CrazyHawaiian

Hows it going everyone!!! Well im almost ready to buy new wheels for my thirdgen. The wheels i'm looking at are 17x9 in front and 18x9 in the rear. What size tires would you guys recommend with this setup?? Im kind of scared to run 35 series tires because we have some pretty bad roads over here and if I hit a pothole or something it will dent the rim (already had this happen on my truck with 17's!). Do you think i could get away with 45 series or 40 on the 18's in the rear? Im gonna be running basically stock suspension with no drop, just upgraded bushings, sway bars (maybe even a Z bar), and maybe some aftermarket shocks/struts.

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--- Currently ---
Maroon 1989 Camaro RS
Crappy 305 TBI / Auto
Hypertech Stage 2 Chip (and 160/ThermoStat)
2.5" Pipes, No Cat, Flowmasters (Dual)
GT Grant Wheel

Planned: Shaved keyholes, antenna
Black w/ Grey Racing Stripes
17x9's in front and 18x9's in back

--- Next Project ---
1992 Camaro z28
K1 Interior Kit, Sparco Seats, Tweeded Interior
TurboCharged L98 w/ T56
Full Suspension, Brake Upgrades, 17x9/18x9
LOTS of bodymods and House of Kolor Chameleon Black/Green paintjob

nFORM91

I STRONGLY recommend that you go ONLY with the SAME SIZE for all 4 wheels!!!

My man, you do not have a 5th gen 'Vette! The suspension geometry for 3rd gen cars was engineered for the same size wheels so why tamper with that engineering?? I'm glad that you are asking us before doing that.

Go with 17x8s all 'round (245/45/ZR17 tires) or if you're feeling that radical go 18x8 with (245/40/ZR18 tires) NOT 35s!!

With 9" rims you can get away with it but you run the risk of annoying wheelwell rub when the car bottoms out on bumps. '91-'92 Firehawks got 17x9-1/2s all around BUT... it's suspension upgrades gave it slightly more wheelwell space to compensate for the wider wheels!!

KEEP US POSTED BEFORE YOU BUY!! There's alot of us with plenty of knowledge in this forum. You are smart for consulting us first. Take care.

Jason M 91Z

Bridgestone Potenza RE730 245/45/ZR17's are designed for 7.5-9" rims. I have these on their way from tirerack.com for my 17x9's in the front, and 275/40/17's in the rear. Good luck.

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-Jason M. 1991 Camaro Z28

CrazyHawaiian

damn ... well im glad i said something before i went out and bought stuff!! hehe thanks for the warning!! i'm the kinda guy that would go with 18's but seeing as this is gonna be a daily driver and stuff, it makes more sense to go with 17's. Ok, so 17x9's all the way around with 275/45/ZR17 in front and 295/45/ZR17 in back?? Can i put 295's on the rear or are those for 17x9.5's only?? Gonna be running stock height (no drop) with upgraded shocks. Does that sound better??

hey thanks again for the help!!!

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--- Currently ---
Maroon 1989 Camaro RS
Crappy 305 TBI / Auto
Hypertech Stage 2 Chip (and 160/ThermoStat)
2.5" Pipes, No Cat, Flowmasters (Dual)
GT Grant Wheel

Planned: Shaved keyholes, antenna
Black w/ Grey Racing Stripes
17x9's in front and 18x9's in back

--- Next Project ---
1992 Camaro z28
K1 Interior Kit, Sparco Seats, Tweeded Interior
TurboCharged L98 w/ T56
Full Suspension, Brake Upgrades, 17x9/18x9
LOTS of bodymods and House of Kolor Chameleon Black/Green paintjob

SCCAjunkie

Actually, there will be no real harm in using the different size wheels. Honestly, you may never notice a difference. If you were really pusing the car HARD (racing), you would notice a change in behavior, but really on the street, it would run fine.

I would recommend BFG G-force KDWs with a 255/45R17 up front and a 265/40R18 in the rear. It will look AWESOME on that car.

Jza

Jason: I have those tires from Tirerack also. They're a very nice choice. But why only 245s in the front?

Also, I'm not sure about the performance aspect, but I know that different size wheels, especially with different sidewall heights in front and back look like ****.

nFORM91

CrazyHawaiian, no pun intended, but it would be crazy to put 295/45/ZR17s in the rears of a third gen!

The sensible choice for any wheel/tire setup on a thirdgen car are wheels and tires that are upgraded in a way that complements the car's handling characteristics while looking awesome as well.

Check out this site for comparing wheel/tire sizes,
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Compare stock wheels and tires against upgraged wheel and tire sizes so you can see what your 'getting yourself into' before you buy stuff.

