2002 Chevy Corvette Z06: Should We Change The Wheels?

No Chrome with silver... Black would look sinister but if you do that tint the windows dark too! No wheels saves money though... but is less fun!

I rarely like OEM wheels, but I do like these on this Z06.

I would stick with the OEM's as well, you could always powdercoat the stocks black.

Definitely not chrome wheels, they look like the wrong sort of bling on a "serious" Corvette and don't go well with silver either IMHO.

I think the OEM wheels do look good on this 'vette (better than I like the OEM wheels on my '87), although I must admit that I have a perverse liking of Volk TE37s on 'vettes.

Leave the chrome wheels to the "paunchy, balding guy with bleach-blonde bimbo" demographic.
Please.

Plz, no chrome. And don't go DUB either. Powdercoat the OEMs or add a set of O.Z. Superleggeras in black.

OMG no chrome. Powercoat the OEM's if you MUST make a change, otherwise just stick with the stockers and get the best non-runflats available.

No way, those are the best looking stock rims I can think of.

Chrome is out, black is for tough beaters and oversized rims are just for show... which is disrespectful for this car.

"No way, those are the best looking stock rims I can think of.

Chrome is out, black is for tough beaters and oversized rims are just for show... which is disrespectful for this car."

What he or she said.

no, dont change those. those rims and the rear brake ducts are to me key identifiers of a Z06. GM chose wisely with those rims

If you're going to replace them, ONLY replace them with something that's the exact same size and lighter, or wider and lighter. Doesn't make sense to do anything else.

I'm not a fan of black wheels. I generally prefer a mat gray or silver wheel like the car already has.

@lowmilelude
I completely agree with you. Might as well leave them.

Those are the best wheels for the money. Next best thing are ccws which are way too expensive.

OK...priorities: replacing great looking stock wheels for no good reason: HIGH
Put in decent seats to eliminate the major shortcoming you all keep complaining about: LOW

Huh????

Don't do it! Please!

Unless they are bent.

OEM Please. It looks great as is- just needs new tires.

Anytime I see aftermarket wheels on a vehicle with perfectly good OEM's (this being one of a very short list of such GM's) I think "Oh. Snow tires." Then, remembering it's July in California, I would think "I wonder where that moron stuck the K&N sticker.." Please leave it stock.

Considering the consensus so far in the comments, I'm very surprised the office is split 50/50.

no

I'd say go for black, but you could probably get away with powder coating the OEMs black too. If

not, do NOT go for chrome. You're just reinforcing the gold chain sunglasses wearing middle age

stereotype for the car.

Stick with OEM and invest in good rubber. Stock wheels are strong, light and made by Speedline.
And like everyone else has already mentioned...chrome is dead.

If you have money to burn, look into buying replacement 2 piece rotors front and back, save more unsprung weight.

Maybe the Senior Editor was inspired by this fine ride:
http://image.vetteweb.com/f/tech/vemp_1003_corvette_aftermarket_rims/26505833+pheader_460x1000/vemp_1003_01_o+factory_c6_z06_wheels+c3_ss_corvette.jpg

Black is not a option nor is chrome.

Design wise its good but if you can find a lighter and wider wheel then go for it.

Also try to add some sidewall to the next set of tires.

No way!

most after-market wheels look cheap and gaudy.

I think neither black nor chrome look good on silver cars.

The stock ones look pretty good; I'd leave them unless there's some physical attribute you want to test.

Just look at how many people have put this wheel on their non-Z06 'Vette, or 93-02 Z28, and you'll understand better--the wheels on your Z06 are some of the best looking wheels to ever grace a 'Vette.

Keep 'em on there is my vote.

Like the muted silver look. Brushed or painted, is it called?

I vote leave them.

Black wheels are ugly. Sliver cars look best with gunmetal with polished lip. 5-spoke.

Spend the wheel money on upgrading the seats.

I vehemently hate any kind of aftermarket rims that actually does not improve on the OEM rims. Unless they're super high quality, the rims' finish usually peels off almost right away, gets bent easily, and, more times than not, they're impossible to balance properly. I should know....I worked in a NTB shop for a couple years and I regularly dealt with vehicles that has "dubs". Especially the trucks and SUVs from GM and Ford.

Do not get anything with chrome finish....it peels off almost right away if they're not high-quality rims. Only time black rims did look good to me is when I see them on bright red and black vehicles. Silver...not so much for me.

I think the OEM rims are perfect the way they are on this Vette. Just buy good rubbers and you won't have any complaint.

I like them! I would keep them on. Although if you feel you must make a change, then go right ahead if you wish!

the stock wheels are great on this car. Keep them

Leave the stock wheels. They're just the right size, and they are already the perfect color.

I would only consider changing the wheels to go to a larger size, for the sole purpose of fitting a big brake kit.

Otherwise stick with the OEM and spend the money elsewhere.

