Hi..

Just got a new camaro. OK.. so it's a '96 - but new for me.. It's got 275/40ZR17's at the rear on AR rims. But they seem to stick out a bit too far from the wheelwells, but I'm not sure what it should be like. Not too many 4th gen's with 275's on them around here... If I have somebody in the back or anything in the trunk (lowers car about 1 or 2 inches at the back), and i go over a bump or even turning a sharp corner on a highway, the wheels slam up into the wheelwells and rub against the edge of the wheelwells/fenders cutting chunks out of the tires and burning rubber. This is not good (obviously) but i'm not sure what the problem is, whether it's that the wheels are too far out, or if its the suspension. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

Can you give more info about the rims, maybe the offset?
Also what's the mileage on your 96z? It shouldn't drop that much when staying in the load range.

My first guess would be that the offset is wrong on the rims. You probly have Corvette rims which is a +36 offset. This offset is also made for some Trans Am wheels made by AFS.

You said 275, so I'm assuming you have a 9.5" wheel width.
Offset for a 9.5" wheel should be +56mm,

1 in. = 25.4 mm.

So if you have a 36mm offset then your wheels are sticking out about 3/4" further than normal.

Combine this with weak springs and you'll have the rubbing problem.

 

I think you have the wrong offset like stated above. Also, is your car dropped any??

I have 17x11 wheels on my car with 315's out back, they don't rub...................

 

ZPaul..
Thanks..

I don't have the specs for the rims since they were just on the car when I got it. They're American Racing so it's possible that they are Corvette rims since they make a lot of vette rims. Also, if they were purchased over here in Australia, it is more likely that they are vette rims since there are many times more vettes than f-body's. I've got one of only three 4th gen convertibles(according to the DMV)..
I took a quick look yesterday and they don't seem to be marked anywhere noticeable on the wheel itself. Any idea how I can find out?

Thanks..

 

No it seems to be the stock height

 

Measure the diatance from the face of the hub mounting surface on the center of the wheel, to a straightedge placed against the outer edge of the rear wheel lip.... that will give you the "backspace".

Try and do the same thing for the front edge, by measuring from the face of the hub mounting surface (the same point you started your earler measurement) to a straightedge placed against the outer edge of the front wheel lip. Call this the "frontspace".

Add those two numbers together, and subtract approx. 1". That will give you the wheel width (between the tire retention beads). You could also just look at the back lip of the wheel.... or the back of any spokes.... they often cast or emboss the wheel size and width there.

To get the offset, subtract the frontspace from the backspace, divide the remainder by 2, and convert that # to millimeters by multiplying by 25.4

Stock 16x8 wheel:

Backspace = 7.17"
Frontspace = 2.84"

7.17 - 2.84 = 4.33"

4.33 / 2 = 2.165"

2.155" X 25.4 = 55mm offset

 

http://slponline.com/view_product.asp?PARTNUMBER=80046

might be cheaper than getting new rims.

-brent

 

rolling fenders might help

or sell the wheels

 

mine don't rub.. 17x10 roh.. it only rubs when I pu ton my slicks