The Illustrated Corvette Wheel Guide, Part 1

With the exceptions of body shape and paint color, wheels are arguably the most important factor in establishing a car's personality. The right set can do wonders for the looks of even an average vehicle, or turn an attractively styled ride into a bona fide knockout.

Looking back at Corvette wheel designs, it's hard to believe that the first three generations' base models rode on stamped-steel rims. In fact, it wasn't until the car's 11th season that buyers had any wheel choices at all. The '64-'67 knock-off and knock-off-style wheels were a stunning complement to the C2 silhouette, setting a design standard that would endure for years to come.

Yep, this is the same 15x6-inch steel wheel that came mounted on regular Chevys. Racing wasn't a problem-just pop off the hubcap and head to the track. It doesn't get more basic than this.	The hubcap that came on the early cars was a single stamped disc with two chrome spinner ornaments. The ribs along the inner dish reflected nicely around the outer ring.	The first major styling revision arrived in 1956 and included a makeover for the car's hubcaps. Like the previous cap, this version was a stamped disc with a chrome spinner. It featured 10 bold ribs connected to a center ring.
Though it rode on the same 15x6-inch steel wheel as its predecessor, the'63 Sting Ray received a new hubcap that featured six thin ribs radiating from an inner ring. The spinner ornament would be on every Corvette hubcap through 1966.	Fortunately for C2 spotters, each of the Second-gen model years had its own specific hubcap design. For 1964, the cap was convex and featured nine narrow slots pointing toward a central spinner.	Prior to 1965, all Corvette hubcaps were either dished or domed. The '65 cap was slightly raised and flat, with six pie-like slots. The flat surface and outer ring were chrome, and the slots had a matte finish.
The Corvette finally got a mag-style hubcap in 1966. The centersection was connected to an outer ring with five spokes that angled inward. The ring and the top surfaces of the spokes were chrome finished, with a matte-finished center dish.	Considered by many to be one of the best-looking Corvette wheel designs, the Rally version arrived in 1967 and continued on as standard equipment through 1982. The new design took the basic steel wheel and added five slots that ostensibly helped with brake cooling. A beauty ring and center cap finished off the design. The classic center spinner was gone due to safety regulations.	The trick setup for C2s was the optional cast-aluminum knock-off wheel package. The knock-off design was racing inspired, with the wheel held on by one large nut fitted with a spinner that could be removed with a mallet. The '63 design had either two or three wing spinners, but the ribbed aluminum wheel itself stayed basically the same from 1963 through 1966. The design radically changed in 1967 into a "knock-off-style" wheel. Due to safety concerns, the centersection of the spinner hub was actually a cap that covered a standard five-bolt pattern.