FraziaFraz

I'm having trouble finding any aftermarket wheels in the original wheel size for my car (00 Z/28) I hate the snowflake wheels, but I don't want to put taller wider wheels on either. Any other options out there?

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

How about the stock '97-'99 style 16" wheel? I agree about the snowflakes looking awful, I immediately removed them from my '02 Z28 for the same reason. But I always felt the '97-'99 5-spoke 16x8 was a great looking wheel, and I would have kept them on my '98 except for the fact that I wanted a 17x9 size. If I specifically wanted to stay with a 16x8, those wheels would be my top choice.

FraziaFraz

17X9's I could live with. I just don't want to go any bigger than that. Everything I'm finding in a 17 though is a 9.5 wide. I just feel that that's getting too wide and heavy.

SCott5

iTrader: (40)

Ccw will make you a 16x8 wheel. I know there drag packs are 16in

SCott5

iTrader: (40)

Too wide and heavy for what?

Stock SS wheels I think were 17x9

FraziaFraz

I'm not a wheel expert. But I feel that 17x9.5 wheels would be significantly heavier than my 16x8's and thus slow me down. Plus what are the tire options for a 17x9.5?

z28pat

iTrader: (10)

On a 17x9.5 you can go with 275s or wide 285 tires.
As far as stock wheels , I do like the look of the stock chrome 16 x 8 5 spoke star design much better than the snowflakes design.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

As mentioned above, the 17x9 size was standard for SS/WS6/Firehawk throughout the 4th gen years. The factory tire size for this was 275/40/17.

The reason you see all the reproductions in a 17x9.5" size is because this was standard for the later C4 Corvettes and, with the typical 56mm offset, they also fit 4th gen F-bodies just as well. It's more cost effective than also making a 17x9/50mm offset version and most people don't mind the extra width.

Having said that, several years back you could still find reproduction SS/ZR1 style wheels in a 17x9/50mm offset same as the originals, but I don't know if anyone is still making those new at this point. Used is also an option.

I'm not sure what the weight difference is between 17x9 and 17x9.5, but I can't imagine it's anything too significant.

As for tire sizing, most people use 275/40/17 on the 17x9.5, same as the factory did on the 9" wide version. However, the factory used a 285/40/17 tire on the 9.5" wide versions that came on the late C4 Corvettes, so that size is also an option but would increase weight even further. FWIW, you can fit the 285/40 on a 17x9 wheel too without any issues, but again this bigger tire adds more weight so I guess that's probably not the way you'd want to go.

Some people put 245/45/17 tires on a 9" or 9.5" wide wheel as well, it's the same overall diameter as stock 275/40s but a narrower width. Personally I think this looks too stretched and I don't care for it at all, but that size tire probably weighs a little bit less if that is your goal.

FraziaFraz

The main weigh difference I was concerned about wasn't going from a 17X9 to a 17x9.5. It was going from a 16x8 to a 17x9.5. My other concern was if there were any tire options for a 9.5 wide wheel. Mostly I'm concerned by up sizing if I'm going to hurt my acceleration and fuel economy?

SCott5

iTrader: (40)

Nothing that you will notice. I run a 275/40 on a 17x9.5 up front on my car. Your just replacing tire with wheel as the diameter of the wheel/tire setup will stay the same. The only change will be width

ssvert99

iTrader: (26)

The Billet Specialties Street Lite wheels in 17x9 will work great for you, and the cost is very affordable. Give us a call!

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

But since you said you'd be OK with a 17x9....

....then really all that's left to be concerned with is the weight difference between the 17x9 and a 17x9.5, which would be marginal. If a 17x9 is acceptable, I can't see an extra 1/2" of width causing so much increase in weight as to be a significant concern.

But there are aftermarket 17x9 wheels as well, besides just older reproductions of factory wheels. Specifically I am thinking of the American Racing Torq Thrust M (more commonly referred to as "TTMs"). These are available in a 17x9 if you are really worried about that extra 1/2".

Again, a 17x9.5 can use the same 275/40s that would be typical for the 17x9 as well, so there would be no increase at all in tire weight beyond the 17x9 tire options. Myself as well as countless others have used this size on a 17x9.5 without any issues or concerns at all. But if you wanted more width, you could certainly use a 285/40 on a 17x9.5 as well.

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

You're overthinking things.

16" wheels/tires are basically outdated and obsolete (like 14" and soon 15" will be). Moving to a 17x9" or 17x9.5" with a 274/40r17 will give you tons more tire options for good prices and won't gain any weight you will notice.

For example I used to have 15x7" fronts and 15x8" rears on my car and replacing them with 17x9.5" on all 4 corners did absolutely no harm to my track times or fuel mileage averages. But the tires are incredibly better and were similar in price as the junk still offered in 15" sizes.

FraziaFraz

Thanks for the info everyone. Originally I wanted a set of TT2's but they didn't make a set in a 16 that would fit. I think I'll go ahead and up size to the 17x9.5's.

FraziaFraz

Learning about offsets has been interesting as well. I thought it would have been as simple as going in and buying the set of torque thrusts that I wanted in a 16x8 and that would have been it. Things are never that simple though.

dailydriver

I have the AFS reproduction 16x8s in the SS convertible/ZR1 style 5 spokes on the car as we speak, but I am CERTAIN that they discontinued this wheel LONG LONG ago.

As far as tire availability goes; there are almost NO decent 16" tire options left for these cars, and sadly, even the 17" options will probably be going away very soon, given the market's predilection for blingy, BIG, 'donky', ghetto-G hoops in 20"++ diameters.

FraziaFraz

I would NEVER go 20s. I even think 18s are too big.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

There are a shocking amount of brand new 15" wheels still being manufactured for the drag race and antique/classic enthusiasts, they won't be going obsolete ANY time soon. However, I agree that tire options are generally limited to drag race, off-road/all-terrain, or simply cruising.

14" tires are also still available, I have a daily driver that uses them. Yes, again, options are limited but they aren't hard to find when needed.

That's unlikely considering the amount of 17" wheels that are still being produced by the aftermarket.

In terms of a 4th gen F-body, I agree 100%.

2JAWZ

iTrader: (1)

Just curious myself so I took a gander at just one website and it came up with 688 different style wheels in the 16 inch. Obsolete my @$$! Look bud, a couple clicks of the keyboard and the tap of the enter button should put you on the path to your chosen desire! Happy Hot Roddin' !!

FraziaFraz

What was the site? Everything that I have found in a 16 doesn't have a high enough offset to fit my camaro. Also I have had trouble finding a good tire for a 16 inch wheel in the correct size that the car came with.