I have finally decided what wheels I want. I am going cheap until I can afford some forge lines or similar and mini tub with a G-bar. Right now it's a matter of getting her back on the road.

Front is stock control arms, delum bushings upper and lower, QA1 coil over conversion, and stock 69 Camaro style disc brakes hotchkiss bar. Rear is stock drums. Hotchkis springs (not installed) My next upgrade will be Touring classics brakes front and rear or stuff from a 98-02 Camaro front and rear basically LSX type brakes. SC&C uppers to replace stock to get the alignment.

The wheel I want is the American racing torque lite with gray centers. They come in 17x7 4 inch back space and 17x8 4.5 inch back space. My questions are what size wheels front and rear? 17x7 front 17x8 rear? Both 17x8? What size tires and aspect ratios will look good? It's not a car that will be on the track or drag raced, well maybe a a pass or two for fun but not very often and will hit the country roads now and then. I have also considered an 18x8 for the rear but it also only comes in 4.5 inch back space.

I don't have a problem using 17x8's on all four corners but would like it to have a bigger tire in the rear and have that staggered look. These will have to get me through for a few years until my daughters get out of collage.

Thanks for your opinions !!!

Call Jon or Jason at www.Driverzinc.com. I know he sells alot of those wheels and can help you dial it in. As much as I recommend these guys I should be on the payroll!!:beers:

Found a great deal at www.wheelsforless.com $563.00 for all 4 shipped!!

I hope I can figure out what tires and what size wheels to order. I did check out the site and saw a really nice looking Buick and Mopar with them!! I think these wheels have that older look with modern size look.

Joe

Joe, a lotta guys gowith 275-40-17's on the back of a 69, tho it is sometimes a lil tight. Can you get that wheel in a 9 or 9 1/2" with 5 1/2" bs?

At least in theory, a 265 is the biggest you should put on an 8" rim, tho when I wear out my current rubber I'm gonna try a set of 275-40's on my 17x8's. 265 is an uncommon size, not many tires offer em. So your other choice is a 255-45-17, which is fine on an 8" / 4 1/2"bs rim. This tire is a touch more than 26"

With the mini tubs, you should be able to hole a 295 tire, but will need a 9 1/2 or 10 inch rim with 6" of bs. That tire will be near 27"

I know that rake you're talking about, and I used a 225-50-16 in the front to get it. 23 1/2" tall. Will 16" wheels fit over your brakes?

Other choice that should be findable is a 225-45-17, that will be a bit over 24"

Joe, a lotta guys gowith 275-40-17's on the back of a 69, tho it is sometimes a lil tight. Can you get that wheel in a 9 or 9 1/2" with 5 1/2" bs?

At least in theory, a 265 is the biggest you should put on an 8" rim, tho when I wear out my current rubber I'm gonna try a set of 275-40's on my 17x8's. 265 is an uncommon size, not many tires offer em. So your other choice is a 255-45-17, which is fine on an 8" / 4 1/2"bs rim. This tire is a touch more than 26"

With the mini tubs, you should be able to hole a 295 tire, but will need a 9 1/2 or 10 inch rim with 6" of bs. That tire will be near 27"

I know that rake you're talking about, and I used a 225-50-16 in the front to get it. 23 1/2" tall. Will 16" wheels fit over your brakes?

Other choice that should be findable is a 225-45-17, that will be a bit over 24"

No they can not be had in the 9.5 :sad: I wish they could be or I would have ordered.

I am a little lost more in the looks department I guess. I would not mind having the 17x7 in front and 17x8 in the back and get that staggered look on the cheap. I would also like the bigger deeper look in front also with not as much of a staggered look. I know a 17x8 with the 4.5 inch back space will work with a 235 or 245 tire.....or at least I read that it works ;)

If I went with a 17x8 in the rear and put a 275 on it will it bulge the tire out and make it look funny in comparisan to the front with a 17x8 and 245? let me throw a monkey wrench in here and say what about a 18X8 with 4.5 inch back space and a 255? It sucks living in the boonies when it comes to buying wheels, no place close sells anything that can be tried out!!

