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Since the 4th Gen wheels are "lug-centric", will this wheel fit on a stock 97?
The only major difference / concern I see is the hub size. (center bore diameter)
I have searched through most of the wheel fitment threads.
Specs on the wheel in question,
American Racing VN215 Gray Classic Torq-Thrust II One-Piece Wheels Manufacturer's Part Number: VN21579563 Wheel Diameter: 17 in. Wheel Width (in.): 9.50 Wheel Size: 17x9.5 Wheel Bolt Pattern (application): 5 x 120.65mm
Backspacing (in.): 7.06 Offset: +46.00mm Lug Nut Seat Style: Conical seat - 60 degree **** Center Bore Diameter (mm): 83.10mm ****
Seems like a huge “oversize” vs. 70.3mm stock. But it may be made that way to allow hub rings of the correct diameter to be inserted for hub-centric wheels. I had 17 x 9.5” 49mm offset OZ Monte Carlo wheels on my 94 right after I bought the car brand new. They came with an insert in the hub hole. But 93-96 had two different hub hole diameters. The rear axle hubs were slightly larger than the fronts. I never measured the inserts on the OZ wheels, and they had to be large enough to match the rear axle hubs, since I was able to rotate the tires/wheels with no problems.
I can’t see any drawbacks to the large diameter hub holes. One concern might be that they reduce the space between the inner edge of the lug holes and the hub hole, reducing the amount of metal, and possibly the strength. Best thing to do would be to contact American Racing and see what they say.
As noted above I ran 17 x 9.5” 49mm offset wheels on my 94. The 46mm offset would move the wheels less than 1/8” toward the outside of the fender - hardly noticeable. It is near the outer limit in the front, no problem in the back. There's a photo of the OZ 49mm wheels in the wheel and tire FAQ, here:
