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Anyone know the difference in offset between 3rd gen wheels and 4th gen wheels?
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From: Oviedo, Florida
Anyone know the difference in offset between 3rd gen wheels and 4th gen wheels? I am looking at buying a set of torq thrusts 17x9.5 and 17x11 in "3rd gen offset?. Will they work on a 4th gen. Is there a difference?
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From: Oviedo, Florida
Yeah ok
stock wheels on a 3rd gen run 16x8 245 width tires
stock wheels on a 4th gen run 17x9.5 275 width tires
and I can get a 11.5" wheel on a 4th gen with out tubbing
some have even gone so far as running a 12" wheel 315 to a 335 width tire.
So your point is?
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Actually, the stock wheels on the earlier 4th gens were 16x8, with a 235/55/16 tire, unless you ordered the optional 245/50/16s, which were "Z" speed rated, which then removed the speed governor from the PCM.....
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I was referring to the avg top of the line factory 3rd gen to
your avg top of the line factory 4th gen.
Because if we were talking about base models I am sure the 3rd gens
had even smaller than that.
But any case maybe I was not the norm because every fourth gen I ever bought or owned was either an SS, Firehawk or WS6. So after while even
those wheels were way too small to me.
your avg top of the line factory 4th gen.
Because if we were talking about base models I am sure the 3rd gens
had even smaller than that.
But any case maybe I was not the norm because every fourth gen I ever bought or owned was either an SS, Firehawk or WS6. So after while even
those wheels were way too small to me.
Those were optional, year and model dependent.
4th gens had optional 17x9, not 17x9.5. So did some 3rd gens 
11" wide wheels fit inside the quarter of a 3rd gen as well as the 4th gen Pontiacs (which have wider quarters). Anything wider DOES NOT fit - they stick out past the body.
My point was that you're wrong and still are, no matter how you try to defend it.
stock wheels on a 4th gen run 17x9.5 275 width tires
and I can get a 11.5" wheel on a 4th gen with out tubbing
some have even gone so far as running a 12" wheel 315 to a 335 width tire.
some have even gone so far as running a 12" wheel 315 to a 335 width tire.
So your point is?
And you know all of this from experience or first hand knowledge?
I have personally owned way too many 3rd and 4th gens and have first hand
knowledge and experience to what fits on these cars.
Also a factory run of the mill TA WS6 Speedline wheel is 17x9.5 not 9.0
The Firehawks and I believe SS wheels are 17x9.0
So you are wrong.
I also have never seen any 3rd gen coming from the factory or even being able to
be ordered with anything in a 17x9 or 17x9.5 wheel.
Is there a Unicorn Lingenfelter or Banks 3rd gen that has wheels that big or bigger,
that's possible. But it would not be any where near a production car like a WS6 TA
Speaking of Unicorns:
4th gen Sunoco Camaro
LOL, it came stock with 13" wheels running 335 width tires.
================================================== ===
Here is a picture of my Fourth Gen (99 Aniv TA) Kinesis 18x11.5
315 BFG Drag Radials
Is my tire sticking out?
================================================== ===
Here is a picture of my Fourth Gen (02 Firehawk) Fikse 18x11.5
Does it look like it's sticking out
I don't want to mess this guys thread with bickering so if you want
start your own thread and I will be more than glad to post in there.
Any case I don't need to prove anything
from now on all the questions that I always get from people asking about wheels fitting
I will forward them to you (Marc 85Z28) and the guy in Amarillo TX because you guys know more than I do.
I have personally owned way too many 3rd and 4th gens and have first hand
knowledge and experience to what fits on these cars.
Also a factory run of the mill TA WS6 Speedline wheel is 17x9.5 not 9.0
The Firehawks and I believe SS wheels are 17x9.0
So you are wrong.
I also have never seen any 3rd gen coming from the factory or even being able to
be ordered with anything in a 17x9 or 17x9.5 wheel.
Is there a Unicorn Lingenfelter or Banks 3rd gen that has wheels that big or bigger,
that's possible. But it would not be any where near a production car like a WS6 TA
Speaking of Unicorns:
4th gen Sunoco Camaro
LOL, it came stock with 13" wheels running 335 width tires.
================================================== ===
Here is a picture of my Fourth Gen (99 Aniv TA) Kinesis 18x11.5
315 BFG Drag Radials
Is my tire sticking out?
================================================== ===
Here is a picture of my Fourth Gen (02 Firehawk) Fikse 18x11.5
Does it look like it's sticking out
I don't want to mess this guys thread with bickering so if you want
start your own thread and I will be more than glad to post in there.
Any case I don't need to prove anything
from now on all the questions that I always get from people asking about wheels fitting
I will forward them to you (Marc 85Z28) and the guy in Amarillo TX because you guys know more than I do.
Last edited by 69TA; Oct 5, 2012 at 08:59 AM.
I do. I had 2 different sets of Speedlines on BOTH of my cars. BOTH were 17x9, not 17x9.5
That Sunoco Camaro has AFTERMARKET quarter panels.
Your 11.5" wheels/tires DON'T fit. 11" wide is a big as you can go on both the 3rd and 4th gen without body mods or tubbing, and that's a stretch on anything short of the 4th gen Pontiacs.
Unicorn Lingenfelter or Banks 3rd gen? What? 17x9s came on the 92 Firehawks.
