Wheels and TiresNeed help with wheels or tires? Need to know if those new wheels you're looking at will even fit a Third Gen? Have questions about tire performance and handling? Ask all those questions here!
Sponsored by Tire Rack
Welcome to ThirdGen.org!
Welcome to ThirdGen.org.
You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, join the ThirdGen.org community today!
I am a fan of the GTA rims on Firebirds... Actually, nearly any mesh rim on them. They kind of remind me of the snowflake rims of the 70s.
Eventually, I plan on going with some sort of mesh rim, using 4th-gen spacers and then going for 18x8 for the front and 18x9 out back. I know these are heavy, but I've got my lightweight 15x7 mesh T/A wheels for the track (I was pretty amazed how light those are when I first took them off my T/A).
I am a fan of the GTA rims on Firebirds... Actually, nearly any mesh rim on them. They kind of remind me of the snowflake rims of the 70s.
Eventually, I plan on going with some sort of mesh rim, using 4th-gen spacers and then going for 18x8 for the front and 18x9 out back. I know these are heavy, but I've got my lightweight 15x7 mesh T/A wheels for the track (I was pretty amazed how light those are when I first took them off my T/A).
If you like the 70s style mesh or snowflake rims and you have the money...you can get these at yearone, they're the snowflake wheels from the T/As only you can get them much bigger.
If you like the 70s style mesh or snowflake rims and you have the money...you can get these at yearone, they're the snowflake wheels from the T/As only you can get them much bigger.
It is similar. I have both a 2nd and 3rd gen and swap wheels around all the time. They fit both. 15x7 and 15x8s (snow flakes) will fit a 3rd gen no problem. I think it would look dumb as hell (I don't like the snowflake/honeycomb wheels) but it would fit.
yup the snowflakes do fit i had two on the rear of my t/a when i had put the first motor in causy they had good tires and i was still in high school and had no money. it looked kinda goofy havving missmatched wheels but it kept me rolling
The 2nd gen 15x8’s have 0 offset, which is like the thirdgen front 16x8’s, but the rear 16x8’s have between 5/8 and 7/8” offset (actually measured, they’re supposed to be 16mm or about 5/8”) and the 15x7 rims have ½” offset, so the second gen 15x8 stick out more than third gen wheels.
Yeah i've seen those on the Burt Reynolds Edition Bandits. Pretty cool I must say! I'm pretty exhausted on funds for my T/A so I might do my stock mesh 15's in that color scheme (polished w/ gold accents) as a cheap little project.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CharcoalBird
If you like the 70s style mesh or snowflake rims and you have the money...you can get these at yearone, they're the snowflake wheels from the T/As only you can get them much bigger.
Not so according to Year One per this quote from their website:
" All YearOne wheels are made from 100% billet aluminum and are designed for use with original center caps. Each wheel is custom made for your specific application."
Sounds like you can get whatever back spacing you need?
BTW, Year One had the Bandit car at the TA Nats in Dayton last weekend, and the wheels are very nice if you like that style. They look better in person than in the pictures.
__________________ 85 Trans Am
71 Firebird (undergoing restification)
87 Trans Am (ongoing Father/Son project)
one of my rims. just waiting for winter when work slows down so I can put on my C5 brake uprade. Front and back. Can't have 18" rims without big brakes! This is the front rim. The rear rims have a bigger offset. I've had these for over a year but refuse to put them on without a big brake upgrade. My patience is wearing thin.
I didn't read all 15 pages of posts, so if this one's been mentioned already, sorry. But my favorite wheel for thirdgens is the American Racing Rebel Chrome(though they're also available with a black center). There are a few members already with these wheels(in each finish).
And for a '2ndgen-retro' thirdgen idea, I really like the wheel from Year One that CharcoalBird posted above: 17" x 9"; '91/'92 non-gfx front and rear bumper covers; 1988 Special Appearance Package wheel well spats; custom 'shaker' or 'ram air' hood; and a full-size hood bird decal.
But here's a stock 'bird wheel that I like. I can't say I'm partial to it, though, because I've always thought these were the ugliest wheels ever on a thirdgen... until I had them chromed! But wow, I've gotta say, it was an amazing transformation!
But here's a stock 'bird wheel that I like. I can't say I'm partial to it, though, because I've always thought these were the ugliest wheels ever on a thirdgen... until I had them chromed! But wow, I've gotta say, it was an amazing transformation!
I don't like those wheels either, I like the 88-92 Formula wheels muuuuuch better, i've seen those chromed and they look amazing.
How much did it cost you to chrome 4 of those wheels Lafireboyd?
Actually, if one widened the rears, to say 10 inches wide, and then chromed them, I think it would be kinda cool. As you all know, stock wheels are never cool when the car is halfold, but becomes so when it gets "real" old. whatever that figure might be...
