Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

[Greg L.]

Are the standard 15x5" rims a corvette only item or can they be found on other GM cars?

I found a car that I'm interested in buying but it has the wrong rims so I'm just wondering if these are big ticket items or just "run of the mill" old chevy parts.

Thanks

[Mike E.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

There ae 15x 5 wheels on 55 and 56 passenger cars. Many are close, but most don't have the right center configuration. Some are riveted and some are welded.
Going price for a plain old 15x5 wheel that won't necessarily judge 100%, but will perform properly in every other way is $50-75 unrestored. For full points judging and perfect function, I'm seeing them at $125 and up.

[Mark P.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

Greg - I paid $125 each for real nice dog bone welded steel wheels. The riveted wheels used on passenger cars are probably about $50-$75. Tim Mickey confirmed for a 1960 I needed the dog bone welded wheels to judge correctly. I think this holds true for 1959 cars as well. A bit controversial though because some are certain the riveted wheels were used in 59 and 60 but this can't be proved.


Mark

[Mark P.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

Mike - surprised our prices line up so closely. I wrote my response without seeing yours.

Mark

[Greg L.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

Well I'm glad I asked, thanks guys.

I'll have to add $400-$500 to the price of that car....plus shipping. There's always that shipping....

[Tom P.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

I can't post pictures from work, but I've looked closely at 55 and 56 passenger car wheels, and GENERALLY speaking, it appears that the 56 (ONLY) wheels are the same, or certainly VERY nearly the same as 56-62 Corvette wheels. I believe that during that time frame (56-62 production), there were 4 wheel manufacturers for GM so there certainly could be some variation between wheel manufacturers.
MOST of the 55 pass car wheels I've seen are riveted and the 56 wheels are the welded dogbone style. So, if there is a difference between 56 pass car (welded dogbone) and 56-62 Vette 15x5 wheels, I don't know what the differences would be.
The above ONLY HOLDS TRUE for 55-56 pass car wheel comparrison to Vette wheels, because in 57 the pass car wheels changed to 14in.

[Larry C.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

On my '62, the original wheel is the spot welded center (not the dog-bone cutouts in the weld) and the outside wheel center has a slight double roll on the outer edge whereas most of the passenger car wheels have only a single roll. It's been my understanding for a long time that the correct Corvette wheels had the spot welds on the inside center, not dog bones. But, as has been said, there were likely more than one supplier of wheels and variations can be expected from car to car and year to year.

[Mike E.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

Larry--
Dog bones are not correct for 62, as you indicate (or for 61, and I don't believe for 60, either).
They certainly were used in the 56-59 vintage.

[Greg M.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

Larry--
Dog bones are not correct for 62, as you indicate (or for 61, and I don't believe for 60, either).
They certainly were used in the 56-59 vintage.

Hello Mike,
I wish there was a way to figure out when the smooth welded wheels first showed up on corvettes. Mark P. (posted above) and I have 1960 corvettes that are only a few numbers apart and probably built on the the same day in May 1960(relatively late production). As Mark stated above, Tim Mickey (58-60 team leader) has adviced us to use the dog bone style wheels. He did say that he thought that the smooth welded wheels were probably used in at least the later part of the production year, but told us to stick with the dog bones as there were judges that would not accept the smooth as correct on a 1960. I collected a set of both dog bone and smooth welded wheels, so I will use which ever we decide is correct on my 1960!

Greg

[Aaron D.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

I know I'm not posting this question where i should, but I'm going to try. Have a 1959 with smooth welded (not dog bone) wheels. Tires are off the wheels. The stamping has logo Kelsey Hayes 15x5 then has a stamped date code 6 59. Atleast two very knowledgeable well respected members are telling me i need dog bone in 59' yet no where do i see in jm that it says so. This car is a late July car built around the last week of production. Didn't know if that could help explain some discretions. Help please.

Hope your enjoying your car Greg

[Dan A.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

I'll go against the grain and advise that you use the NON dog bone 6 59 dated wheels. Take clear photos of the dates with the size and Kelsey Hayes and Tire and Rim Association logos. Should a judge or anyone else question the validity of these wheels produce the photos as the onus is on the owner. Producing the photos should fulfill that obligation. Then challenge them to prove their position and produce evidence of dog bone wheels DATED in the same time frame AND later. There should be no deduction as I doubt they can substantiate their position. Benefit of the doubt goes to the owner.

[Tom P.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

I fully understand wanting to have everything, such as wheels, correctly dated matched as possible. BUT, as an alternative to wheels, as I pointed out above, 55-56 pass car wheels are 100% fully functional for 56-62 Corvettes. One of the important features that is needed for these wheels is the 4 nubs to retain the full wheel cover, which are also on 55-56 pass car wheels. Once the full wheel covers are installed, not dates can be seen. Also, a BIG advantage to using 55-56 pass car wheels is that they are somewhat easier to locate at MUCH cheaper prices.
The first picture shows one of the 4 nubs required to retain a full wheel cover.
The second picture shows a riveted wheel (I have generally found that 55 pass cars have riveted wheels and 56 cars have welded wheels). I THINK, repeat, I THINK 54 pass cars also have the 15x5 riveted wheels with the 4 nubs.
The third picture shows a welded dogbone wheel.
The forth picture shows a 55(left) and 56 pass car wheel. Notice the area around where a small cap (dog dish cap) would fit on the 55 wheel, it is smooth out to where it adjoins the rim. The 56 wheel has an additional ring and this is what will be on Corvette wheels. But as I mentioned, when installed with a full wheel cover, this can not be seen and makes for a fully functional 15x5 wheel at a MUCH cheaper price. Over the years, I have picked up 1 or 2 55-56 pass car wheels at swap meets for $10-30ea.

[Gary C.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

Aaron,

What is your VIN or Corvette birth date?

If it's a very late 1959, then use the wheels with the 6-59 date stamp as Dan Adie recommended.

The 6-59 date stamp implies the wheels could've been used on 1959 Corvettes produced in July 1959.

Gary
....

[John R.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

Aaron, can you determine if the 6 is actually a 6 or could it be a 9? Not sure if the fonts are different on the stamp. This could potentially mean you have a Sept 1959 wheel on a July assembled car. Just a thought.

[Aaron D.]

Re: Standard 1959 Corvette Wheels

It's a 6 there is a _ underneath of it. I wanna post a pic but am not good at this and can't figure out how, possibly because i only use my phone. July 22nd 1959 is bday.