Wanted to get some opinions on the feasability of running two "front" 16 x 8 IROC wheels on the rear of an 87 IROC to help fill out the wheel wells and gain an extra inch of overall contact width. Are there problems associated with this setup, or is it a beneficial swap? I want to keep the stock appearance, so I am not really looking to use aftermarket rims. Also, what are the pros and cons of using wheel spacers?

Thanks in advance!

 

there is a reason that the IROC rims have front and rear printed on them

the offset for the front and the back are different. One will rub if memory serves me correctly.

Someone else will elaborate, i am sure.

 

Yes, the backspacing on fronts is 4.75", and the rears 5.25", so a difference of one half inch per side. I have only envisioned this on paper, as I have not actually taken a front off and put it on the rear to see if it would fit. What made me assume that is was possible is that a half inch is a pretty small amount to work with, combined with the fact that a couple of wrecking yard web sites have stated policies that they will not break up sets to sell fronts separately, which spawned the idea in my head that others had thought of this and were looking for a pair of fronts to stick on the back.

If there is indeed clearance problems, would it be with the fenders, or the brakes? My car has the four wheel disc brake option, if that's relevant. Thanks again!

 

Fronts, will fit fine on the back! However rears will NOT fit on the front! I had a friend who ran four fronts on his GTA so he could rotate his tires.

 

hey Charlie's87 i just noticed you are from portland

check out http://www.cascadecrew.org

 

Yes you can run fronts all around. It does wonders at filling up the wheelwell and doesn't change the handling characteristics at all from my experience. I've been running 4 fronts on my Formula for years without any problems.

 

why would having fronts on that back fill up the wheel well more?? there both 16x8

 

Yes, both 16 x 8's, but the backspacing is one half inch less on the fronts, therefore they will stick out one half inch more when put on the back.

 

you would think so, but i am not sure