Chrome Corvette Wheels look great no matter what year, body style, or color your Corvette may be. They are not exactly the cheapest upgrade over the stock Corvette Wheels, but as most people would agree, the brilliance added to the Corvette from a new set of chrome wheels is well worth the cost. For those of you who have spent your fare share of money purchasing chrome Corvette Wheels here are a few recommendations that should help you get the most out of your purchase.
Corvette Chrome Wheels
Before your chrome wheels are installed on your Corvette for the first time we recommend purchasing some of Adam’s Americana Premium Carnauba Paste Wax. The paste wax is very important as this is what will ultimately protect your chrome wheels from contaminants. Once your chrome wheels have been installed on your Corvette apply the carnauba paste wax to the wheels as you would normally apply the wax to the Corvette. By waxing your chrome Corvette Wheels you are essentially filling in all of the small pores in the chrome, creating a protective layer between the wheel and brake dust or any other corroding substances. While in between waxings we recommend cleaning your Chrome Corvette Wheels with basic soap and water. Any special chrome wheel cleaner can strip the wax, which could do more harm then good as the wheels age. Every two months or so it would be good to re-wax the wheels so the protective layer is always kept fresh.
Open up a Zip Corvette Parts restoration catalog and you will find just about anything you are looking for when it comes to restoring a Corvette. From frame crossmembers and Corvette Suspension Kits to Corvette Weatherstrip Packages and a whole lot more, we try to make your Corvette restoration as painless as possible. We also understand that not everyone is performing a frame off restoration but instead, just need to touch up a few small areas. In the midst of the thousands of Corvette Parts, we have many cost efficient items that can make a big difference for your Corvette. Here are a few of our most commonly sold items that you may be in need of:
Tachometer Cable Adapter
Corvette Tachometer Cable Adapter: 1962-1974 Corvette tachometer cables are famous for breaking due to the awkward position they were originally installed. If you have replaced you Corvette’s tachometer cable a few times, or are changing it for the first time, you can install one of our tachometer cable 90 degree adapters, which takes the strain off the cable itself. By installing this adapter you can now keep your Corvette’s tachometer cable well greased and undamaged over time.
Door Hinge Pin & Bushing Kit
Corvette Door Hinge Pin & Bushing Kit: One item that almost every 1953-1982 Corvette could use at some point is a door hinge pin and bushing kit. The doors on these Corvette’s are not light plus they are over 30 years old so sagging is almost impossible to avoid. With this inexpensive door hinge pin and bushing kit you can get rid of those sagging doors for good. Each kit comes with enough pins and bushings to do both doors and will work with your Corvette’s original door hinges. Many vendors will sell you pins that are too long and you have to cut them yourself. Make sure to ask before you buy, Zip sells the correct length door pins to make it easier for you.
Rally Wheel Silver Paint
Corvette Rally Wheel Silver Paint: Another money saver from Zip for 1967-1982 Corvette owners is our Corvette rally wheel silver paint. This rally wheel paint is a great alternative to buying a whole new set of rally wheels because if used correctly it can return your old rally wheels to “new” condition. Without ever removing your Corvette’s rally wheels you can simply remove the trim bands and center caps, wash the wheels thoroughly, lightly sand to remove any debris, remove remaining grit with an air hose, and paint away. Once the paint has dried reinstall your Corvette’s center caps and trim bands and appreciate the look of your new looking wheels. Read how to paint your Corvette’s rally wheels at CorvetteMagazine.com.
CAGS Disconnect Plug Kit
Corvette CAGS Disconnect Plug Kit: The CAGS disconnect plug will eliminate the computer’s 1st-to-4th shift in your 1989-2009 6-speed Corvette by disconnecting the computer aided gear selection system. This specially designed plug protects the loose ends of the harness from dirt and corrosion, while adding the resistance needed to eliminate “service engine” codes. No modifications to your Corvette’s wiring is necessary, the plug can easily be removed to restore original function. Read how to install the C5 & C6 Corvette CAGS Disconnect Plug Kit.
Standard brushes and old rags have gotten the job done over the years but none will make your Corvette’s Wheels look better then the new lug nut and wheel cleaner from Zip Corvette.
