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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!
But why the continued obsession with 17" wheels? Is it 1997 again? Doesn't OER already reproduce the Firehawk wheels in 17x9?
I'll take 17" wheel over an 18" wheel any day. 17" has the right proportions on our cars and looks better in the wheel well. Tires are much less expensive (sometimes half the cost), and the sidewall height is actually adequate.
Guessing the Hawks "Firehawk" wheel has a larger diameter barrel that fits over modern brakes. The Ronal and OER wheels have a small barrel that is quite restrictive. The Ronal and OER are also 9.5" wide, which is more ideal for a 275 tire.
I was really looking forward to a Firehawk rim that fits over modern brakes.... but not in a 9" width. I have that size wheel today and it just doesn't work well with a 275/40-R17 tire. Not going to buy another 9" wide rim no matter how good it looks.
I'll give them credit, they do LOOK right. Much better than all the stupid chrome Iroc wheels of the last 30 years. Would just like to see more options than a 17" wheel all the time. If I want 17s, I can't throw a rock without hitting one already.
Oh I'm all over this. ....I like the 17 because of looks. If I could get tires, I'd stay 16". 18" however, in my opinion, looks to "modern", and obviously aftermarket. 17" looks stock if you don't look too close!
It’s nice they make an 88-90 style IROC wheel too..
You can get the 85-87 wheel in any size.. Always wondered why they never reproduced the 88-90 wheel.. (probably figured most people don’t know the difference)
You can get the 85-87 wheel in any size.. Always wondered why they never reproduced the 88-90 wheel.. (probably figured most people don’t know the difference)
Any diameter. They're all 8" wide, which sucks, -although I understand. It's all about fitment across different GM platforms. ...and actually the 17" diameter had dried up for awhile...although recently I've seen them available.
I think the 85-87 was always the favorite. Always the classic. I'll admit i liked the early style too, although after 20 years of 89 Iroc ownership, I now prefer the later style. ...and "they" actually DID make an 18"x8" 88-90 style at one time. I never saw them advertised, dont' know who made them, but every now and then you'll see a set pop up for sale.
but not in a 9" width. I have that size wheel today and it just doesn't work well with a 275/40-R17 tire. Not going to buy another 9" wide rim no matter how good it looks.
What don't you like about it? Didn't all the SS and WS6 4th gen cars run 9"? Maybe they were 9.5"?
Any diameter. They're all 8" wide, which sucks, -although I understand. It's all about fitment across different GM platforms. ...and actually the 17" diameter had dried up for awhile...although recently I've seen them available.
I think the 85-87 was always the favorite. Always the classic. I'll admit i liked the early style too, although after 20 years of 89 Iroc ownership, I now prefer the later style. ...and "they" actually DID make an 18"x8" 88-90 style at one time. I never saw them advertised, dont' know who made them, but every now and then you'll see a set pop up for sale.
I used to prefer the 87 style too until I got my 88.. I prefer the 88-90 IROCs in general now.. decal placement, moldings, stripes, wheels, fog light switch, etc
I bought a set of their 17x9 GTAs and love them. 17s with some good, square sidwall work perfectly on thirdgens. Hawks did a great job on these wheels.
Disappointed they're not doing 91-92 Z28 wheels, because if they did I'd buy a set ASAP. If I had an IROC, I'd be putting in my order in immediately!
17x9 ET12 with 275/40/17 rubber is a very nice fitment for these cars. They did a great job with that. Here's my car with hotchkis lowering springs:
I bought a set of their 17x9 GTAs and love them. 17s with some good, square sidwall work perfectly on thirdgens. Hawks did a great job on these wheels.
Disappointed they're not doing 91-92 Z28 wheels, because if they did I'd buy a set ASAP. If I had an IROC, I'd be putting in my order in immediately!
17x9 ET12 with 275/40/17 rubber is a very nice fitment for these cars. They did a great job with that. Here's my car with hotchkis lowering springs:
That looks great man! I agree I would be all over a set of 17 in 91/92 rims if they made them.
Someone had Boyd's make the 91-92 Z28 wheels. several years ago. At that time, anyone could purchase them. Not sure, but maybe worth a call. Have we discussed this before??? LOL Anyhow, pricey I'm sure, but no "design" fees. It was a black car. Sickness? I honestly don't remember who did it.
Someone had Boyd's make the 91-92 Z28 wheels. several years ago. At that time, anyone could purchase them. Not sure, but maybe worth a call. Have we discussed this before??? LOL Anyhow, pricey I'm sure, but no "design" fees. It was a black car. Sickness? I honestly don't remember who did it.
I know exactly what you're talking about, and they turned out all sorts of wrong. Too much dish, too polished, and a Boyd signature center cap. Nice wheels, but not faithful, reproduction 91-92 Z28 wheels.
Hawks did it right on the GTA wheel: they took a factory wheel, scaled it from 16x8 to 17x9, and kept the proportions right. It's as if they took a time machine back to the 80's and switched the GM spec sheet from 16x8 to 17x9, then let GM do the rest. The wheels look factory GM. If the pic above is not a photoshop, then it looks like they did this exact upscale method for the IROC repros.
Ok, well I'll be the first to ask. lol. What's the widest tire you can fit in the rear with those wheels without major modifications? 275? 295? Can you go 275 in the front without clearance issues? I'll be buying these when they are released for sure.
Last edited by IROCThe5.7L; Jun 29, 2018 at 06:44 PM.
these look great... i love the Hawks GTA mesh wheels i put on my black 85 iroc... can't wait to get a set of these to try out on another one of my 3rd gens...
What don't you like about it? Didn't all the SS and WS6 4th gen cars run 9"? Maybe they were 9.5"?