The readers have spoken. I agree-- put the money somewhere else on the car.

Wait, I have a better idea. Take the money you would have spent on new wheels and use it to bribe Mitsubish into taking the Outlander GT back.

Save your money. Keep the stock wheels.

Stock wheels.

But get the best tires possible.

any members of your staff advocating chrome wheels need to be immediately fired.

spend the money on seats.

Stock wheels, amazing tires, new seats. Eventually maybe a brake upgrade. No more, no less.

No.

Here's the thing many of you are overlooking -- the selection of tires in the stock fitment is laughably poor. And we all know how much you guys like the stock tires.

For tires you'd actually want, the wheel sizes need to be addressed first.

Yes. Methinks big chunky polished black 5-spoke wheels

Whoever suggested chrome wheels should be sternly lectured about their bad taste. It's embarrassing enough that GM offers chrome wheels from the factory, like on the ZR-1.

Chrome would go with well with a big wing on the trunk.....NOT!!!!

OEM is the only way to go, especially considering resale on a Z06, buyers will want the OEM Z06 wheels with the Z06.....

Or....

http://media.photobucket.com/image/corvette%20donk/Raazorred/Videos/Donk2.jpg

I like the design of the stock wheels and would stick with those. If you've got money to burn, I think there are other areas of the car where it would be better spent.

If you do decide to get different rims of a different size, please research them at Corvette Forum first. The Active Handling system does not play well if you end up with a total tire circumference that is not very close to the original.

I personally love the stock wheels, however JKav brings up a valid point. If there are no good tires in those sizes, get some new wheels that allow you to get the best tires possible. IF you do this, please please please don't go chrome or dub style. Keep this a performance modification, style is a secondary consideration here.

Keep the stock wheels. They help define the Z06, as it was a unique design only fitted to the Z06. Otherwise, your car will be another of the millions of customized C5's out there with aftermarket rims. You won't be able to improve the handling much, if at all, with different sized wheels, so it would be purely an appearance move. I happen to like the look of the stock Z06 wheels. When you take the center caps off and plastic lug covers, and get some brake dust on them after a few hot laps on a road course, they look tough and mean.

The stock Z06 wheels happen to have been made in Italy by Speedline, and they're not cheap. They're extremely light and strong, and I don't think you'll find a lighter/stronger combination in the aftermarket without spending a small fortune.

If you do decide to go aftermarket, stay away from the chrome reproduction wheels made in China (or any wheel made in China for that matter). I saw a Chinese chrome reproduction wheel fail on an '02 Z06 while at Willow Springs: the crappy Chinese metal fractured along all of the spokes near the center hub and completely came off in a turn. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it happen with my own eyes.

BTW, there are some great tires available in the stock Z06 wheel sizes: the Michelin Pilot Sport 2 is one of them, and the top of my list (and also what I'm running on mine now with the stock wheels). I believe Pirelli P Zero, Nitto, Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval, and of course the stock GoodYear Eagle F1 Supercar (which is a very good dry-only tire when new), are available in the stock sizes.

I only found 2 tire listed on tirerack. If you do want to change tires (I still think you'll get more benefit with good seats) get in touch with Lingenfelter, see what they'll sell you. Their polished alloy HRE wheels look great.

Please, no black (why bother with neat wheels if you do that) or chrome (I hope he was actually thinking about polished alloy).

Stick with the originals.

Chrome? You're kidding, right? Stick with the stockers. Black wheels would look cheap and dirty on this car.

keep it stock

you could look around similar tire sizes, like maybe a little wider with a smaller aspect ratio to keep the overall diameter close (don't know too much about the tires available in/near that size) but in terms of looks alone, that wheel is hard to beat

If you folks can afford it, go ahead and +dub this ride, then do some testing to show how both ride and handling are affected by the bigger/heavier wheels and thinner rubber?

Otherwise, why bother? Wheels look fine as they are. Save black rims for one of your black painted rides.

Don't change them. They are the only thing on the C5 Z06 that don't look dated.

stay stock - great OEM wheels.

tires go really sticky - you have so little rain/snow - then retest at the track (you know you want to).

Definitely leave them stock. I'm a sucker for black wheels on a car so maybe powdercoat them, but other than that, they should not be coming off.

Chrome wheels are tacky, dont even consider it.

@Texasas, you are so right. Priorities. Is this a blog for Youngster's First Car? Or is it just LA-itus? These wheels are more than fine. Put the money where it counts, please!

A big NO to black and an even bigger NOOO to chrome. OEM wheels generally look better IMHO especially for an older car like this one. Otherwise you look like someone who bought an old piece of crap (not that the ZO6 is crap) and stuck some shiny round bling on it to make it appear as if you have an expensive car.

Not chrome.

I would look at going an inch bigger in the front and back, nice Forgeline rims or BBS but unless you are willing to spend proper money, and upgrade the brakes at the same time, keep the stock rims.