'02 WS6 wheel/tire questions (N90 & Honeycomb)

**Whamhammer** · 06-01-2014, 09:38 AM

Hello all,

I am researching for future wheel/tire choices for winter/spring and have a few questions for deciding if I want to use aftermarket or the stock wheels for either snows and 3 seasons/summer tires.

Can I reasonably fit 17x10's all the way around on my WS6?

Will using a 17x10 with 275/40/17's give me a larger contact patch than the stock 17x9's (if so how much)?

Has anyone used the Year One 17 inch Honeycomb's or N90's? I am hoping to see how compatable they are and pictures of how they look with F-bodies.

How much do the stock 17x9's weight vs these sorts of wheels?

Thanks

**raynor139** · 06-01-2014, 01:15 PM

17x10 should be fine unless it has some crazy offset. If your going wider on the wheel I would get a 295 or 285 width. 275 will fit just fine but it will have a stretched out look. I have 10.5 wide wheels and my 295s are stretched more then I like. Will be going 305 next time.

**Whamhammer** · 06-11-2014, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by raynor139

17x10 should be fine unless it has some crazy offset. If your going wider on the wheel I would get a 295 or 285 width. 275 will fit just fine but it will have a stretched out look. I have 10.5 wide wheels and my 295s are stretched more then I like. Will be going 305 next time.

Basically, I am trying to figure out what the best set up is for me. I am looking at a few scenarios.

1) 17x10's and 275 or 285/40/17 summer tires with stock 17x9's and 245 or 255xx17 snow tires for the winter

2) 17x9 stock wheels and 275 or 285/40/17 summer tires and 17x8 225/50/17 snow tires for the winter

I am looking for optimal grip with realistic road manners, unsprung weight, and sized tires . I figure that available 285/17's will be about 2.5% taller and that the 295/17's will be even taller, (and heavier) so I am not really thinking of the 295's at this time. I also figure that the typical 18" wheel/tire offerings will be heavier than 17" wheel/tire offerings.

**newtownhood** · 07-11-2014, 11:10 AM

you'd really consider driving a TA in the snow? Instead of buying new wheels, I'd pick up a $500 FWD beater. My last Camaro SS had traction control and met it's demise the first ice storm we had in PA. It was going sideways in 4th gear at 25mph. The "ASC" didn't help at all. And no, it wasn't my first RWD fast car. Sadly, I actually had a beater car and the blower motor failed so I had to wait for it to come in which is why I took the camaro in the 1st place.

**Whamhammer** · 07-12-2014, 11:46 AM

First off, I've driven a Trans Am in the snow since 1995 (1989 1995-2006, 2002 2007-present), none with ASC and my only problems have been getting stuck. I would love to have a daily driver, but I live in a town home and parking spots are limited.

As far as the beater goes, there is no such thing as a $500.00 FWD beater, unless one is extremely lucky, to get it through MD inspection would most likely cost about $2,000 (give or take), and then there is insurance and maintenance (not to many cars for that price range will be in a condition that don't need constant maintenance). Until my wife and I move into a single family house with a garage (probably 5 years away), buying an additional car doesn't make much sense. Buying a set of snows and getting killer summer tires makes the most sense right now.

Plus, if I wanted a car that I would need to have a DD for, I would have bought a Corvette.

**newtownhood** · 07-12-2014, 05:03 PM

I guess you don't get snow in MD like we get in PA. Godspeed.

**cammed goat** · 07-12-2014, 07:43 PM

Factory wheels+Bridgestone Blizzaks=done deal. That's what I did with mine.

**Whamhammer** · 07-13-2014, 09:50 AM

Im about 35 miles north of Baltimore and I commute mostly on 95, which is a priority road for the state to keep (to the mostpart) clear. Snow will accumulate on the highway, but typically not enough to where a significant amount of snow builds up. Its usually the last mile and a half of road that is my neighborhood that I get stuck on, the tire compound hardens up and no grip when I am going up hill. When it does get bad enough, I can telecommute or take PTO. I know this car isn't a 4x4, I just want to be able to be better equipped to make it home when the unexpected storm hits. A good set of snow tires, Torsen II diff and ABS will go a long way in that.

- - - Updated - - -

What size Blizzaks did you go with? I figure they were 18"'s in you case.

**cammed goat** · 07-13-2014, 11:53 AM

I installed 245/45R17 on my factory 17" rims.

**Whamhammer** · 07-26-2014, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by cammed goat

I installed 245/45R17 on my factory 17" rims.

For some reason, I thought that all the GTO's had 18's. Learn something new every day.

As far as the wheels go. OE Wheels is saying that their C5 Z06 wheels are 17x9.5's 25-26 pounds and the 18x10.5's weigh 27-28's. Does anyone know what the real weight of the 2002 WS6 wheels (speedlines I think they are called?) weigh? I have been hearing between 20 and 25 pounds. That's a lot of variance for consistency's sake.