I have an 88 GTA, and my girlfriend is buying me some 17" Weld Drag Stars, or Drag Pros XP Series.(whatever they are called, not the Drag Lites though) I need to know if anyone has used these wheels, or if there is a wheel expert out there, what backspacing do I need so that none of the tire is sticking out. I want a pretty wide tire too, at least 10.5" wide, would prefer 11-12" wide. Please let me know. The motor is out, so I can't exactly get the car up to the shop for them to measure it. Any suggestions? And do I need spacers, I would prefer to not use them.

 

You got one hell of a girlfriend

 

you will have a fun time trying to fit that under the rear inner fender....

just match up the backspacing with what is stock and go from there. what are you plans for the front?

 

It's my birthday and she makes really good money. If I go with stock backspacing, there is no way I can even get close to a 11 inch tire, unless I want to look like a vato in a 86 cutlass with 13" daytons. Sorry, not really wanting that look. The plans for the front are going to be somewhere between 7"-8.5" I don't want skinnies

 

Did you ever go through with this? If so what size wheels/backspacing and tires did you go with? thanks

 

i use 16x10.5 CCW's for autocross......

in the front, the maximum backspace you can have w/out using a spacer is 5".. and you still might have to do some grinding/smashing here and there(i run 5.5"backspace wheels with a 1/2" spacer in front)

in the back.. my wheels have 5.5" backspace... and there's still a little room(they fit easily, no mods)... you could probably get away with 6" backspacing in the rear as long as you massage the inner fenders and don't go around turns very fast.... oh yah, you'll need an aftermarket panhard bar to keep the tires from rubbing the fenders(an adjustable one with rod ends is best)

 

5.5 seems to be the norm in the rear....what was the stock rear spec again, anyone remember?