Will ME C8 Have Forged Wheels

[John]

Just read a 40,000 mile, very positive review of a C7 Stingray, with the automedia article being however, less than happy with one item, its all four wheels ending up needing replacement and/or re-straightening. We know the C7’s wheels are not forged. We/they understand that the roads in parts of this country are a series of bad potholes, yet we have also have read some posts about a few C7 Z06’s having wheel cracking at the track.

Would it not be an improvement if the C8 came with standard forged wheels? Wonder if that were to happen, with GM’s mass purchasing, whether that would only add roughly $100 to the price of the car? I would be happy to pay around that amount in my C8’s purchase.

Your thoughts about forged wheels being standard on the ME? Would you pay extra for them being standard or as an option?

[Frenzy36]

Definitely would be worth it. I would

[ltomn]

I would be happy to pay moderately extra for forged wheels. I'm afraid that the options for them does not bring into the equation, "moderatly" however. In a question I posed to Tadge regarding center lock "forged' wheels vs. 5 lug wheels he expounded on the strength of Corvette wheels:

"To the second part of your question relative to forged vs. cast/flow-formed aluminum wheels with respect to power (and wheel attachment) - Regardless of wheel construction (We have both forged and cast/flow-formed - which is a forging-like process for the rim-section of the wheel), the wheel is rigorously designed to survive our high structural and stiffness requirements (inherent with the broad torque and high horsepower you mention) with the lowest mass. The difference in material ( between cast/flow-formed or forged) is really seen in the stress limits (for yield and fatigue) that the wheels are designed to, but both types of wheels could be properly designed to meet the loading pattern caused by center locks. In our case, the wheel design limitation is frequently wheel stiffness, for which both forged and cast/flow-formed aluminum are actually equivalent (same modulus of elasticity), which makes either wheel construction viable for Corvette. In fact, Z51s have forged wheels, while GS, Z06, and ZR1 have cast/flow-formed wheels, all of which had the wheel construction chosen for optimal wheel design, styling, and robustness."

- Tadge Juechter, May 18, 2018

[John]

Thank you ltomn for sharing that. I appreciate knowing more/better information.

[07MontyRed]

Interestingly, I always seem to like (and have) the optional forged wheels (on my C5 and C6). I hope they continue to offer them as, at a minimum, an option. Have never been impressed with cast or flow-formed (or rotary-forged) wheels (the aerospace engineer in me likes forged items!)

[meyerweb]

That sounds like the Car & Driver long term test of a GS with the standard GS wheels. Those wheels, I believe, are identical to the ones used on the C6 Z06, and are very light weight, for which we see the trade-off. There has not been a rash of reports of bent or broken wheels on Stingrays, or even the Z06, that I've seen. Although I do know one GS owner with chrome Z06 style wheels who managed to bend one on a Pennsylvania pothole.

[John]

Interestingly, I always seem to like (and have) the optional forged wheels (on my C5 and C6). I hope they continue to offer them as, at a minimum, an option. Have never been impressed with cast or flow-formed (or rotary-forged) wheels (the aerospace engineer in me likes forged items!)

Thank you. This non aerospace engineer would pay a fair amount extra for forged wheels.

[Shadow]

As would I.

[Boomer]

Interestingly, I always seem to like (and have) the optional forged wheels (on my C5 and C6). I hope they continue to offer them as, at a minimum, an option. Have never been impressed with cast or flow-formed (or rotary-forged) wheels (the aerospace engineer in me likes forged items!)

I'm on the opposite end of the knowledge spectrum on this issue. I don't know enough to have an opinion. Think I'll read a primer on the internet on "forged wheels".

Have had no probs with the wheels on my 2014 C7 which I guess are not "forged".

[JB]

Forged or cast....rims bend amd crack..ive gine through so many oem rims of all tyoes...it really doesnt matter....

its the state of our raods more than anything to do with forged or cast wheels.

i am always fascinated with lowering u sprung weight...

the gt350 mustang in R form costs about ten grand more than the standard gt350 and in that ten grand package...ford offers extra heavy duty cooling and suspension as well as carbon fiber wheels...

that would be a hell of a ten grand option to decide on for the c8...

carbon fiber wheels would probably be on the hit parade...

all for those who want to pay more for their new c8 corvette...

as far as forged versus cast? Todays casting systems are really in many ways considered superior to forged rims..

im not kidding you but please dont ask me to explain why?

[Shadow]

Whatever method GM chooses, hope they are super strong, **** good looking and easy to clean!

[OnPoint]

Dear GM,

I would gladly pay extra for a forged wheel option(s). I would also pay extra for optional powder coating.

Please take my money.