Well this is kinda a mixed post as it basically covers both aspects of asthetics as well as general fitment, but I felt it beter post it here than the suspension and chassis forum.

For those of you that don't know me, i am fairly new to the TGO and have recently purchased my first camaro, an 85 Z28. Regardless, I blew the motor out of the thing a few weeks ago. It has been a mad thrash to get the thing back together more or less. Regardless I worked some insane overtime these last two weeks and got a VERY fat paycheck. With the money left over from the costs of a motor rebuild; roughly $650 I was planning on buying some wheels (read: not tires).

Now I spent about half of today looking into wheels and tires, and searching this board for related posts. Though I don't have a ton of money to spend on them I do have a decent amount and I can throw down a tiny bit more cash if needed. I have been looking at a few different options for wheels and tires. Basically it comes down to three choices for me (not listed in any particular order).

1) Stock Iroc-Z 16x8" wheels, the second variation of these


2) Weld Prostars 15x8


3) 17" Chrome Z06 Wheels


Now I like all these but have individual issues with each of them and maybe some of your input can help me out.

First off the irocs I know are a perfect fit and require no spacers and look really good. However my only bitch is that every set I see for sale is comparable in price to an aftermarket wheel and I figure if that I am going to pay that much for them I might as well upgrade from a factory style wheel. I guess I was used to the mopar world where factory rims unless date coded weren't as highly prized and therefore were about half as much as these are for the camaro. Call me cheap I guess?

Second on the list: Prostars. I have always liked these wheels since I first saw them on my buddies 70 nova. However to my understanding the back wheels require a different backspacing, not a big deal to me just need to do a little research. The problem: the cost induced by them I can get a bigger wheel for the money anyway. The upside about this wheel and the irocs is that tires for them are still fairly reasonable and will provide a fairly nice ride quality, though that is not something I am nessecarily concerned about.

Last but not least: The chrome Z06 wheels. These are about the flashiest and biggest wheel I would put on the car. They look great but require expensive spacers and from what I read and saw through my numerous searches today is that the fourth gen wheels tend to stick out quite abit and can rub fairly easily which I am not looking forward to just to have the extra "bling" on the car. Combine this with a stock ride height/ rear and now the low-pro tires pronouce the wheel well gap really bad. I love these rims but it seems like there is too much hassle to get them on the car. That and the fact my car has a so-so paint job on it so I don't want the rims to outshine the car as most instances like that look terrible.

So pretty much I am pretty upset that none of the rims choices I like really work for me one way or the other.

Summary:

1) I hate paying high prices for factory rims
2) I hate paying a decent sum for something small when I can go bigger for nearly the same cost.
3) I hate the fact the nicer/ larger wheels I want are just a general pain in the *** to get on the car.
4) I guess I am out of luck.

-Small Tires

 

Some aftermarket companies make reproductions of the IROC wheels. You can get them in 16",17", or 18". They come in chrome or a polished finish, and fit like the factory wheels. I'm sure someone else here can give a link for these.

 

the prostars are definitely a great choice, but are very appropriately priced in my opinion. remember, this is a lightweight dragracing wheel, which is why they cost a bit more than some others available.

a 15x8 rear wheel will require 4.5" of backspacing to keep it from sticking out the fender well.

 

How about SLP's thirdgen ZR1 rims? No spacers, perfect fit, and only $499 for the silver ones:

 

http://oeperformancewheel.com/detail...52+Series+IROC


17 inch chrome irocs are only 165 per wheel.

 

alot depends on the color of your car and the look you are going for. i personally like the slp zr1s but in the hyperblack finish.

 

The car is a charcoal grey though the pain is faded. I plan on using my tax return money plus what I have saved to get it painted that color again.

ScottyRS: I don't particular dig the chrome irocs. A stock style chromed plain jane wheel just doesn't do it for me. Even though the ZO6 wheels are stockers they have an aftermarket style design and that whats makes them appealing to me.

mw66nova: Thanks for that tid bit of info so what is the front offset, if any?


85_ZED28: Once again I am just not liking the slps even though they are a direct bolt on.

 

Yeah, when I read the thread's 1st/main-post, I said to myself "SLP's !" They look awesome, I almost bought some for my RS. The best part is the fitment, NO SPACERS! I can't quote any prices but the spacers themselves can get pricy and because of your budget I would forget the Z06's because they require the spacers. Wheels is nowhere to waste money on with our cars because they usually look awesome no matter whats on them! PLus, with the Z06's you end up having to dish out more cash on low-profile tires, which can be twice as much as some 55 or 60's. My vote: SLP's!

 

offset an backspacing are two differet things. offset is how far the wheel is off center of the wheel so you have - 0 + offsets. Backspacing is how deep the wheel is from the offset. I may be a little mixed up but i'm pretty sure thats right. you need a 4.5 backspacing but that can be changed with the offset. that's what the adapters do for the 4th gen and vette wheels.

 

i personally don't like the looks of anything larger than a 15x5 on the front of these cars using a drag racing wheel like a prostar or draglite, but if you go with the 15x8, a 4.5" backspacing will work well up front too.

 

judging from my sig pic i'm sure you know my vote

 

here's mine on 17 inch Irocs...

 

I say you go with the prostars. You can get 15 by 4s up front and 15 by 10 in the back. The 15 by 10s require a 5.5 backspacing to tuck under the fenders.