[Bhobbs]

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/05/18/g...formance-cars/

GM is looking to offer carbon wheels on future high performance cars.

Could the Z/28 get carbon wheels, at least as an option?

[Mr. Wyndham]

I'm game!!

As the technology develops, and mass production helps lower costs; carbon fiber is becoming cheaper to produce, and easier to apply.

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wyndham

I'm game!!

As the technology develops, and mass production helps lower costs; carbon fiber is becoming cheaper to produce, and easier to apply.

Carbon wheels and carbon rotors. Talk about dumping unsprung mass.

[90503]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/05/18/g...formance-cars/

GM is looking to offer carbon wheels on future high performance cars.

Could the Z/28 get carbon wheels, at least as an option?

Those wheels would violate the Z/28s DNA....!

The Corvette would need them exclusively for at least one or two years...!

Joe Six-pack will never be able to afford them...!

On the other hand, it's a great idea....just like supercharging and the automatic transmissions....lol....

[HumanWiki]

http://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=453051

Was being discussed some in this thread yesterday. I'd not opt for CF wheels on my car due to the $$ associated with replacement.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

Carbon wheels and carbon rotors. Talk about dumping unsprung mass.

Not only unsprung....but rotating mass, no less...that's outrageously beneficial for performance.

[Jeffro19]

This would be sweet. The unsprung weight advantage would be huge. Hope GM goes This way in the future.

[Raven87]

But can you imagine the cost per wheel? For a full on track car, it would be worth it I guess but wow, the cost/wheel would be staggering.

Anything in CF is expensive, even trim pieces. I did a quick scan and the cheapest I saw was still over $2000. Per Wheel.

I bought a new '73 Z/28 off the lot in March of 1973. It cost me a little over $4300 out the door.

That was an entire car! Haha!

[HumanWiki]

Originally Posted by Raven87

But can you imagine the cost per wheel? For a full on track car, it would be worth it I guess but wow, the cost/wheel would be staggering.

Anything in CF is expensive, even trim pieces. I did a quick scan and the cheapest I saw was still over $2000. Per Wheel.

I bought a new '73 Z/28 off the lot in March of 1973. It cost me a little over $4300 out the door.

That was an entire car! Haha!

Here's the GT 350R's prices:


"Replacement wheel costs for the wheels are $3433 each for the fronts and $4053 each for the rears."

So, you're looking at $14,972.00 in bare wheel cost alone, before tax.

[Raven87]

Originally Posted by HumanWiki

Here's the GT 350R's prices:


"Replacement wheel costs for the wheels are $3433 each for the fronts and $4053 each for the rears."

So, you're looking at $14,972.00 in bare wheel cost alone, before tax.

No doubt. Staggering isn't it?

[Mr. Wyndham]

Everything's expensive early in it's lifecycle...electronics, materials, etc....If more mass-production manufacturers opt to go the way of CF wheels, the prices will come down.

If this becomes a real thing in the near future, I can see those prices becoming half of what they are now.

[detltu]

I love the idea for the unsprung and rotating mass benefits already mentioned. It sounds like this is still a ways out though. Unless they are farther along then the article gives them credit for, the Z/28 likely won't debut with them.

Carbon package sounds good though. CC brakes and CF wheels =crazy.

[newb]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wyndham

Everything's expensive early in it's lifecycle...electronics, materials, etc....If more mass-production manufacturers opt to go the way of CF wheels, the prices will come down.

If this becomes a real thing in the near future, I can see those prices becoming half of what they are now.

Remember when DVD players were over $400?

[Raven87]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wyndham

Everything's expensive early in it's lifecycle...electronics, materials, etc....If more mass-production manufacturers opt to go the way of CF wheels, the prices will come down.

If this becomes a real thing in the near future, I can see those prices becoming half of what they are now.

Unless GM can find a way to rapidly mass produce CF wheels, a big price drop is highly unlikely. To make CF wheels requires a lot of labor and time so if both of those factors can be be reduced considerably a lot less expensive CF wheel may be produced.

I would think that is several years away from happening - if at all - but who knows.