Arc00TA

iTrader: (17)

I'm interested to know how different the limits of the 16x8 wheels would be vice say stock 17x9s. I am patiently waiting to see if OE wheels come out with those DD C5's, and I was thinking I might as well just keep my stock firebird wheels on and maybe pick up some better tires.

I'm more interested in handling limits than dragstrip performance, but how significant is the disadvantage of the smaller wheel with a good tire on it? I'm assuming the taller sidewall will have less resistance to rolling making turning spongy even with upgraded shocks/sways/springs etc. Would it be more worth it to find a used set of stock 17x9 for now? Trying not to spend extra cash on rims if I'm just going to buy new ones again later in the year.

Basically how far can the little wheels be pushed?

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

You can still make you car handle great with the 16's, just get some really good tires.
Also remember you could run a 255/50/16 instead of the factory 245/50/16 so you have a wider contact patch.

The Mighty Texan

iTrader: (4)

Yeah im on 255 and i think there about all you need to handling the lateral grip is good but for launching i want my rears bigger than a 16x8 so i wait too for the "dd c5's" then ill prob break my stock 10.. so for now to keep it cheap im rocking the stockers.

ColossalCamaro

iTrader: (1)

Also think about unsprung weight. Those 16's are pretty darn light.

Camaro396

iTrader: (14)

Well you'd be better off at the drag strip than road racing with 16s. To get a good handling tire you're going to have to run a fairly short tire to keep the sidewall short. If you were looking to drag race, 16s are decent as you can still run a decent sidewall tire. Sidewall = traction, but it's also not the best for cornering and handling. Personally, I woudln't rock anything smaller than 18s for street wheels.

Arc00TA

iTrader: (17)

This is what I was wondering, HOW bad the 16s are for corners compared to stock 17s. I know the taller sidewall is a bigger issue than the smaller contact patch.

SSCamaro99_3

iTrader: (1)

It will probably matter less than tire choice. A car on 16's with NT-05's, Proxes R1R's, NT555RII's, and so forth; will spend all day beating up a car on 17's with a junk tire. A quality 16 inch tire will most likely give you all you need until you get the whells you really want.