Corvette: Black Wheels Club
It's time for a new set of black wheels, but how do you go about it? Continue reading to learn how.
Article applies to the C5 Corvette (1997-2004), C6 Corvette (2005-2013), and C7 Corvette (2014-current).
You have finally purchased that Corvette you have always dreamed of, but want to replace the stock wheels, or maybe you want to modify the faithful Corvette you've owned for years. Either way, you want to be in love with the end result.
Even though they have been around since the sixties, black wheels are very popular now. Black wheels enhance the overall appearance of the Corvette because they look bold, aggressive and even mean. The actual benefits of black wheels are mainly in the looks department except for one: brake dust. A black wheel masks brake dust to the point of invisibility. What else could you wish for with great looking wheels and less maintenance? Well, one of the trade-offs of black wheels is that any damage such as scratches, curbing, etc. becomes extremely noticeable—much more than on chrome, polished, or silver painted wheels. In the end, you want to be careful with any wheel, but most forums and fan sites definitely lean toward black wheels for today's hottest looks.
The first decision you have to make regarding your black wheels is how to go about achieving the correct level of blackness for your ride. Here is a break down of the three most popular options to help give your Corvette the look that it deserves. It's up to you to choose which one fits the bill. The most common options are, paint, powder coat, or buying a new set of wheels.
Painting Your Wheels
Painting your wheels can be a really simple task, but you have to buy the right supplies: painters tape, at least 4 cans of high quality spray paint or liquid plastic, some latex gloves, and a few trash bags. This simple setup will set you back $60 to $80 depending on which paint you choose. If you don't have the time or don't want to take the time, you can always pay someone to do it for you. A professional shop can charge anywhere from $100 to even $150 per wheel. This price should include parts and labor. If you pay to have it done, find a trustworthy shop that you won't regret.
Painting your wheels is a very basic task. It is recommended that you prepare accordingly and go through all the steps before you actually start painting. Always keep in mind that the end result is to have good looking black wheels without spending any unnecessary money, so if you are going to paint, check twice and paint once. When painting wheels, here is a basic break down of what to expect.
Step 1 – Clean the wheels
- Thoroughly clean and degrease the surface of the wheels.
- Scuff the surface of the wheels with a brillo pad or sandpaper.
- Clean and degrease the wheels once again.
- Then, mask areas that are not meant to be painted.
Figure 2. Always clean your wheels before painting them.
Step 2 – Begin coating
- Begin coating the prepped wheels with color coats. Depending on the finish used, multiple coats should be applied per the supplier's recommendations.
- Once the color coat is sufficiently covering the wheel surface, wait for the finish to dry and assess whether or not a clear coat is necessary. If so, apply the clear coat in the same manner as the color coat.
- Once dried, pull off any masking materials, clean the wheels and you are done.
Figure 3. Tape and cover the tires, calipers and other areas that won't be painted. 
Figure 4. Removing the wheels gives you easier painting angles and better attention to detail.
Pro Tip
Use trash bags to cover the rotors and brake calipers, so you don't paint them.
Powder Coating
Powder coating ranks high on the difficulty scale. Powder coating is a refinish process in which wheels get chemically prepared to receive a static charged via a blasting gun. Once the finish is applied, the wheels are baked in industrial ovens in excess of 400*F. This is rarely handled as a DIY project, mainly due to the tools and materials required. Depending on the color or tone, design and overall details of your project, a powder coating job can be expected to start around $100 per wheel. The pros of powder coating come from the quality and durability of the finish, along with the selection of colors and textures available. Downsides of powder coating involve the cost of the refinish. Also, the many tools required and the knowledge of the process to prepare the powder coat and finish the job means that the Do It Yourself-ers do not have much wiggle room. Not to mention that most forums members feel like that powder coating could be dangerous as it exposes the wheel to extreme heat and it could weaken the rigidity of the wheel.
Figure 5. A traditional powder coating set up. 
Figure 6. Wheels ready to be prepped to be powder coated at a professional facility.
Pro Tip
Research powder coating shops thoroughly. Just because they powder coat other types of machinery, it doesn't mean they know how to work on car wheels. Make safety your number one priority.
Purchasing New Wheels
Some pride in doing it themselves, while others pride in being able to buy the best. The range of pricing in the wheel industry are normally based on the size of the wheel (height and width). That being said, the price of wheels can vary greatly from each other. It can go from an affordable $200 per wheel to thousands of dollars per wheel. It all depends on your budget, taste and what the wheel itself is intended to do. For example, a TSW wheel is a good looking all-around wheel that retails for $175 per wheel (approximately), but a purpose built BBS or HRE wheel can cost an excess of $8,000.
Figure 7. There are many online wheel and tire shops. 
Figure 8. Visit a local retailer to see different finishes and styles.
Pro Tip
Use the power of the internet to your advantage to shop around online, and then go into a store to get a feel for the wheels. Wheels can be very deceiving online, so always do some retail shopping and compare apples to apples in person.
Related Discussions
- Re-Paint Wheels - CorvetteForum.com
- Powder Coat Wheels (Safety Alert) - CorvetteForum.com
