993; Feb 14, 2015 at 12:16 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
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From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
After having Chrome Wheels on 2 previous corvettes, I decided to try the hyper silver (Z51), thinking if I didn't like them, I would do a wheel exchange and for 995.00 instead of the factory price of almost 2K, I would have chrome wheels.....I have used Westcoast Corvette over the years for Chrome exchange, and found the wheels to be perfect, with basically a lifetime plating warranty.........Maybe it's maturity or age or something else, but looking at the car with chrome----it's my feeling the wheels look out of place, flashy, and not in keeping with the design...It takes your eyes away from the car, immediately to the shiny wheels......The hyper silver looks metallic, and if you ever scuff the rims, you can get a mobile surface to touch them up.....With chrome, between rocks and salt, they can become a problem......Just one opinion.....whatever floats your boat.......
I'm going to go with the painted wheels, probably the Z51 style because I do like the brighter shade of silver. For me, this is a good compromise between the silver color of the base wheels and the chrome wheels. Only downside for me on the Z51 wheels is the lack of any runflat tires but I will go with non-runflats, been doing it for years with my BMWs with no issues. I'll call a flatbed if my slime kit won't seal the leak.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 119
Likes: 1
Wheels
[QUOTE=nmvettec7;1588933555]Randall:
Before I got my Corvette, my build order was going to be for the 5 multi-spoke wheel in Painted HyperSilver Aluminum. I have hyper silver painted wheels on both my Jaguar XKR and Porsche Cayman 981.
Since I could not get an allocation for a build, I ended up purchasing a 2015 C7 off a dealers lot. It had the 19 & 20" 5 Multi-Spoke wheels in chrome.
These Corvette chrome wheels are of high quality. The chrome is impressive and the 5 multi-spoke is easy to clean. Once the car arrived, I cleaned them, then polished the wheels, and then coated the wheels with Pinnacle Black Diamond Wheel Coating. The chrome wheels stay very clean, very little evidence of brake dust and a simply Dawn dishwashingdetergent and water will clean them quite well. The chrome does not scratch, and are easy to maintain. There is an added cost of $1995.00 MSRP to go up to the chrome wheels. Also I like the Corvette name that is stamped into the wheels.
I am glad the C7 had the chrome. I gets lots of compliments and the chrome adds a touch of class to the car. What I like the best, is that these wheels are quite easy to clean. The spokes at the rims, have curves and there are no sharp edges. There is plenty of room to get a cloth rag or microfiber towel in between the spokes.
If you go with the chrome, consider coating them upon arrival. I have provided a link to the product I use on all my premium sports cars for your review.
http://www.autogeek.net/pinnacle-wheel-coating.html
I hope this information helps which is from a real C7 owner with the Corvette Chrome wheels and who is a "detail junkie
I have the Z51 Chrome Wheels on my 2015.
They need to be cleaned really good and coated?
what would you recommend?
Before I got my Corvette, my build order was going to be for the 5 multi-spoke wheel in Painted HyperSilver Aluminum. I have hyper silver painted wheels on both my Jaguar XKR and Porsche Cayman 981.
Since I could not get an allocation for a build, I ended up purchasing a 2015 C7 off a dealers lot. It had the 19 & 20" 5 Multi-Spoke wheels in chrome.
These Corvette chrome wheels are of high quality. The chrome is impressive and the 5 multi-spoke is easy to clean. Once the car arrived, I cleaned them, then polished the wheels, and then coated the wheels with Pinnacle Black Diamond Wheel Coating. The chrome wheels stay very clean, very little evidence of brake dust and a simply Dawn dishwashingdetergent and water will clean them quite well. The chrome does not scratch, and are easy to maintain. There is an added cost of $1995.00 MSRP to go up to the chrome wheels. Also I like the Corvette name that is stamped into the wheels.
I am glad the C7 had the chrome. I gets lots of compliments and the chrome adds a touch of class to the car. What I like the best, is that these wheels are quite easy to clean. The spokes at the rims, have curves and there are no sharp edges. There is plenty of room to get a cloth rag or microfiber towel in between the spokes.
If you go with the chrome, consider coating them upon arrival. I have provided a link to the product I use on all my premium sports cars for your review.
http://www.autogeek.net/pinnacle-wheel-coating.html
I hope this information helps which is from a real C7 owner with the Corvette Chrome wheels and who is a "detail junkie
I have the Z51 Chrome Wheels on my 2015.
They need to be cleaned really good and coated?
what would you recommend?
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 119
Likes: 1