okay, idk if this is the right part of the thread for this question but Ill put it here and pray it gets answered. so, I have been reading and it appears that I can't fit a 295 in the rear of my 1990 firebird without spacers? I am in the process of finishing up a drivetrain swap(motor, tranny, and rearend) and I am going to go with the moser m9. I was wondering in having it made if its possible to extend the tubes and axles to fit the bigger wheel and tire combo. I want to go with the 17" yearone snowflakes with a staggered pattern and need some help. can someone help me out here. backspacing, is it possible to extend the tubes and axles and if so is it even safe, tires(more street use than anything, but racing is an addiction so I want to hook on the street, and the track!

 

you can fit 315's with no spacers, or wider, but that require a lot of sheetmetal work. The main factor in wheel/tire fitment is the wheel. With the proper backspacing or offset (2 different ways to determine the mounting surface of the wheel), you can easily for a 295 without the use of a spacer.

Spacers are used commonly when people use moder wheels, from 4tyh gen f-bodies, vettes ect that have much more backspacing than our cars are designed for. the spacers takes up the extra room.

So it really comes down to your budget and what wheel you want. If you are looking to use off the shelf late model camaro or vette wheels, you will need spacers, or a rear axle made to the width of a 4th gen f-body. they are about 2" wider on each side, and that will allow you to use wheels made for a 4th gen camaro/f-bird without the large spacers.

Or use the stock width and order wheels with the proper backspacing/offset to fit the wheels/tires without spacers.

 

okay, what would be the proper backspacing for my firebird. like I said I want to go with the yearone snowflake wheels with 295's in the rear and most likely 265's up front. I can get the axles from moser to fit the bolt pattern, but I don't want spacers. and any suggestions on tires. I have heard good things about m/t et streets, and nittos counterpart.

 

how wide are the year one slow flakes? they are not available in many widths are they?

what tire are you looking at? i cant find much of anything in the stock height with a 17" wheel and 295 width?

 

the 17's come in 8 and 9 inch widths, and the 18's come in 9, 10 and 12 inch widths. and that was the problem I was having with finding tires. I can't really find anything that I've heard good reviews about in like a 295/45r17 or 295/40r18. I was hoping others on the board could help me find a good wheel tire combo. I am not set on the tire width, but I need something that will hook pretty well with close to 400hp. but I also want something with an aggressive look to it

 

i can only find 1 tire in any of those 17" sizes.

as for "hooking", thats a bit hard for any tire in the 17 or 18" diameter.

there are a bazillion options for tires in the 295/35/18 size, but only a couple drage radials, and like i said, in that size, they will be really had to get to "hook"

what exactly are you looking to do with the car? if you are drag racing is, stick with a 15 or 16 if you need it to hook. if its a street car, dont bother with the "hooking" problem, just get a tire you like in the 17 or 18" sizes

 

the main purpose of the vehilce is for the street, but racing is an addiction and when on the street, if someone feels the need to test me, I don't want to have a problem sticking it to them!! as for the strip, Im not seeing too much, but I don't want to rule the possibility of me spinning it every weekend through the season(mid atlantic region). I considered sticking with a stock 16 but I need something a little bit bigger