nastybuzzard

iTrader: (2)

I just picked up this 2001 trans am on 6/5/15. It currently has Nitto 315/35/17s on the rear that are very close to bald. Front tires are Firestone Firehawk 275/40/17 and are in great shape.

For now my purpose for this car is to drive to work a few times a week. She wont see the track for a long time. I am not sure if wider is better in my case, I just want it to handle and ride well and not go through a set of tires in 10k miles. I know having different size tires front/rear isn't the greatest for handling.

So I am looking on opinions on what tires to buy for the rear. Considering I just got the car and am building a shop, I would love some budget friendly options. Keep in mind, I don't plan on any 1/4 mile runs or anything like that, and if I do, I will have a different wheel/tire set up to swap on for that.

Also, advice on polishing/shining up these C4 ZR1 replicas? I tried a little tub of mothers polish, metal polish and the spray stuff but they are still kinda dull. Do I just need to get a power ball and a different polish?

nastybuzzard

iTrader: (2)

I would love to see some opinions.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

If they are 17x11s in the rear, which they appear to be, then 315s will be the best fit. If you want 275s all around, you'd really need to switch to a 9" or 9.5" version in the rear to match the front. 275s on an 11" wide wheel look like absolute garbage IMO, the whole stretched tire look is ridiculous to me, but some people like it.

Are the wheels chrome, or polished/clear coated? If the latter, then things like metal polish will damage the clear coat, or perhaps it's already damaged and that's why they are still overly dull. In that case, you can strip the clear and re-polish them, but maintenance will be more labor intensive if they are not clear coated. If they are chrome and none of the cleaners/polishes you have used have worked, then the chrome finish might be beyond help. I don't know of any way to "restore" a damaged chrome finish, other than to strip and re-chrome, but at that point you'd be better off just getting new wheels.

nastybuzzard

iTrader: (2)

Yeah I don't want the stretched tire look, that is for sure. I am sure they aren't chrome but seem to be a cleared aluminum. I tried polishing by hand, spent about 5 min per wheel and got a hint of shine out of them. Maybe I need to do a more intense job or use a better polishing compound.


So 315's are my best bet? Are they really for just a cruiser? I think the widest tire I have ever ran was maybe a 295. What brand/style/type of 315 do you suggest then for normal driving use that will last a good while.