(I did go thru Wheel FAQ sticky....) I'm looking at possibly getting 17x8 4.5bs for fronts and 17x9 6bs for my 96 RS... Will these work (esp the fronts)? Anyone got pics of either fronts or rears with this setup? They're currently on a 3rd gen and look good there but will it look totally diff on 4th gen? Am I correct that the offset for fronts is 0 and rears is +25? I've always understood backspace but most everyone on here & LS1Tech seem to use offset terminology for the most part but I "think" I finally get offset.... lol Thanks, Jeremy

 

A 17 x 8" wheel is actually 9" wide, including the edge flanges that hold the tire beads on the rim. A 4.5" backspace will produce a 4.5" "frontspace". That will put the wheels outside the front fender. In essence, you have a 0mm offset wheel, when you need something closer to 38-55mm.

As a point of reference, the front wheel in this picture has a 3.0" "frontspace". The front wheel you selected will stick out 1.5" further, putting them outside the fenders:

http://www.injuneer.com/images/photo.../IMG_0061a.jpg

An 8" wide wheel needs at least a 6" backspace. The stock 16 x 8" wheels have a 6-5/8" backspace.

In the back, the 9" wide wheel will have an overall width of 10". A 6" backspace will produce a 4" "frontsapce". The outside edge of the tire will be just about where the rear wheel is in the photo above. While moving the edge of the tire outward that far (just barely under the top edge of the fender) looks OK on an 11" wide wheel (wheel in the photo), it may not look quite right with a narrower wheel.

The wheels work on a 3rd Gen because the rear axle assembly is at least 3" narrower than the 4th Gen rear axle assembly, and the front suspension is similarly moved outward on the 4th Gens, requiring at least 1.5" (38mm) more offset.

 

Thanks for the reply... The guy I was gonna buy these wheels from actually test fitted these on his friend's 4th gen bird and the fronts did stick WAY out..... Rears looked good but mosdef a no-go for fronts! Thanks again!