The 2025 model year is a big one for the C8 Corvette, debuting the new C8 Corvette ZR1 as the fastest, most powerful production Corvette ever made. That said, the rest of the C8 lineup also gets a few notable updates and changes, including the 2025 Corvette Stingray. Now, we’re taking a closer look at the C8 Stingray’s new Gloss Black Forged aluminum wheel design.
2025 Corvette Stingray in Torch Red (GKZ) with QE5 wheels
Officially called the five-split-spoke Gloss Black forged aluminum wheel, this particular wheel option is tagged with LPO code QE5 and is available with all three 2025 Stingray trim levels (1LT, 2LT, 3LT). This wheel option costs $995, the same as the other LPO five-spoke wheel options with similar designs.
2025 Corvette Stingray in Competition Yellow Tintcoat Metallic (GBK) with QE5 wheels
These wheels are sized 19 inches in front and 20 inches in back, the same as the standard C8 Stingray wheels. The Gloss Black forged aluminum wheels you see here are similar in design to the five-spoke machine-face Sterling Silver-painted forged aluminum wheels (LPO code Q9O) and five-spoke Satin Graphite forged aluminum wheels with machined edge (LPO code Q9Y) offered previously. The notable difference here is the all-black finish.
2025 Corvette Stingray in Arctic White (G8G) with QE5 wheels
We first reported on this new wheel finish last month, and we think it looks good in the configurator images of the C8 Stingray. The gloss black finish nicely complements the black trim on the engine cooling vents and the black trim pieces on the lower front and rear fascias of the car.
2025 Corvette Stingray in Hysteria Purple Metallic (GXL) with QE5 wheels
Of course, the 2025 Corvette also introduces a few new aesthetic options for the C8 Z06 and C8 E-Ray, so check out our previous coverage for more information.
As a reminder, the C8 Corvette Stingray is motivated by the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine, which is rated at 490 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque in standard spec. Under the skin, all C8 Corvette variants ride on the GM Y2 platform, while vehicle production takes place exclusively at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky.
Comments
I really dislike any black wheel.
I really like the contrast between the wheel and tire, chrome, silver, especially on dark colored car.
Call me old-fashioned, ed, but I think black wheels look like something is missing, or they’re there because the correct silver wheels are back-ordered. My red C8 looks great with silver. A friend has a red C8 with black wheels; it looks dull and horrible.
Well, black wheels need to always be spotless as well as the tires, -and maybe even those need to have dressing on them(depending on the car’s color). A lot of time and attention needs to be the rule here, -unless you always keep the car garaged and never drive it, or have a detail shop under contract…
Black wheels on any vehicle except for an all out race vehicle (the wheels and body will get very dirty after a race picking up all kinds of crap from the race track surface, so black wheels do serve a purpose there) to me, look disgustingly cheap and fail to show off the lines of a well made polished wheel. All you have to do is to look at the most expensive foreign sports cars, like Ferrari, or Porsche, Lambo ect. Very few of these top end and expensive vehicles are purchased with factory designed “blacked out wheels”, but instead have wheels that are unique in design and have some sort of a light colored or silver/polished style to them and for the most part, look amazing when driven on the street where most of them spend their time cruising around or going to various events where most folks love to see them “up close”. I’ve owned many Corvettes of all ages and generations over the years and have yet to own one with blacked out wheels, shiny or otherwise, it just does not look right seeing a Corvette cruising down the road, especially in the darkness of the night time where you cannot see anything but the body (except in a black car with black wheels and deep dark tinted windows, yuck!) and wheel arches showing off a darkened opening at speed! I realize that the younger generation seems to enjoy this blacked out wheel look, but being old enough to remember when a good looking wheel and tire combination had some “color and brightness” to it, I just can’t seem to accept that particular look…and yes my current Corvette has a beautiful set of polished Corvette Z06 wheels and tires that seem to set off the lines of my silver ’01 C5.
To each his own, I realize that “everyone takes their coffee a little bit differently”, but I feel that any form of blacked out wheel on any Corvette just doesn’t do the body lines any justice.
Okay, ’nuff said….
Thank you, it’s nice to be referred as the younger generation at 82 years old.😉
Chocolate/vanilla; white/red wines; gin/vodka; bourbon/scotch//rum. Different strokes for different folks. I happen to like that we are not all driving the same color car with same wheels with same ****
Speaking of rum, I hear one calling.
Save the Wave!!
EXACTLY ! (71yrs here). Thats why you can order cars with different options. Black / Silver, Orange interior / red interior, etc.
Its funny to read everyone b!tchin’ about certain option colors. Don’t like ’em ?? Don’t order ’em.
Ed Welburn (great guy) said there is a lot of money to be made off of wheels. However, a thousand bucks sure beat 3 or 4 grand for a purely decorative item. For that price, I’d consider something like this as an option. $450 for a different seat belt color seems a little steep though. Both are about 100% profit for GM.
Black wheels…EVEN GARBAGE TRUCKS HAVE ALUMINUM WHEELS
I haven’t looked that close, but, I really don’t think garbage trucks have aluminum wheels. They pick-up Tons of garbage every day. Then, they run over garbage to Dump their garbage. Aluminum doesn’t hold up to that. When I see black wheels on Black tires, it’s “ok” on a work truck. But, if you want to “stand out”, you want chrome or even polished aluminum wheels. 50-40-30 years ago, you could spot a non-marked “Cop car” a Mile away, with their black wheels and hub caps. LOL! Now, the Cops blend in! All this is, “Is a Stupid-FAD.” It will go away pretty soon..