I notice some cars at autcrosses runn really small rims and tires.

The small tire sidewall is for stiffness that is a given but rims? has anyone done this with a 4th gen if so what sizes?

 

Brake calipers will keep you from going down much... MAYBE 15" rims will work, but I don't thing you'd have a prayer of fitting 14's on there.

Not sure why they'd do such a thing, but my guesses would be:

1) Decrease unsprung weight (big wheels are HEAVY) - This might give you a handling improvement on rough courses... but I don't believe it'd be much of an improvement.

2) Increase gear ratio - for cars with relatively weak engines it would give you a boost at low speeds... this isn't much of a problem for us (in fact the opposite is closer to our problem... traction!)

>downside is decreased contact patch size... (see comment about traction above ) perhaps someone has a reason I missed but this doesn't seem like something we'd want to do. (and it looks like crap )

 

well lack of power.... is something my car has.

Increased gear ratios is always good, I have 3.42s with a 5-speed which is jsut slightly above the stock setting.

I guess it could lwer the car a half in. with low profile tires and down low.

look like crap? hehe I am more worried about getting every little edge possible over looking bad at the track, it would be track only rims.

for anyone that doesn't know 14s won't do, when my 85 camaro blew the motor, and I was working on it, I wanted to swap the tires over to my 94, 14X7s I am pretty sure they were, I did it to keep the rubber good. they did not fit the front but they fit the rear drums, but I have since gone to 4-wheel disc brakes. So I doubt they wil even fit in the rear.

hmm... I wonder if 15s will fit, I wonder if I coudl get a set of 3rd gen rims cheap.

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-Eric
1994 Medium Quaser Blue Camaro 3.4L V6 w/ 5-speed
Stock blocked, boltons only.
15.696@86.22 with a 2.214 60'!
Best R/T .507 Best 60' 2.078
Father's Stock 2000 Navy Blue Camaro 3.8L V6 w/ 5-speed
15.875@88.25 With wheel spin in 1st
3.4L F-body where 15s are fast....
www.fbodyv6.com
www.firebirdv6.com
www.camaroz28.com
AIM: MustangEater82

 

Smaller rims @ autox.Smaller Rims/Short tires.You think its the possibility that you could take a higher gear than usual in a short distance??
It would lower COG slightly.
If tires on the small rim were tall enough to meet original(16"rim/tire)diamater.I wouldnt think the above,I wouldnt think it would make difference at all.Other than alot of sway sidewall give.

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Hella Clean Dark Green Metallic 98 3.8 L60E Coupe:Fast toys Ram Air,Holly filter,Whisper lid,Jet stage2 PCM,160 Thermo,Man.fan switch,Purple ice wetter,Eibach Pros,Koni adjustables,BMR sways,Prothane bushins,Transgo kit,Magnaflow cat-back.National Auto Sport ***. member/student.

 

245/45/16 will do the job. i'm running kumho v700 victoracers that size. like getting 3.73 gears if you are on 3.42's. it gives 3rd gear new meaning

bobc

 

Lowering the car by using short tires instead of lowering springs lets you drop the CG without altering the geometry of the suspension. If you go with shorter wider tires on smaller diameter wheels you're still legal for E Street Prepared, where the F-body is competitive. Most of the usual methods of correcting the suspension geometry changes that result from swapping springs move you up to either C-Prepared or E-Modified (though rear LCA relocating brackets should be OK in Street Modified).

Norm

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'79 Malibu, way not stock (355, 5 speed, . . .)
'95 Mazda 626 V6 5 speed, not entirely stock either
'01 20th AE Maxima, 5 speed, stock (so far)

[This message has been edited by Norm Peterson (edited September 13, 2002).]