wgripp

iTrader: (1)

Like every other GTA guy on here, I've wanted gold crosslace rims in 18 or 19 inches forever. Years have passed, and the only option are Hawks' 17 inch Rims and the GNX style crosslace rims from Gbodyparts.com

I just got off the phone with Gbodyparts.com, and as far as they know, no ThirdGen guy has installed these on one of our cars.

So my question is, what will fit? What kind of spacers will need to be used to make it fit? Also will GTA centercaps work?

Thanks!

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

You can't use spacers because the GNX wheel will stick out farther than stock. Spacers will just push them out farther.

Compare the specs of the 18x8 GNX wheel to a 3rdgen 16x8 front wheel. With both being 8" wide, ideally, the backspace and offset should match, but they don't. The 16x8 = 4.5" bs and 0 offset. The 18x8 = 4" bs and approximately -12mm offset. So the 18x8 GNX wheel will stick out .5" farther than stock. And if big brakes are involved, then add another .25" to .3", which means the 18x8 will stick out about .75" farther on each side than stock.

Sounds bad, but compare that to a 9.5" wheel, such as the 17x9.5 Firehawk wheel, which is made with a 0 offset, so those stick out about .75" past stock too. And with an LS1 front brake upgrade, they'd stick out about 1" past stock, yet they tend to look ok. With that in mind, the GNX wheel should also look ok.

The wider tires on a Firehawk wheel will fill out the wheel well better. But the GNX wheel/tire will have great suspension clearance.

So it sounds like the GNX wheels will fit, but they'll be pushing the absolute limits, with no possible way to pull them inward if they stick out too far, making them a risky experiment, especially the 9" and 9.5" GNX wheels, which should fit similarly, but could look slightly more exaggerated.

Let's see what other people have to say when some of them eventually post up.

StratosFear1986

BBS makes some sexy looking crosslaced rims that would look good, do they not have anything available for a 3rd Gen? I`ve never delved into wheel dimensions to know what works.

wgripp

iTrader: (1)

Thank you!

wgripp

iTrader: (1)

Speaking of Firehawk wheels, it surprises me to see Hawks makes the SLP Ronal (aka Firehawk) rims in 18 inch but not the GTA crosslace wheels.

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

Yes, 18" Firehawks. Another product that membership begged for, but, you know...

The complaint about the 17" wheels was that they wouldn't fit over big brakes. So rather then investing in another run of 17s, Hawks supported the development of an 18" version, to satisfy "demand."

Website says "in stock and ready to ship." I'm sure they are, and I suspect that status is likely to remain unchanged for quite some time.

At least there was real, legitimate demand for 17" GTA wheels, and they seem to have been selling well. But if anyone has purchased the 18" Firehawks, then it's been kept on the down low, because I've read nothing from anyone. I suspect 18" GTA wheels would share a similar fate.

QwkTrip

iTrader: (22)

Well, you know how it is... Nothing brings things into perspective more than using your own money on that "Buy Now" button.

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

There was a guy on FB who had 'em on a Formula. They looked good but.....I dunno, I still like the 17".

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

Didn't Hawk's post a picture of the 18" Firehawks on a Formula? It was probably that FB guy's car. He might be the person who led the campaign. Might even be the only person who has them.

I never got into the Firehawk wheel craze. It's an OK wheel, but there are a lot of much better-looking wheels available. And it always seemed like most of the interest was in the bragging rights, rather than in the products, themselves. "They're Firehawk wheels!" "I have 1LE brakes!" "It's a Corvette engine!"

As for 18" GNX/(GTA) wheels, like 18" Firehawk wheels, that's a lot of 'face' for such a large wheel. Seems like it might be difficult to achieve a good balance between car and wheel with either of them. "Must have balance."

I'm not against larger wheels on 3rdgens. I have 18s. But there are still a lot of 3rdgen owners who believe, "they don't look right on these cars." If I had a block wall to slam my head against every time I read that one...

17" was once thought of as the max. Then 18" started becoming popular. And now there are 3rdgens with 19" that look incredible. So, of course, these sizes look good on "these cars." Unfortunately, it's true that there are a lot of wheels, regardless of size, that don't look good on ANY car! And some of those are on 3rdgens, too, which doesn't help the cause lol.

What began opening minds and popularizing larger wheels? Big brakes! It's all Scott's fault!