After reading another thread on here, I called Wheels America about narrowing my factory 16" wheels...which they said they could. The idea was to run the car on skinnies up front...but keep the factory look from a distance. The sleeper look is really my whole theme. Anyway...the problem is this, I can't find any 16" front runners out there. I doubt they are even made, but does anyone know where I might find them? So far, the best thing I can find a 205/65/16. It's a 6.2" tread width and the rim size is 5.5-6.5. Has anyone done anything like this before?

Zach

 

I'd suggest it is not worth the money, effort or time to even consider it. There will be very little if any advantages to do what you are considering.

The only thing you'll have is a stock style wheel that gives you terrible handling and braking.

 

Stock style is actually what I'm going for. But this is more about looks than driving. I guess my biggest question is if anyone makes a 16" front runner type tire.

Zach

 

Its been done before. Keeps the factory look, wrong as hell factory offset, and goofy tires. Nobody makes a good runner tire in larger than 15"

 

Well...damn.

 

m&h makes one for 17s 26x4.5x17

 

If you look at the video section...that's one of our Bogart 17" wheel samples which was built for them. We typically build these for the C5 setups.

 

Hoosier also makes a nice 26" tall street front for 17" rims.

 

somone posted pics. They had there 10spokes narrowed to like 17x4 I htink the place was called weldcraft? or somthing. There were in detirot.

 

If you want a nice factory look i would do it. hell i would even consider similar option

 

ive looked into it but they charge alot to do it...if you dont mind running a regualr tire then you can fine 16x4 compatible tires

 

Yea...I've found 15" and 17" front runners...but no 16" (my factory wheels are 16"). The cost to narrow is $150/wheel. It's not any cheaper than new wheels...but I really want to keep the factory look. The closest thing I've found to a 16" front runner is a 205/65/16. It has a 6.2 tread width on a 6" rim...and the approved rims are 5.5-6.5. While it is skinnier than factory, it's not exactly front runner narrow.

 

I had a pair of firestone bias plys in 16" on my CCW drag pack when I had my C5. They handled like **** of course, but they were 26" diameter and about 5" wide. They worked great on the vette. I wasn't expecting to be carving up corners on them, the ET streets were wrinkle wall bias plys too. So you do have options for a 16" skinny tire, especially of you're running a bias ply rear tire such as an ET street.

 

Where did you get those fronts? Or what brand were they? Also, is it safe/ok to run bias ply fronts with ET Street Radials on the back? If it's not...no huge deal, I could switch to ET Streets.

Zach

 

Hey man don't let all these naysayers talk ya down about it. I've considered doing this many times but just didn't want to spend the money to do it.

If I were you I would take 2 inches off the front and add it to the rears. On the fronts run a narrower tire than normal (205/65R15 like you said) then run a big drag radial out back. Where you are narrowing and not widening I don't think it will really mess up your offset that much. It will change it but I think you will be ok because you are taking material OFF the backside of the rim and not adding it. I may be wrong though.

 

This would be thoughts as well.

Although I know big and littles are a popular mod.... I would never sacrifice handling for it.

 

Hey...anybody know what size tire CCW is using on the front of their Drag Pack?

 

The ones I had were like this one listed here...
http://universaltire.com/cart.php?ta...ategory_id=335

I bought a whole CCW drag pack with the tires already on the wheels. They didn't brake for ****, but not many skinny tires will. As long as it wasn't raining, I daily drove my C5 with these tires for about 3 months. If it rained I just drove my work truck.

 

How wide were your front wheels?

Zach

 

I don't know exactly. Maybe four or five inches. They were pretty skinny.