...And you will also see how 295s are WAY too wide! Consider the rim size you'll need for that tire (at least 10" wide) ...doesn't make sense man... trust me. Good luck!

p.s. the new rim's offset MUST be compatible with stock rims too!!

[This message has been edited by nFORM91 (edited April 22, 2001).]

Jason M 91Z

My stock 245/50/16's were so close to the inner fender at full lock that I didn't want to risk rubbing with 275's in the front. I originally wanted 255/45/17's front but they're a bit taller than the 275/40/17's that I have out back, so I went with the 245/45's. I drove an SS with 275's in the front also and hated how it tracked, and I could only imagine how 275's would feel on an already horribly tracking pitman/idler arm type steering.

Just ordered my wheels tonight. 17x9 chrome SS rims from SLP. And I got the front end together yesterday with Global West S-9 front springs and new BJ's, AGR steering, 1LE brakes etc etc. Cant wait to tell everyone how it feels in a couple weeks!

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-Jason M. 1991 Camaro Z28

Jza

Yeah, sounds cool. Be sure to take a few pics.

I did put 275s in the front, and it does tramline like a btch, but I think it's worth it just in looks and handling (that's a lotta meat under the car!)

And I don't have any rub problems except when I'm backing up and turning sharply at the same time (like out of a parking space).

Steve91Z28 L98

nFORM91 I don't know where you are getting your information from but a 295/45/17 will fit no problem in the back of a thirdgen. I have personally seen an '89 IROC with ZR1 wheels all around. These are 17x9.5 in the front with 275/40/17 tires and 17x11 in the back with 315/35/17 tires. These fit fine with the right spacers to account for the different offsets.

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1991 Z28 - 350 TPI, T56, McLeod street clutch, LT4 pressure plate, Pro 5.0 shifter, ported plenum & runners, AFPR, Holley Annihilator ignition box and wires, Hooker shorty headers w/o AIR, Flowmaster muffler, homeade ram-air, SSM subframe connectors, Kenny Brown STB, Global West steering box brace, Steve Spohn adjustable torque arm and T56 crossmember

406 S10 Man

iTrader: (1)

get 18's for the front too. i just got mine installed friday and they look badass. i am running 225/40 and 275/35. yes, the rears fit entirely within the body and will tuck in the fenders when i slam it this summer. i had to go small in the front because i didn't want any rubbing. the sidewalls on mine are a little short, so you could go 245/40 and 275/40. if you have the cash, get the 18's!!

p.s. i think Mr. Iroc-z's car is bad, too, so if you don't like that, don't get 18's.

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88 S10
Dropped 3/4
18" Boyd Coddington Timeless 5s
406 balanced with 6" Eagle H-beam rods, 10.25:1 JE SRP pistons, Comp 284XE cam; 240/246 @.050, .507/.510, Dart 200cc Ironeagle heads, Victor Jr. intake, Holley 750 vac sec.
12.20 @ 115.25 mph

nFORM91

Steve91Z28 L98, I hear you man, and I understand what you mean, (the 17x9.5 / 17x11 setup definately looks awesome) but in terms of ride quality (during hard cornering) and that damn tire scrape, you've got to admit... having the right size rims with the right offsets and the right tires to go with them 'is to NOT go overboard with width for the sake of looking cool!

Maybe it's just me. I've seen guys with 11s in the rears of their thirdgens and it looks cool as ****! But those guys KNOW that they are sacrificing cornering performance by LOOKING that good!!

I'm sure you guys know where I'm coming from. Now, CrazyHawaiian considered mixing up wheel sizes and his ideas are pretty cool. I'm just trying to help him see the downfall of going with a certain setup for the sake of looks alone.

p.s. Here's a photo link of a '91 Formula with C5 rims (17s front, 18s in rear). Like I said, LOOKS cool, but this guy's car probably handles like pure ****!!
http://www.skulte.com/TmyhreC5rim.jpg
Check it out!!


[This message has been edited by nFORM91 (edited April 24, 2001).]

Tas

pay no attention to the newbie that obviously knows nothing. If you want 18s check this out:
https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/...ML/000939.html
and
this:
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-Tas
'89 Formula WS-6

305, TBI, auto, 14x3 chrome flat based open element with K&N, Milodon 160* thermo, functional Formula hood, cross-flow Flowmaster, '99z28 rear pipes and tips....

Soon to be installed:
Hooker 1-5/8" 50 state legal headers, Dynomax 3" I pipe (PN 44063 and 43248), Catco 3" cat, and injector spacer.

Super GRK_Taz World
F-Body Dual Exaust
EFI & Intake Options
AOL IM: superGRtaz

[This message has been edited by Tas (edited April 25, 2001).]