Widen Stock Wheels
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 11,258
Likes: 146
From: Pace, FL
Widen Stock Wheels So, maybe I'm crazy, but I like the look of my wheels on the car, but would love to tuck some 315s in the rear on a properly sized wheel.
I've been looking around the web and one vendor pops up for great quality - Weldcraft in MI.
I've seen some folks talking about how dangerous it is to widen a stock wheel with two butt joints TIG welded. A pothole or manhole cover that hits the rim at 90 degrees to the butt weld and catastrophe! But, I haven't seen any real issues in my searches.
Has anyone had any problem with them on the street? Roads in FL are pretty good, and I'm careful, but I don't want a weak rim on the car.
If that all checks out, I was thinking of going 1.5" or 2" wider for the 315s. I know all that additional width is to the backside of the wheel. And the stock 17x9 is a 50mm offset. Where I'm having an issue is the new offset.
I don't think it's as simply as adding 25mm for each inch. If so, a 2" widened wheel would have a 100mm offset. And folks on here have run a 1" spacer and got them to clear. That'd be a 17x11 with 75mm offset. Not happening.
I don't want to run a 1" spacer or 25mm, because it'll protrude slightly. Therefore, that limits me to a 10.5" wide wheel, which is fine.
I was thinking 20mm spacer and the 10.5" would sit pretty well within the wheel well, but my bad offset math tells me that will still be like +67mm on a 10.5. Again, a no go.
Has anybody done this and know what's the best route to go?
I've been looking around the web and one vendor pops up for great quality - Weldcraft in MI.
I've seen some folks talking about how dangerous it is to widen a stock wheel with two butt joints TIG welded. A pothole or manhole cover that hits the rim at 90 degrees to the butt weld and catastrophe! But, I haven't seen any real issues in my searches.
Has anyone had any problem with them on the street? Roads in FL are pretty good, and I'm careful, but I don't want a weak rim on the car.
If that all checks out, I was thinking of going 1.5" or 2" wider for the 315s. I know all that additional width is to the backside of the wheel. And the stock 17x9 is a 50mm offset. Where I'm having an issue is the new offset.
I don't think it's as simply as adding 25mm for each inch. If so, a 2" widened wheel would have a 100mm offset. And folks on here have run a 1" spacer and got them to clear. That'd be a 17x11 with 75mm offset. Not happening.
I don't want to run a 1" spacer or 25mm, because it'll protrude slightly. Therefore, that limits me to a 10.5" wide wheel, which is fine.
I was thinking 20mm spacer and the 10.5" would sit pretty well within the wheel well, but my bad offset math tells me that will still be like +67mm on a 10.5. Again, a no go.
Has anybody done this and know what's the best route to go?
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 11,258
Likes: 146
From: Pace, FL
Ah, that's fantastic. I actually saw his for sale thread and asked in it what was the spacer size. 1/2" on a Camaro. I have a little more room in the well with a T/A, so I might could fit something in the 5/8" range to gain a little clearance on the backside...
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 2
From: KS
Weldcraft did my stock WS6 wheels. I went 1.5" wider with a 1/2" spacer. It does require an adjustable PH bar. I had already cut my bump stops otherwise they would rub I believe. And there is about 1/8th" clearance to the inner fender toward the front that really should be massaged. I'm running 315 M/T dr's.
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 11,258
Likes: 146
From: Pace, FL
Yeah. I'll probably just do the TT2s. Those wheels just fit the bubbly cartoonish Trans Am so well. But I give up the brake clearance of the stockers and they're more of a bitch to keep clean.
But I don't really feel like stepping up to Fikse or CCW. I have better things to spend my money on. Maybe I'll just get some NT05Rs or Proxes TQs in 275s for the rear and call it a day. Or R888s all around.
Here is another option to consider. I have no direct experience with them, but they are popular on the BMW and other euro car boards I visit.
http://www.wheelflip.com/
Kerry
http://www.wheelflip.com/
Kerry
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 11,258
Likes: 146
From: Pace, FL
Interesting. Yeah, I actually like the way the stock wheels look, but they are tucked in too far and aren't wide enough. And yet, somehow, they have a ton of brake clearance.
Hey guys wondering what you ended up doing with the TA, I am also in the position to widen my stock aluminum WS6 rims, I love the look.
I was going to go 10.5 and followed the above thread for the 02 camaro but I am curious if I can go 11 without a spacer? Would I have to remove my bump stops or do they fit perfect? I would run 315`s with this setup. Let me know your thoughts, It would be on an 02 Transam WS6.
Thanks
I was going to go 10.5 and followed the above thread for the 02 camaro but I am curious if I can go 11 without a spacer? Would I have to remove my bump stops or do they fit perfect? I would run 315`s with this setup. Let me know your thoughts, It would be on an 02 Transam WS6.
Thanks
Last edited by Patsy57; Sep 26, 2013 at 09:43 AM.
I don't see why you can't. As long as the back space isn't something crazy but being an oe wheel you should be fine. That was my original plan, I wanted some miro 111's but being only 9.5" wide I wanted to widen them but I couldn't justify cutting up some brand new wheels as well as spending over $1000 on some wheels. To each their own.
DON'T use Weldcraft........
They just weld a metal hoop into the rim to make it wider. It makes the rim weak and it DOES NOT pass ANY of the factory stress tests when done like that.
The ONLY place that you should have rims widened it at is "Team3" in San Fransisco. They do it the right way and you get a rim back that is STRONGER than it was before.
I've done the research.......Team3 is the only real SAFE way to do it. You will pay $300.00 for each rim....but you also won't run the risk of dying.
They are getting my new OE wheels to widen next month.
Call them and ask him to explain the process if youre interested.....it's pretty detailed. I brought up Weldcraft and he stopped me right there and said he won't even waste his breath talking about me.
.......I know a lot of people use Weldcraft, and no they don't all fall apart. You'll most likely be fine. But there have been catastrophes and and rims coming apart from Weldcraft. Why risk that possibility....?
.
They just weld a metal hoop into the rim to make it wider. It makes the rim weak and it DOES NOT pass ANY of the factory stress tests when done like that.
The ONLY place that you should have rims widened it at is "Team3" in San Fransisco. They do it the right way and you get a rim back that is STRONGER than it was before.
I've done the research.......Team3 is the only real SAFE way to do it. You will pay $300.00 for each rim....but you also won't run the risk of dying.
They are getting my new OE wheels to widen next month.
Call them and ask him to explain the process if youre interested.....it's pretty detailed. I brought up Weldcraft and he stopped me right there and said he won't even waste his breath talking about me.
.......I know a lot of people use Weldcraft, and no they don't all fall apart. You'll most likely be fine. But there have been catastrophes and and rims coming apart from Weldcraft. Why risk that possibility....?
.