That Sunoco Camaro has AFTERMARKET quarter panels.
Your 11.5" wheels/tires DON'T fit. 11" wide is a big as you can go on both the 3rd and 4th gen without body mods or tubbing, and that's a stretch on anything short of the 4th gen Pontiacs.
Unicorn Lingenfelter or Banks 3rd gen? What? 17x9s came on the 92 Firehawks.
Have your ever physically compared
an SS or Firehawk wheel next to a Speedline?
The Speedline is wider by about 1/2"
So either the SS and Firehawks are 17x8.5 or the Speedlines are wider
I even measured one, but it has been way too long and I don't really care.
And how can you say an 11.5" doesn't fit or stick out?
I have 3 sets of wheels in that width on a fourth gen and all of them fit
with sticking out.
You are also giving off the impression that you can easily stuff a just as or wide wheel and tire on a 3rd gen like you can on a 4th gen and that simply is incorrect. The 3rd gen just does not have the same physical amount of room either in the front or the back.
As for the 92 Firehawk, you are basing all your info off a limited run of aprox 1500 1992 Firehawks to be considered the norm
What should be considered the norm or avg for a 3rd gen
is your 16x8 that is the typical norm for that period.
It's like me saying to you that the typical 4th gen is running around on factory installed 17x11's in the back because I
based my info off what was available on the sizes that came on the limited Berger Camaros and Blackbird TA's.
That are sporting 17x9.5 and 11's out the gate.
an SS or Firehawk wheel next to a Speedline?
The Speedline is wider by about 1/2"
So either the SS and Firehawks are 17x8.5 or the Speedlines are wider
I even measured one, but it has been way too long and I don't really care.
And how can you say an 11.5" doesn't fit or stick out?
I have 3 sets of wheels in that width on a fourth gen and all of them fit
with sticking out.
You are also giving off the impression that you can easily stuff a just as or wide wheel and tire on a 3rd gen like you can on a 4th gen and that simply is incorrect. The 3rd gen just does not have the same physical amount of room either in the front or the back.
As for the 92 Firehawk, you are basing all your info off a limited run of aprox 1500 1992 Firehawks to be considered the norm
What should be considered the norm or avg for a 3rd gen
is your 16x8 that is the typical norm for that period.
It's like me saying to you that the typical 4th gen is running around on factory installed 17x11's in the back because I
based my info off what was available on the sizes that came on the limited Berger Camaros and Blackbird TA's.
That are sporting 17x9.5 and 11's out the gate.
I do. I had 2 different sets of Speedlines on BOTH of my cars. BOTH were 17x9, not 17x9.5
That Sunoco Camaro has AFTERMARKET quarter panels.
Your 11.5" wheels/tires DON'T fit. 11" wide is a big as you can go on both the 3rd and 4th gen without body mods or tubbing, and that's a stretch on anything short of the 4th gen Pontiacs.
Unicorn Lingenfelter or Banks 3rd gen? What? 17x9s came on the 92 Firehawks.
That Sunoco Camaro has AFTERMARKET quarter panels.
Your 11.5" wheels/tires DON'T fit. 11" wide is a big as you can go on both the 3rd and 4th gen without body mods or tubbing, and that's a stretch on anything short of the 4th gen Pontiacs.
Unicorn Lingenfelter or Banks 3rd gen? What? 17x9s came on the 92 Firehawks.
Last edited by 69TA; Oct 5, 2012 at 11:45 AM.
As far as widths, the third gen can fit JUST as large of a tire as a fourth gen. The offset just has to be right. I have 315's on my Iroc right now(also have 295/30/19s), with plenty of room for bigger towards the inside.
OP, there is approximately a 2" difference in offset when comparing third and fourth gen wheels, with thirdgens sticking out more if run on a fourth gen. Just fyi, if you run fourth gen wheels on a thirdgen you need 2" spacers...
The nice thing about that is, you can run 2" more dish on a thirdgen(or concave now) then you can on a fourth gen. That's why you see people narrowing fourth gen rears 2" on each side(which basically makes it a thirdgen rear) when doing drag setups or looking for deep dished wheels.
What size wheels and tires do you have in this picture?
And is your car tubbed?
Any cutting and welding done to the tubs?
BTW there is big difference when you go from 295 to 315 to 335
I actually found the 295's in 19's to be just as wide as most 315's in 18
dare even say possibly wider because the tire and wheel has to be more squared off
I just don't see too may 3rd gens running 315's with ease in the back.
I mean sure you can squeeze them on a narrow wheel just to claim you got them on there but
I am referring to running the tire nice and square like it was meant to be mounted with the tread
contact patch actually touching down with a full foot print.
[/QUOTE]
And is your car tubbed?
Any cutting and welding done to the tubs?
BTW there is big difference when you go from 295 to 315 to 335
I actually found the 295's in 19's to be just as wide as most 315's in 18
dare even say possibly wider because the tire and wheel has to be more squared off
I just don't see too may 3rd gens running 315's with ease in the back.
I mean sure you can squeeze them on a narrow wheel just to claim you got them on there but
I am referring to running the tire nice and square like it was meant to be mounted with the tread
contact patch actually touching down with a full foot print.
[/QUOTE] Last edited by 69TA; Oct 5, 2012 at 12:28 PM.
