Tire Sizes and Backspacing??

Hey everyone,

I'll be getting a set of GM OEM 2002 Corvette wheels really soon. I was wondering if I will be able to just put them on, or will I need a back spacer. As far as I know, and I could be wrong, the front wheels are 17 x 8.5 and the rear wheels are 18 x 9.5.

Also what size tires should I use? Will there be rubbing since my car is slightly dropped?? Thanks.

PS: Correct me on any info you may find incorrect. I don't mind.

Carlos

What you need to do to fit the wheels on the car will depend on the offsets. If they are genuine GM OEM 2002 wheels:

Front: 17 x 8.5" 54mm offset/~6.90" backspace

Rear: 18 x 9.5" 65mm offset/~7.75" backspace

Neither wheel should cause the tires to rub on anything - though it may be tight in the back. The large offsets put the wheels a bit deeper in the wheel well than some people like.

Front tires consider 245/45-17 or 255/45-17. Rears look at 285/35-18.

If you are going to have a problem, it would most likely be the inside edge of the rear tire being too close to the inner fender liner, but not likely.

So do I need to buy those backspacers or will the wheels just fit? By the way the wheels are Genuine GM. Thanks.

Carlos

The clearance between the inside edge of the tire and the rear fender inner liner is going to be close. You need to fit the actual tire/wheel combo on the car to see if there is going to be a problem. No one can tell you with absolute certanity that you do or don't need a spacer in the back. You put the wheel on the car and look it over for clearance.

Are you willing to go with 18" all around?!?

With 245/45 you're going to have about 10mm (~3/8") taller sidewall then the back. That may not bother some, but I think it looks weird. To me if you're going to have a taller sidewall they look better in the rear then the front...

But to each his own. They do make 18" wheels for the front, but I believe you'd have to go aftermarket for those.

UPDATE:

I got the wheels and tires on with no problem. I went with 245/40-17 in the front and 275/35-18 in the back. Looks great. And the difference in the sidewall height isn't very apparent. The only thing I'm wondering now is if I will need the my speedometer recalibrated. Thanks for everyone's help.

Carlos

The difference in sidewall height is less than 7/100th's of an inch.... you will not even be able to notice it. The big difference is the much smaller diameter tire in the front. A 24.7" diameter front tire is going to give the car a "rake".

Whether the speedo needs to be recalibrated depends on what tires came on the car stock. If they were 245/50-16's the speedo will only read 0.2% higher than actual speed (60.17 MPH indicated at a true 60 MPH)...... not worht worrying about. If the car left the factory with 235/55-16's the speedo will read 2.4% higher than actual speed (61.4 MPG indicated at a true 60 MPH). Note also that the odometer will be putting on more miles than actually driven..... 1,024 miles added to the odo when you actually drive 1,000 miles.

Thanks for everyone's input and help.

Carlos