skeet

I just finished reading a wheel/tire book on Corvettes and they brought up the fact that GM never offered factory chrome wheels for the Corvette. Now that I think of it and all the Corvette generations I have owned I can not recall any chrome wheels. Even the 2004 C5 Z06 Comm. had polished aluminum wheels ( instead of the Argent Silver) like were an option on my 2001 C5 (at $1200).
The book mentioned something about the chrome plating process weakening the wheels if used for racing or "extreme" driving. They backed it up by saying there are no chrome wheels being used in racing.
I do remember from metallurgy class about "hydrogen embrittlement" but forgot if that was a factor in chrome plating.

On the subject are aftermarket, reproduction wheels are they safe for racing? The book mentioned some are made in small villages in China where quality of materials is poor.

RetiredSFC 97

I don't know where they're made but it wouldn't surpise me in the least

tbrowne

My 04 has chrome, factory wheels. I see a lot of them. As an after thought, I checked the window sticker and they are listed as high polished aluminum. I would have bet money they were chrome! I will say they are holding up better than any other polished wheels I've had.

BWF07

If your '04 has chrome thin spokes, they are not factory. The only wheels offer in '04 were the polished aluminum or the magnesium wheel.

chassed

OP is confused

damilleniumboy

Well, I just learned something new today.

Rob 99

I have the same wheels Hi-polished thin spokes(i believe a $1800 option) in 2004 and unfortunetly the clear has peeled in somes spots, they weren't hi miles either, they are off the car now as i went to aftermarket wheels and am pondering if i should try to polish out the areas and re clear myself or find a place to do a professional repair.
I can tell ya im dissapointed as i was careful not to use anything but car soap to clean them. No road salt either.

RedC5

Metallurgist here....because the chrome plating process will always produce a coating with cracks along the plating layer. These cracks basically then become part of the base alumium base metal substrate. When high loads ocuur and enough to start fatigue cracks, these "pre-cracks" are great initiation sites for a crack to propagate easily into the metal.

Also some info on how to shine :milky" polished wheels:

http://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance...ine-again.html

Oldvetter

GM did do chromed aluminum wheels on some Cadillac and Buick cars/SUVs.

Plus, in 2006 Chevy offered chromed aluminum wheels on the C6 (RPO # QX3).

dankhts

They offer them on the new vette GS too....

skeet

I do believe GM offered chrome wheels on non Corvettes because they were never able to be pushed to the limits Corvettes can and are pushed too.

Maybe that book was written before 2006? Are you sure they are chrome plated and not polished aluminum? I would really like to know for sure. Several people think their wheels are GM original chrome only to find out they are polished aluminum so is this the case with the 2006?

As RedC5 said the chrome plating process weakens the wheels.

RedC5

If the wheel structure is robust enough to keep the loads to a low level, then chrome plating is possible. It also depends on the supplier who does the chrome. Some chrome plate micros I look at are just terrible...riddled with cracks. Some are not so bad crack density.

Oldvetter

As I said, from the Corvette Black Book -in 2006 Chevy offered chromed aluminum wheels on the C6 (RPO # QX3).

Furthermore, in 2008 Chrome Aluminum Wheels (RPO # Q76) were an option on the ZO6 ! So much for the theory of not pushing them to the limits.

tak06

All this time I thought these were chrome OEM rims, however they do have "GM" stamped on the inside?

guido7834

I just stripped the clear coat off mine, and polish regularly with quality metal polish.

65GGvert

Those are chrome and they very well may be OEM. But they didn't come from the factory that way. You can always have OEM chromed if you like them.

Choreo

Had my stock Thin Spokes Chrome Plated the first day I bought the car new in 9/2000. Nearly 12 years later of Daily Driving they still look like new - not a noticeable scratch or visible crack (yet).

As to why GM has never offered chrome wheels on the Corvette, probably because they know how some people are going to drive these cars - a high percentage get driven into the ground pretty quickly using them as race cars (street or track) so it would just be one more thing for them to have to warranty. The average Corvette owner also complains to the Dealership about "everything". I have seen lots of non-chromed thin-spokes develop stress cracks and have to be replaced - so not sure chrome would make much difference. Plenty of manufacturers offer chrome wheels with lifetime structural warranties - never heard of one failing, but my guess it if it did, it would have failed anyway.

Then again they scour the world to locate the cheapest carpet, vinyl, leather and some other materials on these, so it might be just economics?

These have looked like new for nearly 12 years through rain and snow:

LMFD296

oh dear......

SaberD

most of the time, aftermarket wheels are heavier than oem wheels, which will hurt your acceleration. Before you buy them, make sure to check the weight, especially if they are chromed. Keep in mind, some of the lightest wheels you can get for the car ar the oem speedline or alcoa zo6 wheels. The optional magnesium wheels are also another good option. Most of the time at the autox or the road course, you will see c5's with the oem z06 wheels.

Vetteman Jack

I don't think I would use reproduction wheels for racing activities. But that may just be me. If I were going to go racing, I'd want wheels designed specifically for that purpose.