[travislambert]

I'm in the market for a new set of wheels. My ZL1 is driven almost exclusively on the road course, and I'd like to try to stuff more tire under the car without having to worry about spacers, etc.. I like Hoosier R7s, and I'm thinking for tires maybe a 345 rear and either a 315 or 325 on the front.

My car is not a ZL1 1LE, but I do have the FEA suspension with DSSVs, so I should be good to go with the ZL1 1LE wheel dimensions.

Ideally, I'd like to have a lighter set of ZL1 style wheels with the ZL1 1LE wheel dimensions (diameter, width, offset). Unfortunately, in order to get to a quality level I'd trust on the track, the prices for custom wheels seem a little out of reach for me. My pain threshold is about $1,000 per wheel. Much beyond that pricing, it becomes hard to ignore the quality vs. price on the OEM wheels.

If the OEM ZL1 1LE wheels were readily available, I'd probably just order them. Without a certain timeline though, it's hard to place that order.


Any thoughts?

[mt.nichols]

I'd use the stock ZL1 1LE fitment as your baseline - 19x11 +11mm front and 19x12 +41mm rear. I've seen a few people mention running a 315 front (and I think even one 325) and also a few posts about running a 345 rear. Make sure you move the wiring harness in the rear wheel wells in case you do get some rubbing.

That being said, your options outside of a custom wheel or the OEM ZL1 1LE wheels are limited, especially on a budget. I'd go with Apex Race Parts ZL1 1LE fitment in the wheel style of your choice. Budget friendly, history of being tracked, and a few designs to choose from. https://support.apexraceparts.com/hc...-Fitment-Guide

[travislambert]

Originally Posted by mt.nichols

I'd use the stock ZL1 1LE fitment as your baseline - 19x11 +11mm front and 19x12 +41mm rear. I've seen a few people mention running a 315 front (and I think even one 325) and also a few posts about running a 345 rear. Make sure you move the wiring harness in the rear wheel wells in case you do get some rubbing.

That being said, your options outside of a custom wheel or the OEM ZL1 1LE wheels are limited, especially on a budget. I'd go with Apex Race Parts ZL1 1LE fitment in the wheel style of your choice. Budget friendly, history of being tracked, and a few designs to choose from. https://support.apexraceparts.com/hc...-Fitment-Guide

Thanks! Your feedback seems pretty spot-on with my thoughts.

I'll keep those Apex wheels in mind. I think they're probably a good price/performance bargain, but I always wonder about the toughness when wheels are that cheap.

While researching, I did find a few cases where people have came home from a track day with a bent wheel without a known cause. The Apex guys seem to blow it off like it was a normal occurrence and that no wheel manufacturer is immune to that problem. While that may be true, it still makes me a little nervous if I'm being perfectly honest. Bent wheels with a known/justified cause wouldn't bother me, but if wheels are bending due to normal stresses on the track, that seems to be more of a problem.

[seanblurr]

$1,000 per wheel? You should have a decent number of choices for that. I have two sets of 1le wheels and a BC Forged set in 18" that I rotate through. I've bent both OEM and BC. I use my stock wheels the most as I prefer the tire options in 19's. If you can't find 1le wheels I don't have a problem recommended BC in OEM sizes.

[mt.nichols]

Originally Posted by travislambert

Thanks! Your feedback seems pretty spot-on with my thoughts.

I'll keep those Apex wheels in mind. I think they're probably a good price/performance bargain, but I always wonder about the toughness when wheels are that cheap.

While researching, I did find a few cases where people have came home from a track day with a bent wheel without a known cause. The Apex guys seem to blow it off like it was a normal occurrence and that no wheel manufacturer is immune to that problem. While that may be true, it still makes me a little nervous if I'm being perfectly honest. Bent wheels with a known/justified cause wouldn't bother me, but if wheels are bending due to normal stresses on the track, that seems to be more of a problem.

Agreed. Bending a wheel because you dropped a tire is understandable IMO. For the reasons you listed, I went with a forged wheel for extra reassurance.

[1LE76G]

I think the +11 on the 19x11 would work on the 315 Hoosier A7, I'm running a 19x11 +20 with a 295 A7(same width of 305 Re71) and it is very close to my strut. Planning on getting another set of wheels for next year to do 315f/325r A7s

[Larrio Andretti]

I’d opt for a BC Forged wheel with a lot of support like the EH308 or the RZ10.

[wnta1ss]

Originally Posted by seanblurr

I've bent both OEM and BC.

Do you have any notes on cause and effect of these occurences? Such as, off-track excursion, hit curb the wrong way, that sort of thing? I priced out some BC wheels specifically because I had *thought* that a few of you guys who are using them for tracking on ZL1s had not experienced any issues.

[ICTsccaCamaro]

I have been beating the crap out of a set of custom spec forgestar CF5V's for multiple years at autocross and trackdays with no issue, I bought and ran them on my past 5th gen and now for trackdays on the 6th. I think current pricing is around $500 per wheel

[mt.nichols]

Originally Posted by ICTsccaCamaro

I have been beating the crap out of a set of custom spec forgestar CF5V's for multiple years at autocross and trackdays with no issue, I bought and ran them on my past 5th gen and now for trackdays on the 6th. I think current pricing is around $500 per wheel

Could you post specifications, please? I contacted Forgestar regarding 18" wheels in ZL1 1LE widths and offsets. They told me the wheel simply will not clear the caliper.

[Harpinc]

Originally Posted by mt.nichols

Could you post specifications, please? I contacted Forgestar regarding 18" wheels in ZL1 1LE widths and offsets. They told me the wheel simply will not clear the caliper.

Apex 18' SM-10 wheels will clear. 18x10.5 22ET, 18x11 44ET. The fronts will require longer studs and a 10mm spacer. I have test fit them on my ZLE.

The Forgeline and BC forged wheels will clear and will be made in the correct offsets to require no spacers.

The Forgestar wheels are rotary forged and require more material for equal strength of the true forged wheels.

[mt.nichols]

Originally Posted by Harpinc

Apex 18' SM-10 wheels will clear. 18x10.5 22ET, 18x11 44ET. The fronts will require longer studs and a 10mm spacer. I have test fit them on my ZLE.

The Forgeline and BC forged wheels will clear and will be made in the correct offsets to require no spacers.

The Forgestar wheels are rotary forged and require more material for equal strength of the true forged wheels.

Right, that's why I asked for the widths & offsets. I wanted to try and stay as close to factory width and offset as possible, while making a bit more room for a wider tire or more camber if I wanted. BC Forged was the route I chose.

Good to know on the Apex option. 0.5" less width up front isn't a huge deal and I suspect the rears would be the same story.

[ICTsccaCamaro]

Originally Posted by mt.nichols

Could you post specifications, please? I contacted Forgestar regarding 18" wheels in ZL1 1LE widths and offsets. They told me the wheel simply will not clear the caliper.

I am running on 19's

[travislambert]

I just ordered the BC Forged EH308 from Paul @ PK Auto Design. I tried to keep as much of the OEM look as possible.

19x11 +6 (not +11 per Paul's recommendation. He said +6 provides a little more strut clearance and is better with a lot of negative camber.).
19x12 +41
Gloss Gunmetal
Knurled bead seats
OEM Center lock design
OEM Center cap hole (+$400.00? )
OEM Lug nut design

The total priced shipped to WV... $3,950.00.

Thanks to those who provided information. I'll post an update once I receive the wheels.