I was wondering how hard it might be to narrow a 9 inch wheel down to 7 or 6 inches. Let's say you're starting with a ZR1 or WS6 wheel. Would it be expensive? Would the wheel become flimsy for some reason? Humor me

Thanks

 

There are companies out there that widen wheels so I don't see why they couldn't narrow them also. What they do is split the rim behind the center section and add the extra width, so narrowing would probalby be the same process, I would imagine. Don't know the cost though.

 

I am in the process of narrowing 17'" ZR1 wheels for my Z28. I did it because I was not able to find narrow 17" wheels to save some weight up front and I have BAER 13 1/8" rotors. The wheels will be cut in a lathe removing 2" of material. Then the two halves will be machined to properly mate together and welded all around. Paint included.
Will let you know how it goes. Should be ready after next week.

 

A buddy of mine with a 97 30th SS convertible had his stock front 9" SS wheels narrowed by the guy in Monrovia, CA that also widened the wheels on the ws6.com site. Check ws6.com for the name, address and phone number.

I think they were able to get the wheel down to 6.5" wide. Couldn't go any narrower. The quality of the workmanship was extraordinary. I have some pictures of the narrowed wheels somewhere.

One thought though, and the reason he took the narrowed wheels off, took the Baer brakes off, and sold the whole setup. On one wheelstand, the car came down hard enough that the high-end Pirelli narrow radial tire he was using flattened (squished down, not failed) under the load, the edge of the rim cut through the tire, and the tire lost all the air, and the car went into the wall. This is a car that was capable of running 155mph in the 1/4-mile at the time.

He replaced the fronts with Mark Williams drag brakes and went to a set of AutoDrag skinnies, and eventually to a set of Bogarts.

This is the car as raced with the narrowed SS wheels:

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun.../DCP01728a.jpg

This is why he decided he didn't want the narrowed wheels any more.... although this picture was taken with the AutoDrags in the front (it wa actually "on the way down" when I took that pic):

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun.../DCP02600z.jpg

 

That's a pretty cool story! I wasn't planning on using the narrowed wheels on the track...and I might pull the front wheels off the ground 1-2 inche at most. I just wanted them for the street, no real reason for the extra weight and width of a 9 inch wheel if you have no sway bar and a weak spring you know? Anyways, thanks guys!

 

Appreciate the objectiveness of your post Fred. I am planning on using these at the track and the street, at least for the time being.
I really did not think of the possible implications of a wheelstand. I am still trying to pull the front tires a bit.
I have BF Goodrich 17/315/35 TA KD on the back and am going to mount 205/50/17 on the front 7" narrowed wheels.

 

I only pointed out the potential problem with a street style radial tire because its something most people don't think of.... I know I never thought of it until I saw it happen. After going with a traditional 3.5" wide wheel and some 26x4.5" "front runner" type tires, he never had a problem with wheelstands. But you obviously don't want to use a true "skinny" on the street.

 

This thread really intrigues me because I love my Z06 wheels and would like to keep them. Problem is with my manual rack I can turn the car full or even close to full lock without the wheel rubbing the suspension. But....if I could narrow the rim to 6 or seven inches that would be awesome.

Are there many shops that do this?? I guess I could ship them to CA if I needed to.....