Graphite_WS6

iTrader: (1)

I'm about to order some custom 18"x9" wheels for the front of my '98 Trans Am and 18"x10" for the rear. I need help deciding which offsets to run in order for the wheels to be about a 1/4" within the fenders. I was thinking of running a +40 mm offset on the rear wheels. Would I use the same offset or a different offset on the front wheels in order to have the same size lip? Is it even possible to have the same size lip on all four wheels with the wheels being tucked in the same distance? I've been reading so much about offsets already that I'm starting to confuse myself.

For tires I want to run 275/35/18s on the front wheels and 285/35/18s on the rear wheels. I'm getting Nitto NT 555 tires. Does these sound about right?

Victor

69TA

iTrader: (263)

Victor,
Why don't you go with 315's all around? 18x11's with 50MM offset. This way you can rotate your tires and handle like a mother f!@#er around the turns. Your not going to hook up with 18's any way!

I have 11's all around!!!!!
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...ighlight=fikse

I also have 4 new Pirelli 315's x 18's for sale if you didn't already buy your tires.

-Kevin-

Graphite_WS6

iTrader: (1)

Well, the thing is the company that will be building my wheels only has these widths available. Besides, I don't want anything wider than what I have already have in the front which is 9.5", since I already scrape my front tires on the wheel liner pretty bad with the lowering springs I have. 18"x9" just seem logical to me since I can reduce some drag and save some weight going with the 9" wide wheel and save me some of the hassle of fitting 11" wide wheels in the back by going with the 10" wheels for the rear. I just want them to look right.

69TA

iTrader: (263)

Just to let you know. 18" wheels and tires are heavier in weight. And 18" tires are way more expensive as well.

There is no advantage to going with 18" other than visual appearance.

Graphite_WS6

iTrader: (1)

I know. I'm doing this mainly for visual appearance since I do have a pretty unique car. But it doesn't hurt to get some light wheels as well. I've seen to many cars around with my current wheels and want to step the appearance up a notch. Yes 18" wheels and tires are heavier, but the 18"x9" wheels I am ordering are almost as light as my current 17"x9.5" wheels. So I figured it would balance itself out some. By the way I have wheels for the track already. I figured if 18's are good enough for the rear of a ZO6, they are good enough for me. Anyway are you going ot help answer my questions or not?

69TA

iTrader: (263)

I thought I answered that already in my earlier post. 50MM for an 11" wheel. I can't answer you on the other sizes as I don't know. This whole thing with + or - offset is a real pain in the a$$ the old method of backspacing was so much easier.

Just remember one thing the more you tuck them in the more you lose that front lip. So it's a fine line between a nice full lip and having the wheel stick too far out.

Xsta Z 28

iTrader: (2)

Not 100% true . . . I bet my 18's weigh less than any OEM Camaro 17's . . .

Getting the same "lip" front and rear will be next to impossible with different wheel widths.

Your assumtion about 40 mm is a good one, you could go as extreme as 38 mm. I have 38 mm front and rear, 9.5" and 10.5" respectively.

Graphite_WS6

iTrader: (1)

Hey Xsta, so does lowering the offset numerically increase the "lip" size of a wheel? I guess it depends on the wheel manufacturer too. And is your red SS lowered any? It's look like it sits a bit higher than my TA with the G2 springs. On another post I read of yours you noted that you would would have rather went with 40mm-44mm offsets in your rear wheels and kept the 38mm offset of the front. I know Trans Ams have wider quater panels, but my current 17"x9.5" wheels have a +44mm offset and the rear wheels sit about 1.25" (which i just measured) into the quater panel. The wheels also have a little over a 2" lip which I want to increase on my next wheels.

As far as I know, the 2 pc wheels I'm looking at are only available in whole sizes. They don't have 9.5" or 10.5" widths which I would have liked better.

OR, can I fit 18"x10" wheels on all four corners? But I'm afraid to go this route on the front.

Xsta Z 28

iTrader: (2)

My car is lowered with SLP Eibach Springs, and hte fronts were custom cut to get just a touch more drop. The wheel wells of a TA are quite a bit bigger that a Camaros.

My rear wheels are also 10.5" wide.

As the offset goes lower numerically the tire moved outwards, and "can" give you a bigger "lip".

10" can fit on all four corners I've seen it, not sure of the offsets though.

Graphite_WS6

iTrader: (1)

Ok, lets see. If I get 18"x9" wheels on the front with a 40mm offset and a 18"x10" wheel on the rear with a 40mm offset, will both front and rear wheels be within the fender wells the same distance? If no, what offset would I need to run on the front wheels to do this? I know both will probably end up having a different size "lip". For sure I'm going with 18"x10" with the 40mm offset on the rears, but figuring out the front wheels is driving me crazy.

Anyone here run a 10" width wheel on the front? What offset did you use?

Thanks for helping me so far.