I'm trying to plan out wheels for my upcoming 4th gen Z28 project. I want the ZR1 style rims, but I want the biggest and widest ones available. I've heard that the Grand Sport wheels yield the widest offest but I'm not sure. I'd like the 17" x 9.5" rims, but can you guys help me find a set that will fill up the fender wells?

 

The stock SS/WS6 wheels are 17x9, with a 55mm offset (about a 7-1/8" backspace). The AFS ZR1 replicas for the 4th Gen F-Body are 17x9.5", with a 56mm offset, about a 7.4" backspace. These fit easilly on the front and back of a 4th Gen. I can post a link to pics showing how they sit in the front wheel wells, if you are interested.

Just to clarify, the larger the "offset" the more the tire/wheel moves toward the inside of the wheel well. The smaller the offset, the more it moves toward the outside of the wheel well, and possibly out from under the fender.

By comparison, the ARE Torque Thrust II's for the 4th Gen F-Body, in 17x9.5" size, have a 45mm offset, yielding a 7" backspace. This means the wheel/tire moves about 0.4" toward the outside of the car. I can post a link to pics showing how these sit in the wheel well, also. I personally do not think you would want the front wheels any further out than this, but I think LG Motorsports had a 35mm offset wheel that they routinely put on 4th Gens (and it stuck out too far, IMHO).

For the widest wheel/tire combo, look at the AFS ZR1 17x9.5/56mm in the front, and (GS offset) 17x11 wheels, with 50mm offset, 7.93" backspace in the back. Some people claim these will fit with 315/35 tire, with no mods, but I had to cut the corner off the jounce bumper bracket, hammer the inner fenders a little, and recenter the body with an adjustable panhard rod (the last part wasn't completely necessary, but I wanted the body centered exactly over the wheels). I can also post a link to pic's of this combo if you want.

 

Yeah if you wouldn't mind linking to the pictures, that would be great.

 

yeah...could I get a link to those pics as well? I'm a little cornfused too. I thought the larger # offset, the farther they stuck out? It's really the smaller number offset sticks out further?

-Mike

 

Here are examples of four different kinds of wheels..... the intent is to show how the offset looks for various wheel combo's....

Pics of OZ Monte Carlo 17x9.5 w/ 49mm offset, tires are 275/40 GS-C’s:

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun...210Full02a.jpg

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun...sD/3_4View.jpg

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun...D/FullView.jpg

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun...FOMeeting3.jpg



Pics of AFS ZR1 replicas, front 17x9.5 w/ 56mm offset (BFG 275/40 KDW), rear 17x11 w/50mm offset (BFG 315/35 DR’s):

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun...D/Frt34vwD.jpg

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun...osD/SLP27a.jpg

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun...C/Rr34Dr02.jpg

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun...C/RrView01.jpg

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun...sC/SideD01.jpg

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun.../Drivqterx.JPG


YES!!! I know the gap over the rear wheels is “large”… .this car is set up for the strip, with Eibach Drag Launch springs, and enough room to fit 28” slicks…. .

Pic of Torque Thrust-II, front 17x9.5, rear 17x11 w/ 7” backspace = about 40mm offset:

http://www.kellydrown.com/showcase/120-2036_crw_std.jpg


Pic of Weld Pro-Star 15x10, 7.5”BS rear (28x11.5 Hoosier QTP), 15x3.5, 1.75”BS + 5/16” spacer in front (Moroso 15x4.5 DS-2):

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun...B/slik34Da.JPG

 

Awesome. Thanks. Looks like the differences are pretty darn slight. But I get the idea.

Thanks,
Mike