great looking Firebird wheels: BAM! right there baby! unfortunately, 16" wheels seem to seriously limit you in tire size. and "big brake kit" options. these wheels in particular (which are what i have on my car) have a certain ambiguity when it comes to front brake kits. we know 13" rotors wont fit. but will 12s? some say yes, some say no, some say maybe.

i am aware of the 17x8" Hyperblack ZR1s from SLP. not too keen on the fact that they are only 8" wide. not real keen on the fact that they are ZR1s either. and i dont think they look that great on a Firebird.

then there are Ronal Firehawks. IMO, from most angles, not a very good looking wheel.

i think that 17x9" WS6 4th gen wheels look great on Third Gen Formulas. but i am averse to using spacers. heard too many horror stories about wheels flying off. so i'd just rather not.

i would definitely like to run 275x40ZR17 (at least in the rear) and 13" Baer or Brembo brakes in the front.

have i covered all the bases, leaving me with either staying stock, spacers, or something i dont like, or is there some option that i dont know about?

thanks.

 

Check out my company's wheels - they are 17" x 9.5" and fit with no spacers. As a matter of fact, I mounted a silver set on my immobile Baer braked Camaro today and posted pics on the website.

http://www.ctw-motorsports.com

And they weigh 5lbs each less than the old Firehawk wheels did with major caliper clearance, great cooling, and pretty good looks (that is very subjective).

 

first, let me express gratitude for having a 3rd gen centric product-line. i really think it is time that the aftermarket - be it Classic Industries or Summit/Jegs, wakes the F up. or maybe its just me because i want to spend money on my Third Gen and constantly find "closed doors" because it's not a 4th Gen.

however, to be honest, those kinda look like truck wheels to me. i dont think that it is the right look for me, but maybe if you posted pics of them on your car it might change my mind.

how impossible would it be to make a 17x9" (if needs be, one-off) version of Formula or GTA wheels - i just think that something that is a little more recognizable as "Third Gen" could be very popular here.

 

thats been done before, but you are looking at AT LEAST $1000 per wheel to do a 1 off.

Pauls wheels are 5 spokes, a timeless style really, they would look good on anything. Their weight is quite good as well when you figure most aftermarket cheap cast reproduction wheels are 25lbs and up for the same size. I like them honestly, and if i did not already have wheels, i would consider them for my car. Actually, i have to call him, maybe if they fit my brakes we can get pics of them on my car.... his shop is not far from me

 

Cragar 397 17x9" zero-offset. Under $100 each. What more could you want? Aluminum? Why? Slide into a curb, steel only bends, you can still drive it home. Aluminum breaks, you're not getting 2 blocks. I know, I did this once.

 

I found a set of ROH Snypers (17x8.5) that have the correct back space. They look good. A little scratched but they do the job. I mostly only use them for auto-x with 275/40 tires.

 

There not bad, I think the spokes should be a lil' thicker, or even a split spoke design. Also I think they would look alot better if they had a machined lip.....(just my opinions).....Other than that, kudos to your co. for giving the 3rd gen community more choices on wheels....

On a side note.....there is a pic on the web site with a ruler and it says 10" lip to lip....If that is true then the width of the wheel will be 9" not 9.5. If you measure lip to lip then you subtract an inch to get the correct width.

 

thanks, but no thanks. ^thats not going on my car.

 

Search my name in this section for my wheel and tire combo, 17x9 with 275/40's no wheel adapters and in the correct offset for thirdgens. Also only $139 per wheel, REVolution wheels by American Racing. Look just like torq thrust II and torq thrust M's combined.

Forgot to say they also come in 18" as well

 

i did a search on your name and alot of threads came up. it would take a long time to go thru. can you just post a picture or a link?

 

So is your main issue brake clearance, suspension clearance, or wheel well fitment? backspaced wheels would help the latter 2 of the 3 issues, a mini tub would help the latter.

 

1. wheel size options
2. brake clearance and options

mini-tubbing is not going to be necessary. just some 275/40/17-ish Z rated tires and some big front brakes. here is a picture of the car.

i prefer the factory wheels, but they just dont allow for rear tires bigger than 245/50/16, and upgraded brake fitment is also apparently an issue.

 

Linson, your car has a great look. I have seen tons of Formulas, but yours just looks RIGHT. I completely agree, you need a stockish looking wheel. I personally think your car would look insane with an 18" version of your current wheels. But unfortunately they don't exist and you are probably looking at $10k to have them made.

I can't think of any really good options for you. The best I can do is CCW classic wheels. Have you looked at those yet? Not cheap wheels, however not terrible either. Here is an example picture.

 

^i could definitely work with those...

i will check out CCW.

thanks for the kind recognition of my Formula.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/whee...eels-just.html

here ya go

 

Hmm. I really liked those wheels until I saw the pictures of them installed. I just don't think they work with the sharp thirdgen lines. I think Linson is on the right track with something more stock looking.

 

The Stigg has a GNX?!

You can run 18's on these cars with out too much modification...There's a thread somewhere on here, I'll try and find it.

 

Linson, your welcome!

Problem is that the 17" wheel was an option (or standard depending on trim) for the 1993 to 2002 F-Bodies (and 1988 to 1996 Vettes), so there is a lot of interest in those wheels, which of cource do not fit third gens without spacers.

We will be offering this wheel in a 4th gen/Corvette fitment later this year, which would also cover those 3rd gens with 4th gen rears.

I understand your comments on the looks - they are not for everyone, but then again it is a more modern option that TT or even the Firehawk wheels with a weight and caliper clearance advantage.

My manufacturer can make one off versions of any wheel as they do CNC cut wheels in any size, offset, or pattern - they would be $1,000 each at cost (I already asked). Price drops a lot when you order 10 sets of more.

