Wheels & Tires Forged | Billet | Cast | Radials | Slicks

19" rims - thoughts?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 22, 2017 | 03:07 PM
  #1  
Bdh29's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 1
Default 19" rims - thoughts?

I've got a 2000 WS6 with stock 17" rims. I want bigger rims but for the cost, 18" doesn't seem like it will make much of a difference. But 20's just seem TOO big, so I settled on 19".

Which are nearly impossible to find.

So, does anyone have 19's? What are your thoughts?
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2017 | 03:29 PM
  #2  
HioSSilver's Avatar
10 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 645
From: Winchester, VA
Default

I hope no one has 19s
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2017 | 05:45 PM
  #3  
black sky's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Dyers Eve, NW Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by HioSSilver
I hope no one has 19s
Lol....I see what you did there...now that's funny!
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2017 | 11:51 PM
  #4  
RPM WS6's Avatar
LS1Tech Administrator
20 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Builder
Community Influencer
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,629
Likes: 2,551
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Default

Originally Posted by Bdh29
So, does anyone have 19's? What are your thoughts?
My thoughts are that 19s are too big for these cars. I've seen several pictures of them on 4th gens, and every time my first thought is how much better they would look in a 17 or 18 (and even 18s are pushing it, though they can look very nice with the right design and a slight drop.) I would never consider anything bigger than 18" for a 4th gen, and even then only because 17" tire selection isn't what it used to be.

But it's all just a matter of opinion.
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2017 | 12:34 PM
  #5  
JROC's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 311
Likes: 36
From: South Carolina
Default

I love my 19's on the rear of my car. The biggest thing I don't like about them is they sometimes make my front 18's look smaller than 18's should look like on these cars.
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2017 | 02:24 PM
  #6  
HCI2000SS's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11,137
Likes: 20
From: Howell & Fenton MI
Default

I have agree that anything bigger than 18's looks a little too big on these cars IMO.
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2017 | 04:17 PM
  #7  
cancam99ss's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 98
From: Miami 33155
Default

i have 19's in the rear... and want 18's
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2017 | 04:47 PM
  #8  
JROC's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 311
Likes: 36
From: South Carolina
Default

I still think my car looks pimp tight with 19's on the back.




Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 23, 2017 | 05:00 PM
  #9  
HioSSilver's Avatar
10 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 645
From: Winchester, VA
Default

Bigger diameter wheels on the back look awful
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2017 | 12:52 AM
  #10  
RPM WS6's Avatar
LS1Tech Administrator
20 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Builder
Community Influencer
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,629
Likes: 2,551
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Default

Both cars above would look much better with 18s all around IMO.
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2017 | 05:09 AM
  #11  
SkWiDsTyLe321's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 322
Likes: 3
Default

simply one of those to each their own questions. i think some 17" wheels look really lame and leave too much to be desired, as others look great. i think some 19's look horrible & others great. i think MY 19" rear & 18" front setup looks great & wouldn't change it anytime in the near future. sure some may hate it .... i don't care, as neither should you - look at a good amount of pics of 19's on f bodies/your specific car - of course in person if you have that opportunity, then make your decision. you will simply get mixed reactions here both hating 19's & loving them
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2017 | 01:47 PM
  #12  
Bdh29's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 1
Default

That's a lot of hate for 19's. I don't get it - it seems like slightly bigger chrome rims would look good without looking retarded like a Chrysler 300 on 24's.
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2017 | 02:21 PM
  #13  
HioSSilver's Avatar
10 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 645
From: Winchester, VA
Default

That's just it......it's right there on the verge of starting to look retarded like 24s on Chrysler 300s.

Hell I'm not a fan of the 20s they put on 5gens. Zr1/1le's don't look bad wuth their 20s. I hate the staggered diameter on the vettes to.

Oddly enough a 17 front 15 rear combo looks great. But that's meant fir da bizness.

The 18front 19rear combo is meant for nothing......even hurts da bizness with less rear sidewall.
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2017 | 02:49 PM
  #14  
JD_AMG's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,798
Likes: 16
From: St.Charles MO
Default

Originally Posted by Bdh29
That's a lot of hate for 19's. I don't get it - it seems like slightly bigger chrome rims would look good without looking retarded like a Chrysler 300 on 24's.
I think its the performance mind set this forum generally has, 19s in no way shape or form will be better on these cars than 18s for all aspects of performance. And before you say "But Corvettes and 5th gens have 19s and 20s!" - repeat after me, "My 4th gen is not a Corvette, 5th gen, 6th gen, bugatti Veyron etc."
What works on other cars won't always work on these cars.