Joe

1) I know a 17x8 with the 4.5 inch back space will work with a 235 or 245 tire.....or at least I read that it works ;)

2) If I went with a 17x8 in the rear and put a 275 on it will it bulge the tire out and make it look funny in comparisan to the front with a 17x8 and 245?
3) what about a 18X8 with 4.5 inch back space and a 255?
Joe
1) 245 with 4.5" BS on the rear would very likely rub on the outter lip unless it was trimmed or rolled. This combo would also limit turning if used in the front.
2) 17x8 with a 275 is no big deal as long as your aspect ratio is 50 or higher. I've even seen 275/45's on 8" that look great.
3) 18x8 with 4.5" has the same issues as 17x8 with 4.5"BS, no way a 255 will work without modifying the outter lip or elevating the suspension to fully clear the tire at all times.
You mentioned ordering AR wheels, if you're looking at anything other than stock inventory you should read the thread below on product delivery from AR. I checked last week and it is running between 10 and 12 weeks.

I'm not sure I understand Len's #3 above. There are NO issues with a 255 tire on an 8", 4 1/2" BS rim on any firstgen, they fit. 275's can get snug, but they fit too, and Joe said this car is minitubbed, so it just a question of adding backspace to get the tire under the fender.

The ideal rim size for a 225 - 235 tire is 7 inches. Anything wider and they will look "stretched"
The ideal rim size for a 255 (245-265) is 8"
Ideal for a 275 is 9"

I'd say the combo of a 225 tire stretched over an 8 inch rim and a 275 tire squished over an 8 inch rim would look pretty silly on the same car.

Joe, how big are those brakes, can a 16" clear in front?

I'm not sure I understand Len's #3 above. There are NO issues with a 255 tire on an 8", 4 1/2" BS rim on any firstgen, they fit. 275's can get snug, but they fit too, and Joe said this car is minitubbed, so it just a question of adding backspace to get the tire under the fender.


Jim, I can't imagine our car's being that different...? I just removed a set of rear 255/45-17" on 17x8" with 4.75" bs, it was just enough bs to clear the quarter wheel lip(full lip, not trimmed or rolled at all), no way 4.5" would have done it, this of course assumes that you're wanting the tire to fully tuck into the well, the original post mentioned hotchkis lowering springs (which I also have)so I'm assuming he wants the tire to fully tuck. I went through the whole measuring process to get the right bs for 275/50-17 and I'm going to run 17x8" with 5.25" bs this will center (within 1/8" ) the tire in the well even doing this I'll be trimming 1/4" from the quarter lip...
Maybe these cars are more different than I thought...

I have been on the same path. Searching through this site and others I found a few 67 and 68's that I really like the look of.
the front 17 X8 with 245 40 17 and the rear with 17 X 9.5 with 275 or 285 40 17 on them.
According to the owners no tubs and no rubs. I have some questions out trying to find the backspacing but havent heard back yet.

May I say that Verda makes a wheel like the Mustang Pony-Car "Bullitt" that fit's our cars!!

I wished I would have known it b/c I went through a real hassle to install a set of Pony-Car "Bullitts" on my car b/c I flat think they are the coolest wheel around for a re-pop!

Imo, GM has NEVER made a decent re-pop wheel!!

pdq67

I think if the discussion above highlights nothing else it's that you need to measure your car to get the right wheel for your setup.

Joe said this car is minitubbed, so it just a question of adding backspace to get the tire under the fender.

Joe, how big are those brakes, can a 16" clear in front?

Sorry for any confusion....no mini tubs yet. It will hapen in the in the future when i get the G-bar set up.

The front end has QA1 coil over conversions going in as soon as they arrive at my door. (It does have hotchkiss now though). The rear has Hotchkiss springs (not installed but will be for this combo I have them ready to go.

The brakes are what DJD has and I don't think a 16 inch wheel will work. They say 17 inch torque thrusts can be an issue. Although I can chage this around with some parts I have. I have C4 rotors and LS1 camaro calipers and brakets in front. Complete Ls1 Camaro brakes for the rear. No intalled yet.

Current brakes are 69 Camaro disc in front and stock drums in the rear. Building another rear end for the disc brakes!!

Joe