GTA mesh style alternative?
 

I'm recently in the process of buying a Baer front brake kit with 13" rotors and converting the rear drums to 10" discs. I have 15" formula wheels. To make this work, I would need a 17" or more wheel. I'm open to 18" as well but I don't want to give up too much sidewall as the roads aren't the best here in Rhode Island and I kinda like the sidewall flex during cornering. Thing is, I want the GTA style mesh wheels but even the OEM reproductions only offer 16x8. I have a 400hp 350 that will be going in next summer and I feel that the 8 inch tires on my car aren't going to cut it traction wise.

Are there wheels out there that resemble the GTA mesh wheels? Also, does getting wider tires and wheels mean I might need to change over speedometer gears?

Re: GTA mesh style alternative?
 

Hawks offers a 17in replica of the GTA style wheels im pretty sure.:thumbsup:

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These where available from Axis in 5x120 but it doesnt look like they make the 17' anymore according to there website. you can also see the thread here.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/whee...eels-17x9.html

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...3df54c5b29.jpg

Re: GTA mesh style alternative?
 

I went there and they don't offer it through the site anymore but when I clicked on a link posted around here then they so up. My guess is they are built to order? Thing is they are only 17x8. I need at least 17x9 or 17x9.5. Unless I get a proper set of tires, I have a concern that the 8 inch tires will break loose too much. It's already doing it with the my 305 at 1/4 throttle.

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Get some NITTO drag radials then..

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Hawks makes a GTA style replica in 17". also year one sells snow-flake replicas in 17".

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Their replicas are 17x9 and they look pretty damn good.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/82-92-Firebird-Trans-Am-GTA-Gold-17x9-Wheels-Rims-Set-of-4-New-Reproduction-/381343514773?vxp=mtr

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You should be able to put a 285 on the rear with a 9" width rim.... For sure a 275

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A 9" wheel is too narrow to place a 285 tire on - needs a 10" wheel to fit correctly. Keep in mind that BMW uses 255 width tires on the car with 9" wheels that come out of their factory.

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Well, I just recently bought a set of rims (19x8.5 f & 19x9.5" r) & 255/35/19 f, 285/35/19 r.... mounted & balanced at discount tire and absolutely perfect fit. ..hmmm, I could've put 295's on the rear but opted for a conservative look. So, YES, You can put a 285 on a 9" width & yes the 275 would be the conservative look.

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A 9" wheel isn't too narrow for a 285 tire. I used to have 285 Goodyear GSCs on my 17 x 9 factory 4th gen WS6 wheels and could barely tell the difference from the stock sized 275s that the car originally came equipped with.

Another thing that needs to be kept in mind is, tires of the same advertized size from different manufacturers aren't always the same width. Nitto's tire sizes are notorious for being quite a bit narrower than other manufacturers.

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Yep, mine are BF Goodrich g-force TA KDW's & fit like they came from the factory. Nice tight & straight forward looking, not stretched or buldged in any way.

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I've got a full set of Epsilon mesh 3 piece wheels on my project right now, gotta get the car stripped down so she can go to chassis shop. Then I'll get the tires off the Epsilon's & clean them up to be sold, ( centers are painted white, going to break down the wheels & have centers media blasted, then a clear powder coat).

Re: GTA mesh style alternative?
 

Can you send me a PM of pics of the wheels? Might be interested in taking them off your hands once you get the media blasting and powder coated.

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I'm not going to say that it isn't safe - but it is not near optimal to put a 285 tire on a 9" wheel. Again, BMW puts 255 width tires on 9" wheels out of their factory.

I try to follow the 1" rule when it comes to tires and wheels - the optimal wheel width is about 1" narrower than the tire section width. So a 285mm tire is going to be 11.22" and would need a 10.22" wheel, round it down to 10" since no one makes 10.25" wide wheels.

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Epsilons win with the 3 pcs design.... if you can find them!

Attachment 324388

Re: GTA mesh style alternative?
 

Scorched1984, the above pictures are almost exactly what i have ( mine have different center caps). But, when I get them ready to sell ,i'll post some pictures & if you accept my friend request, I'll let you know.

Paul hyrk, like previously discussed. .. different tire manufacturing companies measure in different ways ( &/or are not supper concerned with exacting measurements ). I have 255's on 8.5" wide rims (front )& they fit absolutely perfect! & 285's on 9.5" wide rims (rear) & they too fit absolutely perfect! All I can say is that it all depends on both the tire & rim .
If they're stretched. ... they're to small for the rim! If they're buldged or "ballooning " they're to big!

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I understand what you're saying. For a visual reference, I had to dig-up some old photos from when my WS6 was still rockin' it's factory wheels. They're 17 x 9 and originally wore 275-40-17. The rear tires on the rear wheels in these photos are 285-40-17. Notice there is little to no tire bulge...

Attachment 324361
Attachment 324362

Re: GTA mesh style alternative?
 

Looks good to me :)

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Don't know what the Epsilons run $ wise but a 3-piece wheel usually isn't very affordable. The Hawk's wheels have been mentioned twice now and overlooked so here's a picture of them on my car. 17x9", 22lbs, with 255/45/17 mounted on mine.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...728bc30e08.jpg



https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...30c3423c03.jpg

Re: GTA mesh style alternative?
 

You can also check out Niche, they have a wheel called citrine? Something like that.

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https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...f46571cdcc.png


This is the niche wheel

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Niche wheels are way expensive. I'm looking at these in 18 X 10

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Those are a good looking rims. The Niche rims are about HALF the cost of the other rims I've been looking at. Of course that will depend on who you buy them through ( some places really Jack the profit up ).

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Either you typed that last sentence incorrectly, or your scale is way off! 22lbs on a cast 17x9 wheel with tires is fictional.

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The Epsilon center caps shown above with just the "E" will bring $150 EACH as they are the early style cap. The later style caps say "Epsilon".

The wheels can be mighty expensive also IF you buy them from somebody that knows what they are!

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Yep, I've got a set (all 4) of 16's, on my 85TA, going to break them down ( 3 piece )& have the white paint blasted of, then clear powder coat, inner & outer polished, then reassemble & sell them on eBay.

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Sorry for the double post^, still have not got to the point that I can remove them from the car, hopefully the next time i go home ( next month ).

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Man, that Niche wheel looks like that GTA wheel wishes it looked.

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Yeah, they're what I'm going to be running on mine.

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You do realize that wheel is well over a grand a piece?

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that's the Niche citrine multi piece

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Maybe where you are, but I have a vendor that I can get all four rims for just under $3,000 ;)

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Just wondering why you went with a 255 instead of the 275 tire?

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The rims & tires that I bought for my car ( just to roll around on & clear my brakes ), are 19x8.5 & 19x9.5 with 255/30/19 & 295/30/19's . Went with a safe "" combination, for fitment & clearance.
But, once I get the chassis done I'll be running 19x11's ( Hopefully, on front ), with 295/30/19's & 20x13's (rear), with 345/30/20's.

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If I can get the custom front spindles I may even run a 315/30/19 up front.

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What size? I was looking at 19 X 9

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Originally was only looking at 19x10 front & 20x13 rear , when I got the quote for $2,850.00 for all 4

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Yes I know!

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Yup...in black and gold :cool:

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Re: GTA mesh style alternative?
 

Fikse fm-10's, I have them on my 88 gta.

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Any pics of the fm-10's ?

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I got pics, don't know how to post.

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I downloaded mine from my phone, then post them

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18".

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How do I make the pics larger?

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I'm not sure about that.
But, I can zoom in on my phone. Car looks great

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I have thought about painting the centers to match the factory gold color.