18x9" ROH RT's get my vote...but I'm biased hehehe
-Paul
__________________
1992 Pontac Firebird. 350, 6 speed, 3:27 9-bolt posi, and 4 wheel discs (C5 'Vette units up front with 13.5" Z51 C6 rotors!). Holley aluminum heads, 66 cc chambers, with 2.02/1.60 valves, Lunati cam 235/240 @ .050 .490/.490 lift. SLP 1 3/4 inch headers (Jet Hot coated), full 3 inch Flowmaster cat back. Holley Stealth Ram controlled by a Commander 950 system. Be Cool Aluminum radiator. Tan leather 4th gen seats.
1984 Pontiac Trans Am. -R.I.P. thanks to Russel brake hoses
Also: 1989 Buick Reatta, gotta love the touch screen! (Possibly for sale, anyone interested? trades?)
Also: Yellow 2003 Dodge SRT-4, it's not a V-8 and it'll never replace a V-8, but it's still a BLAST!!!
Also: 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Turbo Diesel
~Why do ponies need to inhale laughing gas just to pass me?~
You know.....I think that's the first time I've seen a Pontiac with the front fender vents AND the 90's ground FX.
I've never been a fan of those FX though...The front always strikes me as unfinished, like there should be another piece, further forward of the front wheels.
Stephen - Glad you noticed the fender vents. I've never liked the look of the standard solid fender on our cars, especially after owning my '84 I just feel like having that vent there breaks up the side of the car from being one huge flat field of metal. I agree on the gfx though, I've never liked the '91-'92 bumpers or ground effects. In fact I was going to change that car over to the '85-'90 stuff, but then I decided I'd use what I had, especially since you don't see the '91-'92 stuff all that often. Now that I'm done I'm glad I did it, especially with the hood and spoiler I went with, I think it all works together pretty well, granted I am a bit biased now
Screamin86 - It's a GM color "Sunset Orange Metallic" I believe it's paint code 71, same as Daytona orange on the 'Vettes IIRC. It looks all kinds of different colors depending on the lighting, and it'll look even better when I finish buffing it out!
Wow, I didn't expect for my rims to actually be as unique as me and most of my buddies think they are.
American Racing Hopsters, 16x8 all the way around, currently running 245/50/16 on every corner, but I'm debating a switch to 225/45/16 in front and 255/55/16 (or maybe 265 if it'll fit on the 8 inch wheel) for a little bit of rake toward the front and more traction in back, along with shorter, and thus stiffer, sidewalls in front.
No pictures of them on the Formula yet, the paint and body is embarassingly bad. :P
EDIT: didn't realize this was my first post, but uh, hi everybody. I've been browsing since I picked up my formula and apparently hadn't posted yet.
Last edited by helly; 09-08-2007 at 03:42 PM.
Reason: first post!
quadgoat i was thinking it was the same color as the vette thats why i was wondering i was following one the other day and fell in love with the color and decided i wanted to pain my 82 that color
There are so many good looking wheels nowadays... But my bet will always be to a nice new looking OEM rims like my 91-92 Z28 wheels with matching bright white inserts or chromed and one of my favourite's, the 91-92 Firehawks wheels (Ronal R-15).
It seems I just can't change the even if I considered bigger 18's!!!
2 years ago, I saw some CRAZY 88 Iroc double stripes wheels wrapped in 18X9 in chrome version! I kept looking for them but I only came around the older Iroc rims style;-(
__________________ 355 TPI Lingenfelter Superram manifold & plenum/Runner, XR276HR-12,58mm TB,SVO 30Lbs,CompCams roller lifters,Keith Black 0.30 pistons,Crane Gold 1:51 Roller Rockers,Compcams double roller timing chain,SLP dual Cold Air,SLP 1 3/4 headers,SLP 3``Catback, 2800 Stall,3:73 SLP,Zexel Torsen Heavy Duty,LPW girdle,Polished Ronal's,B&M shift kit & Mega console shifter,TCI alum.trans pan,GM 1LE aluminum driveshaft,Alston's connector frame,Fast chip,gray leather,bright white,Koni sway bars,Spohn control arm and panhard bar,B&M's Megaconsole,Wicked Sound System just added!
Future mods: SLP Torque Arm and a C5 brake conversion!
How much did it cost you to chrome 4 of those wheels Lafireboyd?
Most places that chrome wheels charge about $400-$500, depending on the size. It was $450 for 16", but that was a couple of years ago.
Edit: that price is not for each wheel, that's a total price for the set of 4.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tilstad
stock wheels are never cool when the car is halfold, but becomes so when it gets "real" old.
