Rim Sizes

[R_Yates69@Hotmail.com]

1999 Trans Am WS6

What are the biggest rims I can go with that won't frig up the incredible handling bird's have? And biggest tire size as well.

[ls1camino]

17x9.5 up front and 17x11 in the rear...you can also fit 17x11 up front, but tires are too expensive for me to do that

[68ramair]

I've seen 315 35 17 on a ws6 rear with stock fronts.

[Mr. Luos]

Not really sure what 'great handling' you are refering too.


But most go with a 315 (on a 17x11" wheel) for the rear.
And a 275 (on a stock sized or 17x9.5" wheel) for the front.
That is what I have.

275/40/17 BFG KDW's up front.
315/35/17 Nitto DR's out back.

[architect7]

Not really sure what 'great handling' you are refering too.


But most go with a 315 (on a 17x11" wheel) for the rear.
And a 275 (on a stock sized or 17x9.5" wheel) for the front.
That is what I have.

275/40/17 BFG KDW's up front.
315/35/17 Nitto DR's out back.

Mr Luos. what is the back spacing and offset on your 17x11's? and how much work did it take on the rear to get them to fit?

thanks!

[Mr. Luos]

Mr Luos. what is the back spacing and offset on your 17x11's? and how much work did it take on the rear to get them to fit?

thanks!

Luckily....mine fit without issue.

I think the offset was +46. I need to verify that though.
They are the 17x11 TTII that American Racing has specifically for our cars.

[supaxero]

You can go bigger than a 17 but you will have to reduce the thickness of the tire to keep the same overall diameter. You may be able to go a little bigger on the over all diameter with a low profile (20/30), if you into that.

[architect7]

Luckily....mine fit without issue.

I think the offset was +46. I need to verify that though.
They are the 17x11 TTII that American Racing has specifically for our cars.

wow... you didn't have to "grind bump stops" or "roll your fenders"??? I'm looking at widening my rear ruff 280's to 10.5" and going with 315's. do you think 315's would be appropriate for a 10.5" wheel or should I go with a 305? Thanks again Mr. Lous.

[Mr. Luos]

Depends on the tire.
But most should be okay.

And no...no 'body' mods to make them fit.

[architect7]

Depends on the tire.
But most should be okay.

And no...no 'body' mods to make them fit.

I've got an opinion question for you Lous. I just put on new 285's on my wheels and now that I want to widen them, I hate to buy new tires. So two questions, First would 285's work fine on 10.5" rims and Second, would the rear visual of the car look similar in width wether running 285's or 315's on a 10.5" wheel? I know the tire is not as wide but would it fill out and look as wide?

Thanks again

[mockler]

I have 315/35/17 on the rear and I had to roll my fenders a little bit. On big bumps they still rub on the outside of the fenders, but they don't cut the side wall down at all (which they did before I rolled them). Mind you, I've lowered mine about 1", and have stiffer springs on it too (Strano springs). But before I upgraded the suspension the tires rubbed on the fender and cut down the side wall on the stock suspension too.

[Mr. Luos]

I've got an opinion question for you Lous. I just put on new 285's on my wheels and now that I want to widen them, I hate to buy new tires. So two questions, First would 285's work fine on 10.5" rims and Second, would the rear visual of the car look similar in width wether running 285's or 315's on a 10.5" wheel? I know the tire is not as wide but would it fill out and look as wide?

Thanks again

It really depends on the tire.

Some 315's are thinner than other 295/305's.
Personally, I would go with a recommended tire for your size wheel.

[Eugenio_SS]

when you say big, do you mean wide or tall ?
You can fit 335s in the front effortlessly.
In the rear, the limit is 315s, and might require some massage therapy.
If you want anything wider in the rear, you'll need flaring of the fenders.

[Boodyrider]

If you mean to maintain or improve handling:
17 x 9.5 all around, with sticky 275/40/17 tires, and use the money saved by not buying wider rims and tires (which will tend to track ruts in the highway rather badly) to put towards Koni SA shocks all around.

Why? 17s weigh far less than 18s and therefore handle better, less unsprung weight. Tires are FAR less expensive, so you'll be able to spend on better quality tires, which will handle much better than cheaper wider tires; no worries about fenderwell clearance or rear axle centering; money saved on tires can be used to address the only serious problem with the F-body suspension (at least that can be fixed at a rational price without redesigning the suspension), shocks. Leave ride height stock, maybe pick up 1LE springs, add Koni SAs all around, maybe add a bigger solid swaybar up front.

Anyone that disgrees with this approach is either driving exclusively on a prepared racetrack only, or isn't truly interested in improving handling in the real world, IMHO.

[architect7]

If you mean to maintain or improve handling:
17 x 9.5 all around, with sticky 275/40/17 tires, and use the money saved by not buying wider rims and tires (which will tend to track ruts in the highway rather badly) to put towards Koni SA shocks all around.

Why? 17s weigh far less than 18s and therefore handle better, less unsprung weight. Tires are FAR less expensive, so you'll be able to spend on better quality tires, which will handle much better than cheaper wider tires; no worries about fenderwell clearance or rear axle centering; money saved on tires can be used to address the only serious problem with the F-body suspension (at least that can be fixed at a rational price without redesigning the suspension), shocks. Leave ride height stock, maybe pick up 1LE springs, add Koni SAs all around, maybe add a bigger solid swaybar up front.

Anyone that disgrees with this approach is either driving exclusively on a prepared racetrack only, or isn't truly interested in improving handling in the real world, IMHO.

hey boodyrider. thanks for the 411. i'll tell you my current setup and what i want to do to it further. and others, please chime in with your opinions. I'm running Koni SA's already and have the 4 point Hotchkis spring setup dropping it one inch. I'm running 18x8.5's with 245's on the front and 18x9.5 with 285's on the rear. ideally i like the looks of a 315 on the rear and could do so if i widened my rear to a 10.5.

everyone, feel free to call my an idiot or whatever else. i'm new to this and need to learn. also, I would have gone with Strano springs but I bought the Hotchkis before doing my research on this site.

Thanks!!!