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Wheels and TiresNeed help with wheels or tires? Got fitment issues? Have questions about tire performance and handling? Ask all of those questions here!
I'm sure this has been brought up before but for some reason my search criteria wasn't working for me. If you have any link from this site I'd appreciate it. I pulled the trigger on a set of 17x9.5 C5 ZO6 wheels and can use some advice, and I'm curious what other have done?
1) Spacers, I’ve read that some have used a 2” spacer on all 4 corners. I’ll be converting to LS1 front brakes and these brakes do push the the wheels out a bit, 1/4" on each side? With this combo my math tells me I should use a use a 1 3/4” spacer?
2) Tires, what would be a good size for tires, would using 275/40/17’s up front cause any issues with rubbing?
I have the same style rims on my Camaro with upgraded C5 front brakes and 275/40/17. I am running a 2" hub centric adapters all the way around with no rubbing issues on a lowered car so you should be good
I have the same style rims on my Camaro with upgraded C5 front brakes and 275/40/17. I am running a 2" hub centric adapters all the way around with no rubbing issues on a lowered car so you should be good
So your front wheels don’t stick out past your rear wheels? Can you post done pictures?
Do you have a link to the spacers your using?
Honestly i havent ran a square rim setup on my car in 10yrs. I have the 10.5 rear rims with the 9.5 fronts. i can show a pic from both when they were square replacement rims after cracking one of the original 10years ago original rims when i first put car together. 12years ago
vs the staggered i run now
Assuming you use a spacer to make up the difference from factory wheels to these wheels, you should have no issues running a 275/40/17 up front, especially with the LS1 brakes. That being said, every car is slightly different, but I'd imagine you'd have no issues. Most don't have issues.
Assuming you use a spacer to make up the difference from factory wheels to these wheels, you should have no issues running a 275/40/17 up front, especially with the LS1 brakes. That being said, every car is slightly different, but I'd imagine you'd have no issues. Most don't have issues.
My concern is getting the right spacer for the rear, I’d rather not have the front wheels stick out farther than the rear wheels. I wonder if I can use a 1 3/4” spacer in front and 2” spacer in the rear or use a 2” in front and a 2 1/4” Spacer in the rear.
I’d like to hear of others experiences with running 17x9.5 Vette wheels, not so much with fitment as I’m sure fitting 275/40/17 tire up front shouldn’t be an issue but more with alignment. With running 9.5” wheels in front I’m concerned about SAI, Scrub Radius and straight line tracking as I’ve read about others having this issue. I’m starting to gather parts to over haul the entire front steering and suspension and I’m curious what others have done to mitigate alignment issues.
Some planned parts for the front end are:
-All new steering components along with piecing together a bump steer kit, which with the 9.5” wide wheels and LS1 brakes not sure how much bump steer adjustment I’ll get.
-Weight jacks with 850-900 lbs. springs
-36mm anti roll bar
-1/2 taller ball joints
-Caster Camber plates, I’m considering using camber bolts in conjunction with the CC plates to fudge SAI because of pushing the wheels out a bit with the LS1 brakes.
Any input would be appreciated
Thanks
I won't be running vette wheels, but I'm fairly sure with a 17x9.5, you'll run into issues possibly with the bumpsteer kit, and almost definitely with the raised ball joint. My set up on the 88 is currently bone stock, and there isn't a whole lot of room between the wheel and the tie rod, in either the diamter OR the width of my stock 16x8 wheel. Plenty for now, but....it's only 16x8. Can't see how a 17x9.5 would work. I recently picked up some 1" raised *****, and my plan is to stick with the relatively light weight 16x8 irocs until I can afford to go 18x9.5. Not a whole lot of affordable, light weight 18" options!
FWIW....lots of guys saying bumpsteer kit isn't really needed with the raised *****, although I couldn't explain to you why. Geometry would still seem to suggest the BS kit would be helpful. Something to look into maybe.
I won't be running vette wheels, but I'm fairly sure with a 17x9.5, you'll run into issues possibly with the bumpsteer kit, and almost definitely with the raised ball joint. My set up on the 88 is currently bone stock, and there isn't a whole lot of room between the wheel and the tie rod, in either the diamter OR the width of my stock 16x8 wheel. Plenty for now, but....it's only 16x8. Can't see how a 17x9.5 would work. I recently picked up some 1" raised *****, and my plan is to stick with the relatively light weight 16x8 irocs until I can afford to go 18x9.5. Not a whole lot of affordable, light weight 18" options!
FWIW....lots of guys saying bumpsteer kit isn't really needed with the raised *****, although I couldn't explain to you why. Geometry would still seem to suggest the BS kit would be helpful. Something to look into maybe.
I vaguely remember reading someone said that taller BJ’s were tight but fit. I’ll need to try and see if I can find it.
I have a sceamin eagle bumpsteer kit on my Firebird which has 18X9.5 on the front and I dont think I could put my Camaro 17X9.5 on it with the rim hitting the lowered ball joint. I thought i had a picturre with the rim on but i cant fiond it, only this one from the install
Honestly i havent ran a square rim setup on my car in 10yrs. I have the 10.5 rear rims with the 9.5 fronts. i can show a pic from both when they were square replacement rims after cracking one of the original 10years ago original rims when i first put car together. 12years ago
vs the staggered i run now
hey I know this is an old thread but I'm currently running c5 z06 staggered rims on my car as well and I'm having a terrible time finding good tire sizes for them as the 265/40r17 for the front are basically obsolete at this point. I'm curious what are you running here and what do you recommend?
I guess the main reasons would be if it's going to cause any rubbing, also if it would cause any more pull than it does now because with the 265s I have on everything suspension wise is good but on the roads around here it seems to want to pull me any which way but maybe that's just the perks of wide tires I'm not used to yet. And the other reason is with the 275/40 and keeping 295/35 in the back is that the sidewall in the front would be a little bigger than the rear and would look a little odd. However if that seems to be the best option than I'll have to go with it. Sorry for long explanation, just want you to know the full situation lol.
....with stock brakes, and a stock wheel position (0mm offset or equivalent spacer) and all but extreme lowered ride heights, a 275/40 may just barely brush the inner fender liner. Some do, some don't. With aftermarket brakes, the addition of the rotor adds .25" and that's enough to eliminate any rubbing. Factory Firehawks came with .25" spacers believe it or not, and they ran that same 275/40. That tire size is generally accepted as the norm for upgraded thirdgens. Not at all necessary as many have gone with other sizes, but I'd say it's definitely the most common "upgrade" size.
The wider tires "tramlining" and following grooves in the road is definitely a thing. Will it be more with a 275 over a 265? Technically yes I suppose, but I doubt you'd feel that difference.
With regard to the sidewall......again technically you're absolutely right. Would you SEE that difference? I'm inclined to think not, but I've never run a 265 and a 275 and compared.
09-21-2020, 12:23 PM