That's the reason I've kept my Formula's wheels all these years.
It's funny the amount of time and money people will spend modding cars in earlier years, but they'll spend the rest of their lives returning cars to stock. I save the time and money and just keep things stock to begin with.
Last edited by LAFireboyd; 09-12-2007 at 01:02 AM.
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q30/b9187/DSCN2949.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
heres a pic of my car.. the are 17x9 American racing torque thrust type M wrapped in 275-40-17 firestone firehawk wideovals..pics were taken at like 6-7pm, my cars filthy and is in need of paint.
oh sorry, havent checked mail in a while. they are american racing outlaw II's are are readily available. the tires are bf goodrich radial t/a 215/65/15 in the front and 275/60/15 in the back. the wheels are 15x7 and 15x9 i believe. i got some more pics up yesterday. heres a couple.
I love the 88-90 Twin Stripe 16" Iroc wheels the best. I wish the aftermarket made a 17" and bigger version of it 9" and wider...much nicer than the single stripe version if you ask me.
i love this car to death, but not the best pic of it sitting on the grass, makes the wheels dissapear and the car look like its sitting funny
(i have no idea whos car this is btw)
regardless this is what ive decided i like better then any other wheel combination and is going on my car. black c5 z06 wheel on an arctic white car
picture is badly edited in paintshop by yours truly encase anyone was wondering
Thats my car.Still under construction. what do you mean by edited by photoshop? I never touched my pics. I really dont understand what you are saying.
Heres another
And with new hood
__________________ 1988 Iroc-Z 355 4-bolt block Street driven w/forged internals, carb blow thru set up with twin t-3 turbos off a diesel benz made T4 Hybrids w/ a twin BOV,Aluminum vortech heads fully ported, 1.6 full roller rockers with comp forced induction custom grind solid roller cam, stud girdle, Rev kit, Super victor intake, home made headers for turbos tig welded, holley 4150 DP modified for blow thru system, home made carb bonnet, mallory FPR with return, Msd BTM, Alky inj, uderdrive pulleys, 3.5 inch exhaust, 3.73 gears, currently running 18 lbs of boost.(yellow car)
[quote=KillerZ302;3498855]Thats my car.Still under construction. what do you mean by edited by photoshop? I never touched my pics. I really dont understand what you are saying.
[quote]
i paint shopped the stripes off the lower portion of the car and i think something else as well
think your car looks sick tho, got any pictures of it not sitting on the grass? seen the photobucket page with those pics on it, my buddy came accross it somehow.
i'm painting my car probably in the spring back to a factory arctic white and putting a little blue pearl in it. I love those wheels too, want them in 17x9.5 black
Ohh, ok. now I noticed. It does look better with out the stripes. I still need to do body work on it and send it to paint. I will try and post some pics of it on concrete so you can see it well.
If you buy the rims, make sure you get them without the crappy looking rivets that phony knock off companies are selling. Also it looks better without the polished lip. Thats exactly what everyone tells me when they see it. Thats looks sick! I cant wait to have it painted and in mint condition.
Thanks for posting my pic. Will get new pics off grass posibly tommorow.
Use 1.25 spacers upfront and 1.50 out back so they wont stick out like others do. Mine are 17x9.5 front and 17x10 rear
Ill look at what kind they are tomorrow and what model if i can find it. But i like them. I bought the car with these on it and I think ill eventually paint em a nice metallic black to go with the interior im going to do.
Too bad my birds not drivable atm...im stuck in a 01 Tiburon. Its like going from a beast to a kitten. Its all for the good of the car thou so im not too worried, it'll look good when im done.
Ohh, ok. now I noticed. It does look better with out the stripes. I still need to do body work on it and send it to paint. I will try and post some pics of it on concrete so you can see it well.
If you buy the rims, make sure you get them without the crappy looking rivets that phony knock off companies are selling. Also it looks better without the polished lip. Thats exactly what everyone tells me when they see it. Thats looks sick! I cant wait to have it painted and in mint condition.
Thanks for posting my pic. Will get new pics off grass posibly tommorow.
Use 1.25 spacers upfront and 1.50 out back so they wont stick out like others do. Mine are 17x9.5 front and 17x10 rear
good call on that one! i hate fake rivets on wheels, i want exactly what you have, blacked out stock looking z06 wheels, on an arctic white car.
how do you find having 9.5" wheels up front? im worried that the car will track way too much during normal city driving with that big of a tire.
also how did you end up with 10" rears, all of the knockoff companies only seem to sell in half sizes
probably be next summer when i get those seeing as how its already pretty much winter up here in canada. Looks awesome tho, definitly throw up some more pics
[/IMG]
whatever that figure might be... 
-R.I.P. thanks to Russel brake hoses 
