Are there any known issues with the factory rims on a Chevrolet Corvette C7?

Yes, bending and cracking factory rims is a massive, well-documented issue on the C7 Corvette, particularly on the widebody models (Z06, Grand Sport, and ZR1) ⁵.

The problem is widespread enough that it sparked a class-action lawsuit against GM ⁴. The failure rate can be extreme; for example, one 2017 Grand Sport owner reported having to replace seven bent rims ³.

ZR1 models suffer from the exact same issues, with owners reporting bent wheels within the first 6,000 miles and cracked rear barrels ¹. While a reimbursement program exists for Z06 and Grand Sport owners, ZR1 owners have reported GM refusing to warranty cracked wheels, likely because they were not explicitly named in the initial lawsuit ¹.

Generally on this platform, the root cause is the combination of extremely wide, cast aluminum factory barrels and stiff factory run-flat tires. When you hit a pothole or expansion joint, the stiff run-flat sidewall doesn't flex, which transfers the impact energy directly into the inner barrel of the wheel, causing it to bend or crack.

If you are looking at a Z06, Grand Sport, or ZR1, standard practice is to budget for replacing the factory wheels entirely. Upgrading to a quality set of fully forged aftermarket wheels is the only way to permanently solve the problem.