Am I crazy for doing this? I like my chrome wheels but I kind of want to locate a set of stock 96-97 SS wheels (color is different than LS1 SS wheels) and I am not to impressed with the selection of 315/35/17 tires (want something that will handle better than sumitomos/drag radials without paying for GoodYear GSD3's.

Here's what my car currently looks like:


Here's what I'm thinking about doing:


*Note: I plan on getting stock or more stock springs soon as well. I'm also kind of considering swapping my '97+ tails for 93-96 tails.

If I do it I may try to keep my chrome wheels or get another set in the future

 

chrome goes with white, silver does not.

 

Yeah I know... I'd miss the look of chrome/315's but the way I see it it's a lot easier to buy a set of aftermarket chrome wheels than the correct OEM wheels for my car.

 

Don't swap the taillights, man.

 

personally, i like the chrome ones better..just look better overall with a white car.. but in the end it's what makes you happy..and at the end of the day, you have the final say. So do what you think you'de like. you could always just keep the other set of rims around so if you decide you don't like the stock 96-97 ss rims you can toss back on the rims you currently have.

 

I like it either way. Don't swap the taillamps though. Give me the car if you don't like it as is.

 

I like the silver, gives the car a subtle clean look in my opinion without drawing attention away from the natural beauty of the car! Keep the tailight too!

 

Yeah I kind of thought about that, but like I said it'd be a lot easier to pickup another set of aftermarket chrome ZR1's than a set of OEM 96-97 SS Wheels (the color is slightly different than LS1 SS Wheels) in the future. That being said, I'd definitely miss having the look of 315's and chrome. I'd probably look at getting a set in the future for DR's or prostars depending on how important drag racing is to me in the future.

 

How is the color different? That's something I haven't heard before, and would probably be worthwhile to mention on my site, if it's true. If you have a pic of the two side by side, or a picture of one set on a sebring silver camaro and a picture of the other set on another sebring silver car, I can probably understand what you're saying.

Edit: here's pics of Vchula's 2002 SLP RS with definitely SLP (nonreproduction/aftermarket-fakes) 2002 16 inch wheels (should be the same color as the 17s). The wheels look like an exact match for sebring silver to me.

 

The 98-99 SS Painted ZR1's were indeed darker and had a heavier metal flake in the paint. These wheels also carried a cast-in GM logo, while the SLP supplied 1996-97 SS (both 16" & 17") and 2001-02 RS wheels did not.

By the way, even though I no longer own the 2002 RS pictured, I still have the wheels and tires pictured. If anyone is interested, I am willing to sell them!

 

I don't have any concrete proof, but I've heard it as hear-say from 2-3 different source. I'll pm it to you here in a day or two. If I don't, shoot me a PM to remind me.

There's a few other notable differences on LT1 SS cars.

 

What brand are your rims and tires, OE Wheels?
I am looking at going bigger than these 275/40/17's
Also have 95 style tail lights

 

Yeah I'm looking for those wheels. Looking for different center caps though. Yours have the red outline around the "SS" right? Feel free to PM me a price out right or let me know if your interested in trading for 17x9.5/11 Chrome ZR1s (pictured in original post... made by OE Concepts) +/- cash depending on how much tread life, etc.

I have a decent deal on 93-96 tails lined up, but for right now I think I'm going to pass.

 

Keep it as is!! I'd Bergerize the rear panel instead of changing tail lights. Id love to have chrome 17x11/17x9 ZR1 wheels on my SS. I have 18" C6 wheels all around. rather have the ZR1 or the 2000-2002 10 spoke SS wheels.