Corvette Lug Nut Cleaner Brush
Not only is it lightweight and easy to use but it is also made to fit directly over your Corvette’s lug nuts; simply apply soap and water to the brush, slide it over the lug, twist the handle a few times, and you have turned what was once a back aching job into a walk in the park. The brush will clean wheel cavities from 1 3/8″ – 2″ with lug nuts from 3/4″ – 13/16″. Once the original foam pad wears out just replace it with the extra pad that comes with the brush, which literally takes 15 seconds. We have yet to see a better designed wheel cleaning brush and think you will agree once you try it out.
In 1968 the Corvette Rally Wheel changed from 15″ x 6″ to 15″ x 7″. Other than the size there were no appearance changes from the 1967 Corvette Rally Wheel, which you can read more about here. Once again in 1969 Chevrolet changed the wheel size, this time to 15″ x 8″, which it would remain at for the rest of the ’68-82 generation.
1968-1982 Corvette Rally Wheel
With the largest selection of Corvette Wheels you know that Zip has the popular rally wheels available in both sizes for all 1968-1982 Corvettes. The steel rally wheels can be ordered separately or you can purchase the ’69-82 wheels in a full car set, which includes the wheels, center caps, lug nuts, and original or replacement style trim rings. If you have decided that your rally wheels are in good condition but would like to add new center caps and trim rings, Zip has options there as well. Original style rally wheel center caps are available individually or you can order a replacement set at a much lower cost. A popular update when adding new center caps is a fresh set of trim rings. Zip also has these in both original and replacement styles.
1980-82 Corvette Aluminum Wheels
Starting in 1976 Chevrolet added aluminum wheels to the Corvette. By the late 1970s these wheels were installed on well over half of all Corvettes produced. With the aluminum wheels becoming such a popular option it only makes since for Zip to carry all available 1976-1982 Corvette Aluminum Wheels. Whether you are looking for the ’76-79 style with a black center, ’78 pace car style with a red stripe, or ’80-82 style with a polished center, Zip has it. All 1976-1982 Corvette Aluminum Wheels are sold individually or in full car sets; correct center caps and lug nuts are sold separately.
In case you missed it, our last post titled 1953-1962 Corvette Wheels briefly talked about steel wheels and hubcaps for early Corvettes. Jumping ahead to the mid-60s we will now talk about all that Zip has to offer including: Direct Bolt-On Knock-Off Wheels, ’63-67 Steel Wheels, Corvette hubcaps and more.
C2 Corvette Direct Bolt-On Knock-Off Wheels
For the 1963-1964 Corvette Zip has replacement steel wheels that measure 15″ x 6″. New Hubcap bars and spinners with necessary attaching hardware are available to add a new original look to an older hubcap. Zip also has Direct Bolt-On Knock Off Wheels that are identical to the original knock-offs only they attach with a special lug nut instead of the spinner. Our full car sets include all wheels, adapters, spinners, cones, center caps, anti-theft pins, lug nuts, and instructions needed to mount the wheels to your Corvette.
In 1965-1966 the Corvette had 15″ x 5 1/2″ steel wheels as the standard option. Zip has these reproduction wheels available as well as the necessary wheel studs and lug nuts to mount them to the car. 1965 Corvette Hubcaps were some of the best looking hubcaps Chevrolet ever used and we have a full reproduction set including new spinners and hardware here at Zip. For the 1966 hubcaps Zip has a full car spinner set that includes all Corvette Emblems and hardware to make your used hubcaps shine like new. You can also choose to refinish your used hubcaps with our Dark Gray Wheel Paint as this color was original for all ’65-66 Corvettes. Knock-Off Wheels continued into 1965 and 1966. The finish on these changed from “raw cast” to the same dark gray mentioned above. We have these available in a safer more reliable direct bolt-on set that includes all components to mount them to your Corvette.
1967 Corvette Rally Wheel
1967 marked the last year of the Midyear era and the beginning of the Rally Wheel. Zip has the 1967 Corvette Rally Wheels available individually and as a full car set with original style center caps, lug nuts, and replacement trim rings. The Rally Wheel Center Caps can be purchased separate without the ornament or as a full car set that comes with installed “Disc Brake” ornaments fully licensed by GM. Also available are Bolt-On Aluminum Wheels. You can get these wheels bare or complete in a full car set that includes wheels, lug nuts, center starburst with cap, mounting clips, and retainers.
