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Quick View -- New Style Aftermarket Stingray wheels
Hi All,
Just wanted to give my fellow forum members a quick view of some new aftermarket wheels I installed on my Stingray. I don't remember seeing anyone post this brand before, so I thought I'd show a few pics and details in case anyone was thinking about picking up a set.
The info:
BRAND: The brand is "Sport Muscle", model "SM7", and they sell for about $800/full set from Tire Rack -- pretty reasonably priced IMO.
SIZES: The sizes are 19x8.5, 20x10, which is the standard Z51 diameter and width.
OFFSETS: The offsets are close to OEM, but just 3-4 mm less positive offset (53mm and 75mm F/R, vs. 56mm and 79mm for the OEM wheels), which means that the wheel/tire is pushed to the outward side of the car just a little (3 & 4mm) more than stock. Looks good, widens the track a little, and doesn't seem to cause any rubs with the standard Z51 Michelins.
BRAKE CLEARANCE: Wheel spoke-to-brake-caliper clearance is adequate at about 4mm front and 3mm rear (measured with OEM Z51 calipers).
FINISH: Color is a satin-finished silver -- a very fine-grained metallic. Not as much "sparkle metallic" as you see in OEM silver painted wheels.
WEIGHT: Wheel weights are about 28 lbs front and 30 lbs rear, which from what I've read, is about 2 lbs more per wheel than OEM Z51 wheels. So while these are not ultra-light wheels, they don't cost like an ultralight either. For comparison, they do weight about the same as other low-cost reproduction cast wheels for the C7.
TPMS COMPATIBILITY: OEM TPMS sensors are fitted, and work fine.
CENTER CAPS: Wheels come with generic "SM7" center caps, but standard GM C7 center caps are a direct swap and fit perfectly. I re-fitted my OEM wheel caps, but color-matched the cap backgrounds to my Torch Red (a very easy mod, BTW).
LUGS: One thing to watch is that the pockets for the lug nuts are on the smallish side. You don't need special lug nuts, as there is room to use the factory lug nuts (which I did), but you will need to use a thinwall socket to avoid interference with the lug pocket when loosening/tightening.
Apologies for the mediocre quality -- just a few quick snaps of the wheels in the garage.
There are similarities, but the spokes on these don’t form the “tuning fork” shape near the lug nuts like the OEM wheels do. Also, these spokes have a rounded top surface where the OEM are machined flat. Neither good nor bad — just a matter of a different style.
I was looking for the OEM wheels when I came across a set of these. I actually slightly prefer this look to OEM (and like the slightly wider track), but again, just a matter of personal preference.
The gray color which matches nothing else visible on the car just makes them look cheap / low budget, like the stock OEM gray wheels.
Let me guess,you don't you own a 1LT. The "cheap-looking/low budget stock OEM gray (they are NOT gray BTW) look just fine on my Sterling Blue 1LT. But you've never seen a Sterling Blue Corvette,so I understand.
OP,ignore his opinion.
Last edited by karmatourer; 06-23-2018 at 01:17 PM.
Just wanted to give my fellow forum members a quick view of some new aftermarket wheels I installed on my Stingray. I don't remember seeing anyone post this brand before, so I thought I'd show a few pics and details in case anyone was thinking about picking up a set.
The brand is "Sport Muscle", and they sell for about $800/full set from a major tire retailer -- pretty reasonably priced.
The sizes are 19x8.5, 20x10, which is the standard Z51 diameter and width. The offsets are close to OEM, but just 3-4 mm less positive offset (53mm and 75mm respectively), which means that the wheel/tire is pushed to the outward side of the car just a little (3 to 4mm) more than stock. Looks good, widens the track a little, and doesn't seem to cause any rubs with the standard Z51 Michelins.
Wheel spoke-to-brake-caliper clearance is adequate at about 4mm front and 3mm rear (measured with OEM Z51 calipers).
Color is a satin silver -- a very smooth and fine-grained metallic. Not as much "sparkle metallic" as you see in OEM silver painted wheels.
Wheel weights are about 28 lbs front and 30 lbs rear, which from what I've read, is about 2 lbs more per wheel than OEM Z51 wheels. So these are not ultra-light race wheels, but they do weight about the same as other low-cost reproduction cast wheels for the C7 weigh.
Wheels come with generic "SM7" center caps, but standard GM C7 center caps are a direct swap and fit perfectly. I re-fitted my OEM wheel caps, but color-matched the cap backgrounds to my Torch Red (a very easy mod, BTW).
Apologies for the mediocre quality -- just a few quick snaps of the wheels in the garage.
I think they look great! Do they come in black chrome and can you share the source?
I like the look, easy to clean, would prefer chrome however.
Isn't it funny how we all have different tastes? I bought these specifically to get away from the chrome wheels that came on my car from the factory!
And thanks to all for the comments! The source is a forum sponsor/vendor (Tire Rack -- I've updated the original post too). I actually bought them from an individual, but I know Tire Rack sells them, as that's where I got all the data.
As far as I know, they are not available in chrome or black chrome. They used to come in a darker gray too, but I think that color was discontinued.
The gray color which matches nothing else visible on the car just makes them look cheap / low budget, like the stock OEM gray wheels.
I see what you are saying, but I rather like the finish of the pearl nickel silver wheels that are standard on the Z06, even though they don't really match anything else on the car either. This color is not a close match to pearl nickel, but the overall color combo is similar.
I have thought about someday re-painting these in like a C6-era Comp Gray or perhaps even bronze. We'll see how I like this color as time goes on. I do like to change things up every now and again.
I see what you are saying, but I rather like the finish of the pearl nickel silver wheels that are standard on the Z06, even though they don't really match anything else on the car either. This color is not a close match to pearl nickel, but the overall color combo is similar.
I have thought about someday re-painting these in like a C6-era Comp Gray or perhaps even bronze. We'll see how I like this color as time goes on. I do like to change things up every now and again.
While I see what mike is saying, just about every car comes standard w. a silver painted wheel. I don't think all cars look cheap because of the color of wheels-I really don't. I like these wheels since, as you say, it's just a slightly different style from stock. Unless I'm wrong this is the sport line that used to be called something like fox, or maybe it's totally different.
BTW if you ever do decide on a different color, I wonder if the spray on temp stuff would work or if it'd burn off? Plasti-Dip?
I like them a lot in Anthracite. The fronts are on sale for $99/ea but the rears are sold out. I suppose you could get mismatched colors and powdercoat them whatever you want though.
06-23-2018, 12:25 AM
Quick View -- New Style Aftermarket Stingray wheels
