Chevrolet Corvette C8 Stingray/Z51 Narrowbody Wheel Performance
Narrowbody C8 Corvettes (Stingray, Z51) are starting to get into the hands of enthusiasts, but most available wheel options are either too narrow or not up to the task of prolonged track use. Plus, 8.5” wide front wheels with 245s aren’t going to cut it with all the grip available from the platform. If you want to extract even more performance from your car, a lightweight, chassis-specific set of wider wheels and tires will make a significant difference. We created forged wheels, such as the Apex VS-5RS and SM-10RS, along with flow-formed wheels, including the EC-7 and SM-10, to enhance performance. Find out what fitment is best for your application in our Chevrolet C8 Corvette Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide.
A Brief History of the 2020+ Corvette
Our selection of C8 Corvette wheels is ready to bolt on to your Stingray or Z51, improving performance and giving it a custom appearance. America’s longest-running sports car, the C8 Corvette, was all new in 2020 and featured the most significant change in its history. It’s hard to mention C8 and not also say mid-engine in the exact phrase, but the truth is, it is such a dramatic change from the traditional Corvette that it’s worth going over again. For years, it had been rumored that the “next Corvette” would position the engine behind the driver, a configuration generally preferred for all-out performance due to its weight bias and chassis dynamics. Those rumors finally came true when Chevrolet first unveiled the C8 in July of 2019 during a live stream from California. Almost the entire car was brand new from previous generations, which meant new wheel specs as well.
What Makes it a Good Track Car
Despite massive changes, the C8 Corvette still had some of the old-school formula we all know and love. A big V8 engine and rear wheel drive. This time, power is transferred just a short distance to the rear wheels via a dual-clutch transmission supplied by Tremec. No manual option is available, so while some enthusiasts moaned, people chasing pure speed and lap times rejoiced with the lightning-quick shifts and seamless acceleration the DCT provides. The new LT2 engine, while structurally similar to the LT1, features a host of updates for better breathing, raising power to 495 horsepower and 470 lb/ft of torque. Many consider the C8 to be the total package, and it’s hard to argue with the formula they have assembled. When it first launched, MotorTrend got their hands on a press car and took it for a spin: The Chevy Corvette C8 Is the Best Car I’ve Ever Driven.
Iconic 5-spoke Design
The VS-5 brings the aggressive look of our iconic forged VS-5RS to a flow-formed wheel. At a fraction of the price of its forged sibling, VS-5 punches well above its weight and maximizes the performance potential of a flow-formed wheel. With nearly two decades of experience perfecting track-ready flow-formed wheels, we engineered the VS-5 to deliver Real Performance at an unbeatable value.
Pushing the Boundaries of Flow-Formed Manufacturing
With a strength-to-weight ratio and features typically reserved for forged wheels, the VS-5 pushes the boundaries of flow-formed manufacturing to the max. Weighing only ~2-2.5 lbs more than its forged sibling, the VS-5 isn’t just a top tier option in the flow-formed space, it’s a wheel we consider the last step in performance before leveling up to a forged design.
The Flow Form Advantage
Flow-forming enables us to create high performance wheels without the price premium of forging. It improves the mechanical properties and grain structure of the barrel, increasing its strength and stiffness, which allows us to use less material and reduce weight. Thanks to our superior engineering, our flow-formed wheels have a higher load rating than some competitors’ forged wheels.
Side-Milled Spokes
A critical part of VS-5’s remarkable weight-savings, side-milled spokes also help with its stunning looks. The VS-5 features advanced side-milled spokes that have any excess material that doesn’t add strength removed from the sides of the spokes via precision CNC ball cutter. This process is often deemed cost-prohibitive by others, but for performance without compromise, we believe it’s essential.
Bigger, Tougher Inner Lip
The inner lip is the most vulnerable part of a wheel because it has no spokes for support. Our flow-formed Evolution Line adds more material to this vulnerable area as an added layer of protection against impact from track berms, potholes, and whatever else the road may throw at you.
Maximizing Concavity
We use the deepest concave face profiles we can for every application. The VS-5 utilizes 3 unique profiles to deliver the deepest concave face possible, helping to reduce weight and provide a stunningly aggressive appearance, while factoring in critical clearances like brake calipers.
Big Brake Clearance
Big brakes often require bigger, heavier, more expensive wheels, which aren’t ideal for performance. Leveraging our expansive library of 3D brake scans, VS-5’s spoke profiles are specifically designed around critical OE and aftermarket brake calipers. Additionally, Apex flow-formed wheels are designed with a unique 0-degree draft barrel for maximum caliper barrel clearance.
Weight Optimized
We conducted extensive Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to reinforce high-stress areas and remove any extra material where it didn’t improve strength. The result is a wheel that is exceptionally light without the strength compromises typically found on lightweight wheels.²
Built for Impact Sockets
Track wheels require track tools. Don’t settle for wheels that require undersized tuner lugs or thin walled sockets. All Apex wheels accommodate over-sized race lugs and impact sockets to make swapping wheels lightning fast.
32mm
Socket Diameter Clearance
Finishing Touches
The VS-5 is finished using a multi-stage liquid paint over a powder coated base coat. This coating process leaves lug holes, center bores and mounting pads untouched, which ensures proper fit and torque values.
JWL and Beyond
All Apex Flow Formed wheels meet or meaningfully exceed JWL load rating requirements. Some manufacturers don’t meet the minimum requirements, yet still claim to be compliant. Always compare load ratings to ensure you aren’t sacrificing critical strength for a slightly lighter wheel.
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