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Wheels and TiresNeed help with wheels or tires? Got fitment issues? Have questions about tire performance and handling? Ask all of those questions here!
"NEW PRODUCT RELEASE! We are excited to bring to you the latest wheels to come to our line-up of 17x9 reproduction wheels! Our NEW 17x9 Formula Wheels for 88-92 Firebirds update the look and feel of your car while keeping that classic styling of the original wheels! Look for these under SKU : HT179FORMULA on our website! They will also be available as kits with tires mounted/balanced as well."
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
Originally Posted by tom3
Seems like most of those OE wheels that I've seen were painted, these look to have a machine finish? Looks great.
They are done like originals, completely painted, machined finished the face an lips then clear coated.
the Hawks wheels look to have a super gloss clear and the factory used more of a satin clear.
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
I was just thinking about this, wondering why someone hasn't done them yet! Awesome news for us formula owners who love the original looks. Thanks Hawks!
"NEW PRODUCT RELEASE! We are excited to bring to you the latest wheels to come to our line-up of 17x9 reproduction wheels! Our NEW 17x9 Formula Wheels for 88-92 Firebirds update the look and feel of your car while keeping that classic styling of the original wheels! Look for these under SKU : HT179FORMULA on our website! They will also be available as kits with tires mounted/balanced as well."
Beautiful!! I’m still going with the GTA 17s whenever I go to bigger wheels, but man these look good. Wonder if they’ll be offered in gold in the future?
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
Any updates on these and the 91-92 Camaro wheels? I see the ship date was pushed to 6/17.
Trying to hold off on tires for my 16" wheels because I'd like to purchase a new set of the 91-92 Camaros for my Z28....but I want to enjoy the car this summer too.
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
Originally Posted by STREETDEMON
Any updates on these and the 91-92 Camaro wheels? I see the ship date was pushed to 6/17.
Trying to hold off on tires for my 16" wheels because I'd like to purchase a new set of the 91-92 Camaros for my Z28....but I want to enjoy the car this summer too.
6/17 is the most up to date info I have from our supplier right now. All of the new wheels have already been shipped to us and are set to arrive on the 15th, pending no unexpected delays. As soon as they come in we will start processing the orders for them and getting them shipped out.
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
Originally Posted by Seth@Hawks
6/17 is the most up to date info I have from our supplier right now. All of the new wheels have already been shipped to us and are set to arrive on the 15th, pending no unexpected delays. As soon as they come in we will start processing the orders for them and getting them shipped out.
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
I forgot all about the big weight difference between the PE0 Hi-Tech Deep Dish wheel and the PW7 Lightweight Diamond Spoke wheel being the reason you could get CC1 T-tops on the 1991 & 1992 Formula 350.
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
Uh, how much do they weigh?
From the website...
Product Description:
New reproduction Formula wheels for 1988-92 Firebird Formula models but will fit any 1982-92 Camaro or Firebird application. These wheels measure 17" x 9" with a 5 x 4-3/4" bolt pattern. These wheels feature a machined face and silver center section with +12 offset and 5.5" backspacing. Included are the 2 front wheel spacers needed for proper fitment.
Each wheel weights 21lbs 6oz (9.68 kg) without the center cap.
FREE FREIGHT SHIPPING IN THE CONTINENTAL US.
KIT INCLUDES:
SET OF 4 FORMULA SILVER WHEELS
4-CENTER CAPS, CHOICE OF COLOR
20- LUG NUTS
20- LUG NUT COVERS
Note: 16" Trans Am / WS6 Wheel Centers will fit the 17" wheels
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
You guys.....really? Right after I bought my CTWs because everyone refused to reproduce the Formula wheels?
Better late than never, I'm happy to finally see them being produced, they are one of my all time favorite factory wheels. I may have to pick up a set down the road.
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
Great to see this! I don't understand the center cap options, pictures would be helpful? Do the front and back have different offsets similar to the factories, so that the fronts must remain on front, back on back, or are they identical? Why the wheel spacers, don't know much about what wheel spacers do?
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
The centercaps, are basic plain silver, even the medalion is silver under the clear with no lettering. Think they are offering black and silver centercaps.
wheels have same offsets. The spacers are for the front wheels for those runing stock brakes. You'll rub tierod end and strut without them
87-92 WS6 NEW SILVER WITH SILVER MEDALLION WHEEL CENTER CAPS. SKU: CM615SET
The wheels are 17x9 with the same offset. There are no Front or Rear wheel on these.
Note: This information is based on what I know when mounting the 17x9 Hawks repro Trans Am/GTA wheels on TTAs and Formulas.
The spacer is for people with the factory stock 10.5" rotor, Delco-Moraine cast iron single piston caliper front brakes or any other combo that might need them. Check clearances very carefully before fully mounting the wheel and spinning it around. Be mindful of front strut clearance, aftermarket tie rod ends that are much beefier than the OEM parts and bump steer kits.
