Owners of the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette C8 who would like to personalize their vehicle without spending a lot of money can do so by purchasing a set of optional wheel center caps. GM offers these in three designs, as follows:
- Black Wheel Center Caps With Gray Stingray Logo (RXJ)
- Silver Wheel Center Caps With Stingray Logo And Red Outline (RXH)
- Jake Logo Wheel Center Caps (5ZC)
All of the above are Genuine Corvette Accessories, which gives the owner a choice of two ways forward. One is to buy them for $50 each and fit them personally. However, for those who doubt their ability to fit wheel center caps, or have other reasons for preferring that someone else do this, the caps are also offered as LPOs, which means they can be installed by the dealer, at a cost of $250 for a set of four.
The caps are available for both Coupe and Convertible versions of the Corvette C8, and in all three of the current trim levels, namely 1LT, 2LT and 3LT.
Corvette wheel center cap enthusiasts are undoubtedly aware that availability has all but collapsed in recent years. As recently as the 2019 model year, no fewer than six center cap options – double the present number – were offered for the Corvette C7.
| 2019 Corvette C7 | 2021 Corvette C8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of optional wheel center caps | 6 | 3 |
| Proportion of 2019 optional wheel center cap availability | 100% | 50% |
The reason for the dramatic 50 percent downturn is that the Corvette C7 was offered with chrome wheels, which had their own range of center caps. However, public tastes have changed, and GM decided it was not worth making chrome wheels available for the C8, so there was no need to design center caps suitable for them.
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Comments
I’m 70 years old and grew up with chrome wheels. I think a lot of older Corvette owners also grew up with chrome wheels. When I went to the Corvette show to introduce the new c-8, there were more older enthusiasts my age then younger enthusiasts. I plan on putting chrome wheels on my c-8. I like the look of chrome wheels on a corvette. But that is my own personal opinion. I think GM made a huge mistake to not offer chrome wheels. Now I’ll spend extra money for wheels, that I have no place to store .
I see what you are saying, john. Of course, storage issues aside, Wheels are an entirely reversible option. Spending money on a costly sports car is something people do all the time. Some people go so far as to choose a wheel they like and then have them chromed and then heart treated for extra strength. They put them on their car and drive them tens of thousands of mile and keep them shiny all the time. Chevrolet made marketing and costs two of the elements of the C8 and chrome wheels suffered. Thus, the way to go is to get the standard wheels at no extra expense; buy the chrome wheels of your dreams and put them on your C8. Then sell the stock rims on E-bay. Enjoy the car. Don’t worry about Bloomington Gold. The value of the car will be in no way diminished. aF
The first picture has wheels that look like the Chrysler logo. 🤣
I agree totally-most Corvette owners are not into the Darth Vader or Stealth Bomber look- – every Corvette I have ordered has had a chrome wheel option-not this year. I went to West Coast Covette for my 2021 Z51 and did a chrome exchange on stock silver wheels-get nothing but compliments. When parked next to a black wheel Corvette – the black wheels look dirty and you cannot tell where wheel and tires start. Reminds me of people who drive around with their spare tire on with black rim-LOL
I own a 2020 Corvette Stingray 2LT in torch red . Got it in March, it is my first American car in 50 years. I purchased the standard wheels that have a dull chrome/silver like finish with the standard stingray insert. Believe it is just fine. Porsche center hubcaps are an upcharge, The standard stingray hubcap inserts came with the car and are just fine. Recommend getting the colored brake calipers.
The vehicle is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC and about half the price of a Porsche 911S cabriolet that I contemplating purchasing. The Corvette C8 pricing is an absolute bargain and I would highly recommend getting a purchase order in as soon as possible to make sure you get a 2021. My recommendation would be to get the coupe rather than the convertible, for number of reasons. The convertible eliminates seeing the beautiful engine, makes it very difficult to check the oil, the coupes roof comes off and fits in the trunk, it costs alot less and reliability. Since this new folding top with all its new hydralic/electrical components have not been tested over an extended time period and weather/temperature conditions outside of a testing facility garage.
Of all the options available on the Corvette, the one that I will allow other customers to buy and test the reliability of is the power convertible roof option. If after about three years or so, that option becomes known as bullet proof, then I would consider letting other people buy that option without a negative comment ensuing. If I lived in a part of the country where moisture and dry climates alternate a lot, I might have to have the push button option. In the part of California where I live, the heated seat and steering wheel options means I can go topless almost year round and would rarely see rain. I’d have to be more careful washing the car than in driving it. Perhaps eventually, that top panel could be a solar panel to help power the E-Ray. Love that name: E-Ray.
I picked up my 2021 Corvette HTC on 12-26. On 12-27 the top would not close. The locking latches deployed before the top was closed. I was able to manually push the top down enough that is closed but I had a warning “top not secure” The car is limited to 58MPH. I took it back to the dealer an hour away. They ordered parts and when they attempted to fix it they found a 3” long screwdriver that was left in the latch area from someone on the assembly line. They ordered more parts and now will have to align the top. It has been in the shop for 2 weeks. $95K! Waited 13 months! Price increased $1500! First Corvette at 67 years old and deal with this! Not happy!
Dealer called today and they are having difficulty with the alignment on the top! They are waiting to see if GM is going to send a tech from Bowling Green! It’s only 5 hour drive. I got to drive the car 2 days and in the shop 15 days for something so dumb. How can you drop a screwdriver into a latch mechanism and not stop to get it???? Makes me sick!
MikeF,
The GM Dealership should have given you another C8 while yours was getting fixed.
Absolutly NO excuse to leave a screwdriver in the roof mechanism, did they not operate the roof after assembly ? Why do good automotive shops TEST operations after servicing ? ………….. To ensure the customers car is working as specified.
The dealership also needs to take you and your partner out to Dinner as well !!
The top worked at the dealership. It was the next time I tried it when it would not close. I have been in contact with GM and they are talking with the dealer. Of course they have never worked on a car like this! I have no problem with the dealer. They offered a loaner car but i declined. I do believe there should be some compensation!
I cannot stand the blacked out wheels. Makes the car look low class. To charge for this look is an insult.
Let me agree with you, Norm. When I first saw it, I looked at the wheel options with disbelief. I’ve yet to figure out how the Corvette went from the beautiful wheels that I’ve seen addorn several generations of the vehicle to the garbage that has been pawn-off on Corvette fans. Having hated all the offerings, however, the Tridents styling has grown on me. I prefer their silver and sort of gray coloring the best. Black looks cheap and sordid. A lack of chrome rims and a lack of true racing designs was likely the pathetic worst in what was offered in the C8. I have started to believe that if one loves the c8, then one should order the car with the stock rims and use the saving to help off-set the cost of great after-market rims. The Aftermarket will thank you and GM will lose more money. You might call it their cracked rim policy. AF