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Wheel fitment question

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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 12:26 AM
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mike_c's Avatar
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From: Fallston, Maryland
Car: 1989 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt 3.70
Wheel fitment question

After a lot of searching, I finally found a nice set of wheels for my GTA that I think would look good on it. The question is, will they fit? The fronts are 17x9.5 with a 5" BS and the rears are 17x10.5 with a 6" BS. They have a GM bolt pattern, so that's not an issue. Will I need spacers to make them fit? Will wheels that wide even fit on the car? Would I have to "massage" the inner wheel well a little? Also, what width tires would I use on these? I did do a search, I just want to be certain.

Last edited by mike_c; Apr 9, 2008 at 05:51 PM.
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Old Apr 13, 2008 | 11:03 PM
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From: Fallston, Maryland
Car: 1989 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt 3.70
Re: Wheel fitment question

Anyone? The auction's going to be over soon...
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Old Apr 14, 2008 | 04:30 PM
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//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
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From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser full floater m9, 3:70 trutrac
Re: Wheel fitment question

they will both bolt right on, probably no mods to the fender a few wacks with a hammer wont fix. they WILL however stick out from the side of the car a ways, which is not good
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Old Apr 14, 2008 | 09:14 PM
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mike_c's Avatar
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From: Fallston, Maryland
Car: 1989 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt 3.70
Re: Wheel fitment question

How far will they stick out?
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Old Apr 15, 2008 | 12:25 AM
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From: Lubbock, TX
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: Future: LSX Turbo
Transmission: built T-56
Re: Wheel fitment question

your original GTA wheels have zero offset and stick out 4 inches from the hub center (4 inches of frontspacing) and your rears have 4.63" of backspacing and 3.37" of frontspacing due to a 16mm offset.

So the 17x9.5 for the front will have 4.5" of frontspacing with no spacers. So they will almost appear stock as .5" isnt much. I think you wont need a spacer for the front at all and still not rub. As for the rear, you have about 2.5" of room to play with without rubbing after some massaging.

So the 17x10.5 will produce a frontspacing of 4.5" compared to the 3.37" stock. That will look good by filling the well a bit better and the tire wont look like you should have your name in old english on the back window. I think you should be fine with 6" of backspacing, it might be close! I believe i have 5.53" on mine and I dont have much room left to use.

The wheels will look & fit nicely. At worst, you might have to buy a pair of 1" thick adapters for the rear for clearance. It will still fit in the wheel well nicely.

For tires, Id say go with some 275 40 17 for the front and 275 40 17 for the rear as well. Tires wider 285+ in a 17 are kinda hard to come by and really the next choice would be in the 315 35 17 range and that prob wont fit in your wheel well. As far as brand for that size (275 40 17) id go BFG perforamance tires. Nittos wear out extremely fast and Kumhos are garbage. If you can find any make of michelin in that size GO FOR IT! They will grip better and last twice as long as most of these other tires including the BFGs!
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