Also you clearly have not searched this forum or used google. There are thread with hundreds of posts and pictures with 4th gens and 19" wheels or at least wheels available in 19s that fit our cars.
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2017 | 04:40 PM
  #15  
SkWiDsTyLe321's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 322
Likes: 3
Default

here ya go ..... a good amount of people running them & perfectly happy with both the performance & looks of them... https://ls1tech.com/forums/wheels-ti...st-pics-3.html
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2017 | 04:46 PM
  #16  
JROC's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 311
Likes: 36
From: South Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by Bdh29
That's a lot of hate for 19's. I don't get it - it seems like slightly bigger chrome rims would look good without looking retarded like a Chrysler 300 on 24's.
Here's my opinions if you like the look as many do then go for it. On the street you really don't feel much a different. It probably rides a little bit firmer than the factory 17's but that's expected with the shorter sidewalls. Not everything is done for the sake of performance on a street car. In reality does it hurt performance? Probably, but you'll be hard pressed to feel it and you liking won't notice a difference unless you're racing your car with a timer. On here you're going to get people who don't like it and act over-opinionated about it and try to convince you that it's a stupid thing to do but **** them. If they don't like it then it's a good thing that they aren't running that setup. Really any wheel/tire setup has things they work well at and others they aren't suited for.

To be honest I generally am not fond of a staggered setup but for whatever reason I think it looks pretty good on a Fbody. With that said if factory C6Z wheels came with a 18x12 wheel on the back then that's what I'd be running but Vettes usually come with a staggered setup and the shape of the spokes and offset/backspacing of the Vette rear wheels look much better on the rear of a Fbody than the Vette front wheels and that's not even considering the fact that you are trying to run wider tires on the back. If high-end aftermarket wheels didn't cost more than what I'm willing to spend I'd be running some nice custom 5 spokes. The typical 9/9.5"wide wheels have straighter spokes and aren't taper outward to move the wheels closer to your rear fenders. With a 9/9.5" wheel you have to run a lot of spacer to get them close to flush with your outer fender. With factory C6Z F/R wheels no spacers are required to get the rear wheels flush with the out fenders and the front backspacing/offset/spoke design easily clears your factory 14", 4 piston Brembos without needing spacers. They clear with probably a 1/4” to spare. I could likely run the 6 piston Brembos without needing spacers.

The biggest problem in my experience with running a different height tire F/R is that the ABS can get confused and want to start kicking in when hard braking at fast speeds. If you don't need ABS this becomes a non-issue if you delete it, but if you want to keep your ABS then it's something you need to consider before going staggered if that's what you are looking to do. Some cars don't get ABS problems with a staggered tire height whereas some do.

Even though some people on here don't like them I'm constantly getting people coming up to me complementing my cars. It's gets kind of aggravating as people want to have 20 minute conversations on cars and try telling me all about what they've got. Build your car how you want. It's your money so build it how you want it.
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2017 | 06:15 PM
  #17  
RPM WS6's Avatar
LS1Tech Administrator
20 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Builder
Community Influencer
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,629
Likes: 2,551
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Default

Originally Posted by HioSSilver
That's just it......it's right there on the verge of starting to look retarded like 24s on Chrysler 300s.
I agree. This body style (4th gen) was designed primarily for a 16" wheel, and later a 17" was added. 17"s look ideal, and even an 18" can look nice with the right style and slight drop. Anything bigger and the proportions look wrong, and the tire sidewall looks too small. Just not a good look for these cars IMO.

Larger wheels can look fine on cars that were originally designed with them in mind (including such aspects as belt line, body curvature, door sill height, etc.), and with larger overall tire diameters which allow for taller sidewalls.
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2017 | 06:33 PM
  #18  
HioSSilver's Avatar
10 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 645
From: Winchester, VA
Default

Here's mine on 18x9.5 all around.






19s all round isn't the end of the world but a 18/19 combo is awful. I don't like the 19s in general because i don't like this all rim and no tire look. Not to mention they typically get heavier which hurts performance.
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2017 | 09:15 PM
  #19  
black sky's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Dyers Eve, NW Indiana
Default

My personal opinion is 19" wheels are a tad large for f bodys. Maybe a bad *** set of 19" HRE's may change my mindset. I myself happen to be in the 17" wheel fanclub.. (Street lites).. I will say HioSSilver's 18"s are some of the nicest I've seen on an fbody. Can I ask what tire sizes you went with?.
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2017 | 10:24 PM
  #20  
HioSSilver's Avatar
10 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 645
From: Winchester, VA
Default

That's like a 285 35
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:43 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE