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Wheels and TiresNeed help with wheels or tires? Got fitment issues? Have questions about tire performance and handling? Ask all of those questions here!
I'm recently in the process of buying a Baer front brake kit with 13" rotors and converting the rear drums to 10" discs. I have 15" formula wheels. To make this work, I would need a 17" or more wheel. I'm open to 18" as well but I don't want to give up too much sidewall as the roads aren't the best here in Rhode Island and I kinda like the sidewall flex during cornering. Thing is, I want the GTA style mesh wheels but even the OEM reproductions only offer 16x8. I have a 400hp 350 that will be going in next summer and I feel that the 8 inch tires on my car aren't going to cut it traction wise.
Are there wheels out there that resemble the GTA mesh wheels? Also, does getting wider tires and wheels mean I might need to change over speedometer gears?
Hawks offers a 17in replica of the GTA style wheels im pretty sure.
I went there and they don't offer it through the site anymore but when I clicked on a link posted around here then they so up. My guess is they are built to order? Thing is they are only 17x8. I need at least 17x9 or 17x9.5. Unless I get a proper set of tires, I have a concern that the 8 inch tires will break loose too much. It's already doing it with the my 305 at 1/4 throttle.
I went there and they don't offer it through the site anymore but when I clicked on a link posted around here then they so up. My guess is they are built to order? Thing is they are only 17x8. I need at least 17x9 or 17x9.5. Unless I get a proper set of tires, I have a concern that the 8 inch tires will break loose too much. It's already doing it with the my 305 at 1/4 throttle.
I went there and they don't offer it through the site anymore but when I clicked on a link posted around here then they so up. My guess is they are built to order? Thing is they are only 17x8. I need at least 17x9 or 17x9.5. Unless I get a proper set of tires, I have a concern that the 8 inch tires will break loose too much. It's already doing it with the my 305 at 1/4 throttle.
Their replicas are 17x9 and they look pretty damn good.
A 9" wheel is too narrow to place a 285 tire on - needs a 10" wheel to fit correctly. Keep in mind that BMW uses 255 width tires on the car with 9" wheels that come out of their factory.
Originally Posted by rb85TA
You should be able to put a 285 on the rear with a 9" width rim.... For sure a 275
Well, I just recently bought a set of rims (19x8.5 f & 19x9.5" r) & 255/35/19 f, 285/35/19 r.... mounted & balanced at discount tire and absolutely perfect fit. ..hmmm, I could've put 295's on the rear but opted for a conservative look. So, YES, You can put a 285 on a 9" width & yes the 275 would be the conservative look.
A 9" wheel is too narrow to place a 285 tire on - needs a 10" wheel to fit correctly. Keep in mind that BMW uses 255 width tires on the car with 9" wheels that come out of their factory.
A 9" wheel isn't too narrow for a 285 tire. I used to have 285 Goodyear GSCs on my 17 x 9 factory 4th gen WS6 wheels and could barely tell the difference from the stock sized 275s that the car originally came equipped with.
Another thing that needs to be kept in mind is, tires of the same advertized size from different manufacturers aren't always the same width. Nitto's tire sizes are notorious for being quite a bit narrower than other manufacturers.
Yep, mine are BF Goodrich g-force TA KDW's & fit like they came from the factory. Nice tight & straight forward looking, not stretched or buldged in any way.
I've got a full set of Epsilon mesh 3 piece wheels on my project right now, gotta get the car stripped down so she can go to chassis shop. Then I'll get the tires off the Epsilon's & clean them up to be sold, ( centers are painted white, going to break down the wheels & have centers media blasted, then a clear powder coat).
I've got a full set of Epsilon mesh 3 piece wheels on my project right now, gotta get the car stripped down so she can go to chassis shop. Then I'll get the tires off the Epsilon's & clean them up to be sold, ( centers are painted white, going to break down the wheels & have centers media blasted, then a clear powder coat).
Can you send me a PM of pics of the wheels? Might be interested in taking them off your hands once you get the media blasting and powder coated.
I'm not going to say that it isn't safe - but it is not near optimal to put a 285 tire on a 9" wheel. Again, BMW puts 255 width tires on 9" wheels out of their factory.
I try to follow the 1" rule when it comes to tires and wheels - the optimal wheel width is about 1" narrower than the tire section width. So a 285mm tire is going to be 11.22" and would need a 10.22" wheel, round it down to 10" since no one makes 10.25" wide wheels.
Originally Posted by carlos64030
A 9" wheel isn't too narrow for a 285 tire. I used to have 285 Goodyear GSCs on my 17 x 9 factory 4th gen WS6 wheels and could barely tell the difference from the stock sized 275s that the car originally came equipped with.
Another thing that needs to be kept in mind is, tires of the same advertized size from different manufacturers aren't always the same width. Nitto's tire sizes are notorious for being quite a bit narrower than other manufacturers.
Scorched1984, the above pictures are almost exactly what i have ( mine have different center caps). But, when I get them ready to sell ,i'll post some pictures & if you accept my friend request, I'll let you know.
Paul hyrk, like previously discussed. .. different tire manufacturing companies measure in different ways ( &/or are not supper concerned with exacting measurements ). I have 255's on 8.5" wide rims (front )& they fit absolutely perfect! & 285's on 9.5" wide rims (rear) & they too fit absolutely perfect! All I can say is that it all depends on both the tire & rim .
If they're stretched. ... they're to small for the rim! If they're buldged or "ballooning " they're to big!
I'm not going to say that it isn't safe - but it is not near optimal to put a 285 tire on a 9" wheel. Again, BMW puts 255 width tires on 9" wheels out of their factory.
I try to follow the 1" rule when it comes to tires and wheels - the optimal wheel width is about 1" narrower than the tire section width. So a 285mm tire is going to be 11.22" and would need a 10.22" wheel, round it down to 10" since no one makes 10.25" wide wheels.
I understand what you're saying. For a visual reference, I had to dig-up some old photos from when my WS6 was still rockin' it's factory wheels. They're 17 x 9 and originally wore 275-40-17. The rear tires on the rear wheels in these photos are 285-40-17. Notice there is little to no tire bulge...
Don't know what the Epsilons run $ wise but a 3-piece wheel usually isn't very affordable. The Hawk's wheels have been mentioned twice now and overlooked so here's a picture of them on my car. 17x9", 22lbs, with 255/45/17 mounted on mine.
Those are a good looking rims. The Niche rims are about HALF the cost of the other rims I've been looking at. Of course that will depend on who you buy them through ( some places really Jack the profit up ).
Don't know what the Epsilons run $ wise but a 3-piece wheel usually isn't very affordable. The Hawk's wheels have been mentioned twice now and overlooked so here's a picture of them on my car. 17x9", 22lbs, with 255/45/17 mounted on mine.
Either you typed that last sentence incorrectly, or your scale is way off! 22lbs on a cast 17x9 wheel with tires is fictional.
Yep, I've got a set (all 4) of 16's, on my 85TA, going to break them down ( 3 piece )& have the white paint blasted of, then clear powder coat, inner & outer polished, then reassemble & sell them on eBay.
Don't know what the Epsilons run $ wise but a 3-piece wheel usually isn't very affordable. The Hawk's wheels have been mentioned twice now and overlooked so here's a picture of them on my car. 17x9", 22lbs, with 255/45/17 mounted on mine.
Just wondering why you went with a 255 instead of the 275 tire?
The rims & tires that I bought for my car ( just to roll around on & clear my brakes ), are 19x8.5 & 19x9.5 with 255/30/19 & 295/30/19's . Went with a safe "" combination, for fitment & clearance.
But, once I get the chassis done I'll be running 19x11's ( Hopefully, on front ), with 295/30/19's & 20x13's (rear), with 345/30/20's.