A low profile tire likes to be stretched on the rim a bit. That goes for handling tires & drag radials. Good rule of thumb: Tire width 1" greater than the rim width. A drag radial might want to be stretched even more.
255 mm = 10 inch --> 9" rim
275 mm = 10.8 inch --> 9.8" rim
A lot of people buy tires that make them feel cool. And then they get their doors sucked off by the few people that buy tires to perform.
There is a sensible reason why Hawk's stopped at 9" and it is to avoid packaging problems with the front steering tie rods. Not to mention fitment into other vehicle platforms that can't stuff as big a wheel/tire as we can.
Man I wish they would make the 91-92 camaro wheels in 17. I'd be in for 3 sets.
those would look great on my 91 vert too!
this is a great advancement for us in OEM type wheels that will fit well and look great. hopefully will sell well enough to allow investment into some other wheel types in the future by bruce like formula and 91-92
i have bought so many different wheels over the years from billet specialties, etc... they are all sitting in my barn's attic because while they allowed great tire / brake abilities i just never could find something that i really liked compared to the OEM look.
i bet these will be a great hit for a large portion of us who are looking for the an upgraded OEM look as the key priority
There is a sensible reason why Hawk's stopped at 9" and it is to avoid packaging problems with the front steering tie rods.
If they had made 18" an option that tie rod issue would go away and you would get more clearance from the strut body as well. I'm very interested in this new offering from Hawks but a 17x9 and nothing else is (18x9.5???) is keeping me from pre-ordering. I think I'll wait to see them on some member's cars. I already have a 17x9.5 rim so I'm not sold yet.
Ok, well I'll be the first to ask. lol. What's the widest tire you can fit in the rear with those wheels without major modifications? 275? 295? Can you go 275 in the front without clearance issues? I'll be buying these when they are released for sure.
Yes - in the picture of my car above, I'm running 275/40/17 BFGs on all four corners. Car is lowered 1" on hotchkis springs and has no clearance issues. The GTAs came with a small space for non-1LE cars; not sure what the offsets will be for the IROCs.
Man I wish they would make the 91-92 camaro wheels in 17. I'd be in for 3 sets.
Yep, I'd love a set of 91-92 wheels as well. It might be challenging, though, because does anybody reproduce faithful center caps for those wheels? And if you are running used centers, there's a chance they won't match the machine finished repros. The GTAs are easy to match with black or chrome plastic covers.
Originally Posted by QwkTrip
A low profile tire likes to be stretched on the rim a bit. That goes for handling tires & drag radials. Good rule of thumb: Tire width 1" greater than the rim width. A drag radial might want to be stretched even more.
255 mm = 10 inch --> 9" rim
275 mm = 10.8 inch --> 9.8" rim
A lot of people buy tires that make them feel cool. And then they get their doors sucked off by the few people that buy tires to perform.
There is a sensible reason why Hawk's stopped at 9" and it is to avoid packaging problems with the front steering tie rods. Not to mention fitment into other vehicle platforms that can't stuff as big a wheel/tire as we can.
GM didn't even follow that recommendation: 245/50/16 equates to a 8.5" wide wheel.
For a street driven car, the 275/40s on 17x9 work very well. You get a proper American look with square sidewalls and no stretching. You also retain some sidewall which is good because these cars are stiff. I noticed no loss in ride quality when I made the switch, but an improvement in handling and braking.
If your goal is pure performance and track times, then sure - buy a lightweight, competition-oriented wheel in a bigger size unless rules constrain you to 17x9.
There are center caps reproduced for the 91-92 wheels but without the CAMARO written on them. Rememer the 4th gen firehawk wheels,4th gen camaro, impala ss, malibu and the s10 all used the same center caps. The other cars were blank centers with a bowtie on the black area.
No, the actual reason is that 9" fits a lot more older GM cars than a 9.5" = a great example is the 2nd gen f-body, 9" fits up front, 9.5" only fits with aftermarket tubular upper control arms.
9.5" is an easy fit on 3rd gens with a 5.25" BS.
Originally Posted by QwkTrip
There is a sensible reason why Hawk's stopped at 9" and it is to avoid packaging problems with the front steering tie rods. Not to mention fitment into other vehicle platforms that can't stuff as big a wheel/tire as we can.
Does anybody make a Pontiac "Turbo" style wheel in 17x9 for the Formula's?
I'd be all over the Formula wheels in 17". I have been thinking of paying to have some made where they cut the centers out and press/weld them into some barrels.
Does anyone know if the wheels are being reproduced with the different offset front/rear, like the original 16"?
I currently have the 15" IROC wheels on my '88 IROC, but suspect when I go to rear discs, clearance will be a problem. I'm thinking I'd be better off with the 17", rather than finding a set of OEM 16", since either way I'm looking at buying a set of wheels.
Those look great and all, and I sure am glad that someone out there keeps making stuff like these for our cars....but.....we need....FORMULA WHEELS!!!!
Seriously tho, I would’ve thought that a 17” Formula wheel would be in demand and sell just as well as some of these other wheels. I guess not?
Those look great and all, and I sure am glad that someone out there keeps making stuff like these for our cars....but.....we need....FORMULA WHEELS!!!!
Seriously tho, I would’ve thought that a 17” Formula wheel would be in demand and sell just as well as some of these other wheels. I guess not?
Yeah, I really like the stock formula wheels.. would look great in 17”..
I never thought they’d bother making 88-90 IROC wheels (since most non-thirdgen people don’t notice the difference) so maybe they will eventually..
Any more info on firehawks wheel ? when it will be available ?
I don't know when they're available, but I see you're running a 383 with a t5 and 4.10 gears. What I DO know is you do NOT need wider tires!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You hook once and that ole borg warner is TOAST!!!!!!!!
You hook once and that ole borg warner is TOAST!!!!!!!!