Pics of the wheels on my personal car were just posted to facebook here (public folder):

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...5800615&type=1

http://www.ctw-motorsports.com

 

Phil has seen the wheels in person (without tires), so he is a good eyewitness.

Actually as he has the 14" big baer kit, I would love to get his car in the shop to see if the wheels clear...

 

13" Baer brakes all around. New GM wheels from a 96 T/A and 275/40/17s all 4 corners. yes it has spacers and they have gone 200mph a few times. ;-)

 

That is DIRT cheap. I will have to keep that in mind. Linson, I say go for custom one off 18" versions of your stock wheels.

 

I can't fathom spending $1,000 for 3rd gen wheels - unless I could get carbon fiber Dymags to fit at that price (extremely unlikely).

 

I totally understand. Most people are not willing to spend $1k/wheel regardless of the vehicle. I have never heard of custom machined wheels under about $10k. So your cost estimate sounds great. I do think a larger version of the stock wheel would look killer on Linson's car.

 

Everett, eh? i live in Sequim - on the Olympic Penninsula, near Port Angeles.

 

okay guys, thanks for all the input, and especially the pictures and links. i got alot more out of this thread than i could have expected.

paul_huryk, thanks again for the links and info. your pics were especially useful since your car is a similar color to mine. i just dont think that the design is right for my car, although those meats would look great on any car. and while your price of 1K-per for a uniquely stock >16" wheel is more than fair, and i am a guy who doesn't skimp on his 3rd Gen, 4 grand, plus tires, plus brakes is a little more than i want to spend considering i have other projects - and designs on getting a FIRST Injection setup in the near future. perhaps if some other members here would like to commit to making a larger order, i may want to get in on that. you'd know more about it than me, but man, i can't help but think that there is a market for Third Gen Firebird Upgrades: 17"+ wheels, Cold Air Intakes - i know i'm not the only one who would jump at the oportunity to buy that stuff (at a little less than 4k per wheel, of course) if only it were available.

KiLLJ0Y, those AR's are a pretty wheel. i really like the color, and they would probably look good on my car, but they it would just be a little too obvious that they are aftermarket wheels. plus, Torque Thrusts might look slightly better on a 3rd Gen Camaro than on a 3rd Gen Firebird. they ARE really nice, but prolly just not the right look for me.

so basically, i'm in agreement with those that feel that a stock or one-off stock appearing wheel best fits the look that i am going for with my car - not to mention that the factory Formula wheels are one of the features i like best on a Formula. so, i think the best plan for now is keep whats on there and hopefully 12" 1LE front brakes will fit. the guy who sells them on here has assured me that they will.

aside from stock, the best looking combination i've seen (and possibly the cheapest-best option) is the 4th Gen WS6 wheels like TTOP350's car. Speedline wheels ('00-'02? Trans Am) look good too. perhaps someday i'll have to re-assess my aversion to wheel spacers.

thanks again to all.

 

http://www.classicindustries.com/fir...ts/251792.html

see. this is what i'm talking about. they've done it for 2nd gens. i'm sure that if they did do it for 3rds, they'd go with GTA/Cross Lace - not Formula. oh well.

 

Unique is a good thing - a machined 18" x 9.5" version of Formula wheels would look great - just that you are talking about $4,500 all said and done for the wheels and tires about $1,250; a big investment! But CTW already has 17" wheels covered - look may not be for everyone, but they fit and are light & strong.

Cold air intakes are something we are looking at as SLP hasn't made them for years and the best you can do is cobble together something yourself.

I'm pretty sure the 12" 1LE brakes will fit under Formula wheels - the 13" Baer kit was close (but didn't clear) with those wheels, so 0.5" less radius should clear just fine.

I'm not against wheel spacers, certainly make fitting non stock wheels to a third gen (or anything) very easy; but it is an added expense, added weight, and an additional failure point on a critical part.

I'm not sure of the quality of the Classic wheels (can't be less than good), but they are only 9" wide, the backspacing should fit the third gens without a problem 4-7/8" is almost spot on.

 

I just put some MB wheels on, along with Nitto 555 Extremes up front (P245/45R/17's)and 555R DR's (P275/40R/17's) on the rear. 8" wide wheels on front, 9.5" wides on the rear.

It all depends on what you're going for. Biggest issue with staggered wheels, is you can't rotate them, then mix in the fact that some types of tires are directional....you get my point. As far as price, the skies the limit I suppose. I look more at how they'll fit and perform first and foremost, and looks are really secondary. Whatever you get,having the right backset is the key. I plan to add bigger brakes later on. Pic below:

The tires actually costs more than the wheels themselves...

EDIT: You can go with more than 4.7/8" BS on the rear...I believe mine are 5.25". Gets tricky if you go 6" or above, then you're talking inner well massaging.

 

Good looking car - love the color!

The CTW prototype wheel has a 5.5" backspacing and easily fit the rear, probably could have went another 1/2" before hitting the bumpstop, so you can go 5.75" in the rear as long as the tires don't overhang the wheel too much. Front is a tough one - 5.5" backspacing hits the TRE and also the top of some struts, 5.0 is safe, but those with BBK that have the hubs out further than stock can run 5.25" BS. I'm talking 9.5" or 10" wheels in the front here with a 275-40-17 tire.

 

Thx Paul!
...that's a pretty big wheel/tire for the front...but would look nice, and I'm sure would grip/handle great! I'll have to thumb through the links myself...really out of curiousity since I don't plan to set my car up for handling as much as straight-line performance.

 

I certainly understand your focus on straight line performance, many of our customers think the same. Keep in mind that you can run a smaller than 275 width tire on practically any 9.5" wheel - a 265, 255, or 245 will fit. Obviously the 245 will have a slight "stretched" look due to the 9.6" section width (vs. the 10.8" of the 275).