Cars with factory 1LE front brakes or cars that have been retrofitted with factory 1LE front brakes don't need the spacers on the front wheels as long as the mount & balance guy didn't stick on wheel weights close to the edge of the inside of the wheel barrel. Same warnings go for beefier aftermarket tie rod ends and bump steer kits. Always check clearances. The wheel to rotor hub mounting flange on a 1LE front brake system is somewhere over 0.300 of an inch wider than the stock Delco-Moraine front brake system. This increases the front track width and pushes the wheel that much further away from stuff it can hit on inside the wheel.
Fun Trivia: Based on my memory from years ago and decades ago so take with a few huge grains of sea salt.
Factory stock front 16x8 PE0 Formula wheels have less inside clearance than factory stock front 16x8 PW7 Trans Am/GTA wheels.
On a 1LE brake system car you can run factory stock front 16x8 Trans Am/GTA wheels on the rear and factory stock rear 16x8 Trans Am/GTA wheels on the front. On a factory stock 1LE brake system car it will clear, almost evens out the front and rear track width, and looks cool because the deeper dish wheel is on the back and the shallow dish wheel is on the front. The way God intended.
I have no idea why GM just didn't use 4 front 16x8 wheels all the way around because they fit just fine on the rear too.
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
Thanks for the explanation. Have to say, I'm still confused, maybe its too early. Doesn't a 17" rim have a larger diameter than a 16" rim? Would it not stand to reason a 17" rim has more clearance for the brakes? What am I missing? Does the lower profile tire cause the rim to sit lower or something?
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
Originally Posted by LiquidBlue
Then why the need for front spacers?
See below...don't focus on the brake part...that has to do with offset, pushing the wheel out further away from the things it will contact...ergo the tierod and strut.
Originally Posted by TTOP350
The spacers are for the front wheels for those runing stock brakes. You'll rub tierod end and strut without them
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
Originally Posted by LiquidBlue
Then why the need for front spacers?
Different brake systems have different rotor thickness that affects the overall track width. Steering tie rod might clash with the barrel of the wheel if the wheel is offset too far to the inside. Spacer bumps the wheel out a smidge if more clearance is needed to tie rod.
Nothing is free though because the further out the wheel the bigger the arc of travel and the tire can actually run into the inner fender. Don't be surprised if you lose some steering turning radius.
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
Originally Posted by QwkTrip
Different brake systems have different rotor thickness that affects the overall track width. Steering tie rod might clash with the barrel of the wheel if the wheel is offset too far to the inside. Spacer bumps the wheel out a smidge if more clearance is needed to tie rod.
Nothing is free though because the further out the wheel the bigger the arc of travel and the tire can actually run into the inner fender. Don't be surprised if you lose some steering turning radius.
How thick is the spacer? It will most likely require longer studs? No one ever talks about that!!!!
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
Originally Posted by LiquidBlue
Then why the need for front spacers?
On a 1990 Formula with the stock 10.5" Delco-Moraine brakes, with Koni Yellow Struts, with UMI Bump Steer Adjuster Kit with Hawks 17x9 Trans Am/GTA style wheels had to use the included spacers to mount the front wheels.
On a 1989 Turbo TA with the stock 12" 1LE front brakes with Hawks 17x9 Trans Am/GTA style wheels did not have to use the included spacers to mount the front wheels. Did have to be selective with which wheel and tire set got mounted on the front because the lazy mount & balance guy didn't get the Yellow dot on the tires aligned with the valve stems on all wheel and tire sets and didn't try rotating the tires on the wheel to try to get a better balance with less or no wheel weights. Some had stick on wheel weights mounted close to the outside edge on the inner wheel barrel and would slightly rub making a tick, tick, tick sound. Rubbed just barely enough to make a sound but not enough to knock the weight off.
The rotor thickness in the hub area on a 1LE rotor is much thicker than the rotor thickness in the hub area on a stock Delco-Moraine rotor. So a 1LE rotor pretty much has its own spacer built in to it.
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
Ok, things are getting really freaky now, are we in bizzaro world? I'm now hearing 1LE rotors make tires stick out further, implying loss of turning radius, making a 1LE car not as nimble, whaaaaat ??
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
Originally Posted by LiquidBlue
Ok, things are getting really freaky now, are we in bizzaro world? I'm now hearing 1LE rotors make tires stick out further, implying loss of turning radius, making a 1LE car not as nimble, whaaaaat ??
No loss of turning radius, just a little more track width for possibly better handling.
Re: Hawks 17X9 Formula '88-92 Reproduction - finally!
I have a 87 formula with the different style wheels and going to put these on. What was the original center caps that came from the factory in the 88-92 formulas? Was it the bird or the WS6 designation?
12-26-2023, 04:49 PM
