kenmo

Just curious, do you think 16 inch or 17 inch wheels look out of place on a C1 or C2....????

Thanks muchly

Hitch

Nope....

67L36Driver

I saw some real sparkely twenty inchers on a '64 Impala the other day. Now that looked stupid. JM .02

kenmo

Nice looking roadster....

INMYBLOOD

There was a guy who once sent me his pictures of a 57 with 17"s I think today. 16's 17's but I have my doubhts about much larger, although I've never seen a C1 with 20"s. I have 15" boyd smoothies and love them. I just don't have the budget for bigger ones. I should post a new pic with them and the new top.

kenmo

Yes, please post photos....

vintagecorvette

on ebay last week there was a 1964 coupe that has 18" on it. It looked really good.

OverBudget

You'll probably never see 20's on a C1 or C2. The owner of Intro Wheels has done a set of 19's with 30 series tires on a C2, but that was really pushing it. There are great examples with pictures on their website which I think is www.introwheels.com.

My gallery to the left (you may have to go back a few pages) shows my setup which is also summarized below.

67tripwr

Man what is this? Pimp my Corvette? I think is looks like, well I cannot say!

stngry63

I normally drive 15X7.5" with 4" backspacing and 215/70-15 Pirelli P4000s on my '63. The P4000s are the best tire that I have ever put on the car. So much so, I didn't want to ruin them at the track. So, I purchased some 16X7" wheels with 4" backspacing and 225/60-15 Firestone Firehawk Wide ovals. I chose these sizes since I'm not sure about the handling with low profile tires. Both sets are a very tight fit. I normally run -1.5* camber on the rear for handling, and it helps the fit of the tire and the rim/rear spring. With 0* rear camber, the rear spring has rubbed the unloaded wheel when crossing a big dip diagonally; this does not happen with the -1.5*.

The performance of the 225/60-16 tires is amazing, but the ride is harsh. Also, the rear breaks earlier and I have to catch it. I don't know why. But I don't want to change anything since I'm going back to the 215/70-15 for the street and autocross, and the car does an easy/fun four wheel drift with this set up. I run 0" toe and -0.5* camber on the front; no problems with bad tire wear.

Here is a link to the 15X7.5" combo on a friend's website. I have a poor picture of the 16" wheel, but I don't know how to post it.

http://personal.atl.bellsouth.net/t/...y/Brians63.htm

OverBudget

67Tripwr,

I don't say this to convince you, just to explain something you may not be able to appreciate.

In my opinion, the C2 Corvette is the best looking car - ever! I can appreciate a stock NCRS car, although I sometimes laugh at the **** retentiveness to get the proper amount of overspray on something to match the factory, OR to make something look original when it isn't anymore...

Here's my position... Being that the C2 is the best looking car ever (IMO), yet I am of an age (36) where I appreciate the modern elements too. Why not have the freedom to incorporate some modern-ness to the older cars? Especially if the items (wheels, engine components, etc.) can be changed back to original, OR in the case of my car where it had been wrecked several times and was far from original in any way, to make something unique out of it. I love original, but anyone (with the proper amount of money) can have something original. I prefer to have something custom and when I am done I am going to have something that retains the "classic-ness" of the original car, yet is improved in acceleration, handling, comfort (interior), and in my opinion, the design.

When I am done, I believe that my car will be show and magazine worthy. Will it please everyone? Not at all. I expect that it will make some people puke. At the same time, it won't be like any other vette out there.

In the end, I appreciate original cars and will not knock them, but I think that custom cars (when original ones are not butchered to make them), show more creativity and excite me more.

Pimped out in Oregon,

Plasticman

To my eye, YES they are out of place on an otherwise stock appearing C1. I like the retro look (not the "pimp" look). However, the C5 that had the C1 looking body did look neat with the larger wheels. But then, the whole vehicle carried the proper theme of being a modern rendition of the C1.

On a C2, that is a different matter, since the lines of the Mid Year can lend themselves to 16" or 17" wheels - not any larger though! But the hasher ride from a narrowed side wall on either would be a problem to me.

Plasticman

tdelph

I like em all. I have the stock 15's, 17's and now I am probably going to add 18's over the winter. I like the way they all look and for different reasons. Depending on what look I am going for or what mood... I can just change the tires and rims and I am off.

with an open mind you will meet and relate to so many more people. Most people have thought long and hard before doing something to a car like ours and it is a very personal and passionate thing. Live and let live there is room for all.

vintagecorvette

Not like some NASTY flare job, you can always change it the rims and tires back.

kenmo

Hey those 17" Billet Ralley style rims are really cool....Are they made by Wheel Vintiques...or where did you purchase them????

Will they accept a regular Corvette style hubcap (derby style or spinner style)....???

Thanks

John McGraw

Kenmo,
Here is a pic of 17" C5 wheels on my 59 with stock wheelwells. I don't think that they look out of scale for the car, but I am a little biased! LOL

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...3/P0001212.JPG

tdelph

No they wont accept any regular 15" centers. Wheel Vintiques can probably make anything you want in the 17". Yes, I did buy them from WV, they are a good group of guys. I had to return one and get a replacement and they took care of it without issues.

Thanks for the positive comment.

Tim

00fxd

John, Any way a set of those C5 wheels will fit on my '65 with stock wheel wells?

PatsLs1vette

Those 17's look great on yours.I never was a fan of the bigger rims at first then it grew on me,then swapped to 17x9.5s and i love them,handles way better.

tdelph

Thanks Pat. I do like the better feel and look of the larger rims. My tires are still big for a 17" rim. I have 55 series up front so I am still pretty safe if I bump a curb. When I install the 18's I will go 45 series.