Front Wheels (Drag Setup)

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Oct 7, 2014 | 04:00 PM

Darkside99

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Front Wheels (Drag Setup)

I'm looking at a '99 Z28 that has Pro Stars on the back and LT1 stockers on the front. I want the set to match but I don't want to run skinnies unless I have to. This will be primarily a street car. So, would a 15x8 wheel with 5.5" backspacing clear everything up front? What's the widest 15" wheel that will fit up front? If I HAVE to run skinnies, what do I look for? Do they all clear the brakes?

Last edited by Darkside99; Oct 7, 2014 at 04:06 PM.

Oct 7, 2014 | 07:02 PM

Camaro396

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No. You have to run a skinny in the front if you're using a 15" diameter wheel. And even that requires grinding or a spacer, in the Pro Star version. If you step to a 17" wheel like the Weld RTS, you can go wider, but it will not match your Prostar rears. You either run skinnys, or you keep a stock wheel in the front. As mentioned, Weld Prostars fit with a small spacer or grinding in 15x3.5, Weld RTS fit in 15x4 with no modifications, but you have to change your rears. A good alternative may be Racestar 15x3.5 fronts, they will fit without grinding or spacers, and look similar to prostars, with a little thinner spokes. I ran this setup on my LS1 car for a little while.

Oct 8, 2014 | 10:00 AM

Darkside99

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Thanks for your reply! Great info. I'll probably end up putting some 5-spoke Vette wheels up front.

The car has a Ford 9" with axles shortened 3" on each side. Do you know of any 17" or 18" wheels that are deep enough to fit? On a 10" wheel the ideal backspacing is 4.5". I haven't found anything close yet.

Oct 8, 2014 | 10:08 AM

Rise of the Phoenix

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You can run a 17/15 Race Star Dark Star setup too. You could opt to run a 17x7 front wheel, which would be great for both street duty and track duty.

Oct 8, 2014 | 10:10 AM

NufNuffZ28

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I have a set of 17x7 race stars for sale that would be a good in between setup.

http://www.thirdgen.org/forums/exter...res-cheap.html

Oct 9, 2014 | 08:53 PM

Darkside99

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Thanks for the replies. Thanks NufNuff - that's a good deal but I think I'm going Vette wheels.

Oct 10, 2014 | 09:28 AM

NufNuffZ28

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Sounds good!

Which ones are you getting?

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Oct 11, 2014 | 04:52 AM

Camaro396

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Just know a big wide radial front runner with a smaller diameter wheel in the back, especially bias ply, will handle like ****, and sway really really bad at high speeds.

Oct 13, 2014 | 01:36 AM

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Darkside99

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Thank you for your advice. I'm planning on running a radial on the back, perhaps an MT Sportsman. I will rarely, if ever take this car to the strip or go over 120mph.