A new set of reproduction tires will always go great with new Corvette Wheels; Zip has a full selection of those for 1963-1967 Corvettes. With original style brands like: U.S. Royal, Firestone, Goodyear, B.F. Goodrich, and performance oriented Classic Radials; matching your Corvette with the right set of tires will not be a problem. All of our Midyear Corvette Tires are cosmetically correct in every detail.
Of all the Corvette Parts suppliers, Zip Corvette has the largest selection of Corvette Wheels readily available. Over the next few days we’ll highlight wheel options for each separate Corvette generation starting with the early solid axles through the latest C6′s.
Corvette Wheels & Hubcaps
All 1953-1962 standard Corvettes left the factory with 15″ x 5″ steel wheels. In 1956 however Chevrolet modified the wheels slightly by adding small nubs for securing the new larger style hubcaps. At Zip we have these new reproduction steel wheels with the small nubs for all 1956-1962 Corvettes. Upon receiving these wheels they will need to be painted the correct color, (see restoration tip below) once painted they will be ready to mount directly to your Corvette. Along with our 1956-1962 Corvette Steel Wheels we also have reproduction hubcaps. Our Corvette Hubcaps are all high quality parts and include the correct blue tint as original. The only difference in the ’56-58 hubcaps and the later hubcaps were the ventilation holes that were added to all 1958-1962 Corvettes. All of our Corvette Hubcaps come with spinners and are ready to be bolted onto the wheels right out of the package.
If you are looking for more information as to what colors were original for 1953-1962 Corvette Wheels, read our Corvette Restoration Tip: Wheel Identification as it highlights every possibility for all of the earliest Corvettes.
When the new ZR1 Corvette came out for the 2009 model year, GM designed an all new wheel for the fastest Corvette ever produced. The first question every current C5 and C6 owner asked was “How can I get those wheels on my Corvette?” C5 and C6 Corvette owners can finally get the awesome ZR1 wheels in sizes to directly fit their Corvette. Zip Corvette now offers Reproduction ZR1 Corvette Wheels for C5 and C6 owners. 1997-2009 ZR1 Wheel Sets are available in Black, Chrome, & Hyper-Dark Silver. The C6 ZR1 wheels fit all 2005-2009, non-Z06 Corvettes. Included in the Wheel Packages are 18×8.5″ fronts and 19×10″ rear wheels. The C5 ZR1 Wheels fit all C5 Corvettes including the Z06. Those wheel sizes are 17×8.5″ and 18×9.5″.
ZR1 Corvette Chrome & Hyper-Dark Silver Wheels
This Corvette Restoration Tip is brought to you by Zip Corvette and can be found in Zip’s free Corvette Parts & Accessories Catalogs – request one online today.
All 1953-1962 Corvettes came with 15”x 5” wheels and full wheel covers as standard equipment. Beginning in 1957 and continuing through 1962, buyers could substitute optional “wide wheels” that were 15”x 5 1/2”. Instead of the standard full cover, wide wheels got a small “dog dish” hubcap that covered only a portion of the wheel.
C1 Corvette
In 1953 and 1954 all Corvettes came with red painted wheels. These were dip painted so they should be red everywhere. Beginning in 1955 wheels were dipped in black primer and then sprayed their final color on the front face. Aside from some color overspray, the backs of the wheels were therefore black regardless of wheel color. Also beginning in 1955, wheel color was determined by the car’s exterior color. Polo White, Gypsy Red, and Pennant Blue exteriors came with red wheels, Corvette Copper got bronze, and Harvest Gold got yellow. In 1956 and 1957, wheel color matched the exterior color with the exception of Polo White cars, the wheels of which were keyed to interior color. If the interior was red the wheels were red and if the interior was beige the wheels were silver.
In 1958 all Corvettes came with silver painted wheels regardless of exterior color. The only possible exception is cars equipped with RPO 276 wide wheels, which may have been painted black. In 1959 all Corvette wheels, including the optional wide wheels, were black.
In 1960-1961 Chevrolet once again painted Corvette wheels to match exterior color. In 1962, cars equipped with optional whitewall tires came with black wheels while cars with standard blackwall tires came with wheels painted to match body color. Optional wide wheels were also painted the same color as the car’s exterior in 1962.
