C7 Wheel Failures
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 539
Likes: 78
C7 Wheel Failures
So I'm a newbie to Corvettes. A F.O.G. (Freakin' Old Guy) who has never had a Vette and is only now looking for his first one.
I searched the forums briefly ("wheels" is a tough search
)
One thing that concerns me is the relatively common complaint of certain wheels failing without anything (too) unusual happening (e.g. deep pothole) and needing to be replaced.
As these are seemingly "common" occurrences with some wheels I wonder if some of you could list the wheels that tend to fail, WITH pictures if possible. Also, if you know, the wheels that are tough enough and seldom fail.
TIA
I searched the forums briefly ("wheels" is a tough search
)One thing that concerns me is the relatively common complaint of certain wheels failing without anything (too) unusual happening (e.g. deep pothole) and needing to be replaced.
As these are seemingly "common" occurrences with some wheels I wonder if some of you could list the wheels that tend to fail, WITH pictures if possible. Also, if you know, the wheels that are tough enough and seldom fail.
TIA
Pro
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 692
Likes: 156
From: Huntsville, AL
It's the wide body Grand Sport, Z06, and ZR1 wheels that are most prone to cracks/bends. If you are buying a base stingray or Z51 you really have nothing to worry about. If you go for a Grand Sport or Z06 chances are you will still be ok, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to put some money aside for a set of forged wheels if you do run into an issue.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,033
Likes: 2,722
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
^^^
If you lust for the power of a Z06 or ZR1, then you need to accept the likelihood of bent or cracked wheels before long.
If you want the extra grip of the GS for track use, same thing.
If you want a great handling car with reasonable wheel life, and don't care about the wide-body look, get a Z51 with Mag Ride.
You might think of the wide-body cars as having a $4,000-$5,000 "wheel tax" that you'll probably need to pay in the first year or two.
Any C7 that you get serious about, have a good tire shop inspect the wheels carefully and do a Hunter Road Force Balance on them before purchase.
If you lust for the power of a Z06 or ZR1, then you need to accept the likelihood of bent or cracked wheels before long.
If you want the extra grip of the GS for track use, same thing.
If you want a great handling car with reasonable wheel life, and don't care about the wide-body look, get a Z51 with Mag Ride.
You might think of the wide-body cars as having a $4,000-$5,000 "wheel tax" that you'll probably need to pay in the first year or two.
Any C7 that you get serious about, have a good tire shop inspect the wheels carefully and do a Hunter Road Force Balance on them before purchase.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 539
Likes: 78
Thank you gents. I should have been more specific.
While I would love to get a GS or Z06 I cannot afford either. So a "regular" Stingray it is. Possibly a convertible (but not likely).
The car I'm looking at is advertised as "Chrome Z51 wheels". 5 "double spokes". You probably recognize them by the double spoke description.
So it sounds like I'm golden - at least as far as the wheels are concerned.
While I would love to get a GS or Z06 I cannot afford either. So a "regular" Stingray it is. Possibly a convertible (but not likely).
The car I'm looking at is advertised as "Chrome Z51 wheels". 5 "double spokes". You probably recognize them by the double spoke description.
So it sounds like I'm golden - at least as far as the wheels are concerned.
Administrator
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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Haven’t really heard of many problems with the Z51 wheels you describe. As mentioned, it is usually the Z06 and GS wider wheels that are having problems.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
^^^
Those look like the factory Z51 wheels, which were also available as a stand-alone option on any narrow-body C7 2014-2017, then became the standard on all narrow-body C7's starting in 2018. We sometimes call them "tuning fork" wheels because of the spoke shape.
Those wheels all came with a C7 emblem on the center cap, so the particular picture might actually be a set of aftermarket reproductions.
Those look like the factory Z51 wheels, which were also available as a stand-alone option on any narrow-body C7 2014-2017, then became the standard on all narrow-body C7's starting in 2018. We sometimes call them "tuning fork" wheels because of the spoke shape.
Those wheels all came with a C7 emblem on the center cap, so the particular picture might actually be a set of aftermarket reproductions.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 539
Likes: 78
^^^
Those look like the factory Z51 wheels, which were also available as a stand-alone option on any narrow-body C7 2014-2017, then became the standard on all narrow-body C7's starting in 2018. We sometimes call them "tuning fork" wheels because of the spoke shape.
Those wheels all came with a C7 emblem on the center cap, so the particular picture might actually be a set of aftermarket reproductions.
Those look like the factory Z51 wheels, which were also available as a stand-alone option on any narrow-body C7 2014-2017, then became the standard on all narrow-body C7's starting in 2018. We sometimes call them "tuning fork" wheels because of the spoke shape.
Those wheels all came with a C7 emblem on the center cap, so the particular picture might actually be a set of aftermarket reproductions.
Thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,303
Likes: 2,055
From: Margate, FL
Z51 wheels are not the problem. A few have reported issues with them but the real problem is the GS and Z06. The problem comes from the combination of wide wheels with low profile, stiff run flat tires. So running 18/19 instead of 19/20 helps.
As for searching use Google with this syntax:
site:www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c7-general-discussion/ search term
Replace "search term" with whatever you are looking for, like "air filter". This forces Google to just search pages on this specific forum vs the web in general.
As for searching use Google with this syntax:
site:www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c7-general-discussion/ search term
Replace "search term" with whatever you are looking for, like "air filter". This forces Google to just search pages on this specific forum vs the web in general.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 78
Likes: 35
From: Geneva, NY
I just got quotes for new Wheels for my Z06. Forgeline's - $7400, Finspeed $5500/$6200. My stock wheels are still good and I'll keep a set of tires on them for the track. They survived 3 days at Watkins Glen and the Bus Stop is hard on the wheels, I wasn't to confident going into it but they made it.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 20,002
Likes: 6,806
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
Do an "Advanced search" of the C7 section of the Forum for "wheel failure" A gazillion relevant threads (often at least one on the front page of this section) with more info than you'll want to bother with will be reported. The OEM wheels, ALL such wheels, on the wide-body cars are cheap castings and therein lies the issue. I tell anyone getting such C7s to consider the cost of quality, FULLY-forged, aftermarket wheels as part of the price of admission. All the best. 
