18'' Wheels
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 138
Likes: 13
From: Alabama
18'' Wheels
My 1964 Corvette Coupe started life with me in 2015 beginning with a complete body off restoration. With the exception of a few safety-related items, i.e. the master cylinder, front wheel disc brakes, the car remains stock inside and out. I am now interested in outfitting the car with a set of 17'' or 18'' wheels. My question to the group would be "will a stock bodied 64 Corvette Coupe easily accommodate the diameter of a 17 or 18 inch wheel and tire". Also what would the max comfortable wheel width be? Thanks Group in advance.
Popular Reply
Jan 31, 2020, 09:42 AM
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,711
Likes: 552
From: St. Louis MO
2020 Corvette of the Year (appearance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
CI 4-5-7-9-10-11 Car Show Winner
CI 2-3-4-5-6-7-9-10-11 Vet
Below is what I'm running. Tight fit but has NEVER rubbed.
Note: I have RideTech coil over suspension front & rear w/offset trailing arms.
George
Front:
Billet Specialties 18 * 7 wheels 4 ½ offset
Hankook Ventus 235/40/ZR18 V12evo --- 95Y
Rear:
Billet Specialties 18 * 8 wheels 5 ¼ offset
Hankook Ventus 245/45/ZR18 V12evo --- 100Y
Note: I have RideTech coil over suspension front & rear w/offset trailing arms.
George
Front:
Billet Specialties 18 * 7 wheels 4 ½ offset
Hankook Ventus 235/40/ZR18 V12evo --- 95Y
Rear:
Billet Specialties 18 * 8 wheels 5 ¼ offset
Hankook Ventus 245/45/ZR18 V12evo --- 100Y
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 375
Likes: 93
Search is usually the standard response, but I haven’t found the definitive thread yet. Diameter is not the problem as a C2 will take a tall tire. Finding one tall enough in 17 can be a challenge.
This is my opinion after reading threads since I have not bought my wheels yet. 17x7 or 18x7 with zero offset (that is 4” back space on a 7” rim and 225 section width tire should fit on most if not all C2.
The Firestone Indy 500 currently my favorite cheap(er) performance tire. They make a 225 50 17 that is 26” tall which is the shortest height (IMO again) that you should consider.
I am planning on 18’s on my car and I have a set of E46 BMW M3 clone wheels that have 225 35 18 on them. They are 18x8 with WAY too much backspace. But I have several different sets of spacers I plan on using to test fit them on the car before pulling the trigger on some new wheels. I am going to attempt (!) 225 45 18 on front and 255 40 18 on the back using 18x7 Americans. I have an old set of 255 35 18 that came off my wife’s E92 coupe I will mount and test. I do have Global West offset control arms.
At least all of this won’t cost me any money to learn.
This is my opinion after reading threads since I have not bought my wheels yet. 17x7 or 18x7 with zero offset (that is 4” back space on a 7” rim and 225 section width tire should fit on most if not all C2.
The Firestone Indy 500 currently my favorite cheap(er) performance tire. They make a 225 50 17 that is 26” tall which is the shortest height (IMO again) that you should consider.
I am planning on 18’s on my car and I have a set of E46 BMW M3 clone wheels that have 225 35 18 on them. They are 18x8 with WAY too much backspace. But I have several different sets of spacers I plan on using to test fit them on the car before pulling the trigger on some new wheels. I am going to attempt (!) 225 45 18 on front and 255 40 18 on the back using 18x7 Americans. I have an old set of 255 35 18 that came off my wife’s E92 coupe I will mount and test. I do have Global West offset control arms.
At least all of this won’t cost me any money to learn.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,711
Likes: 552
From: St. Louis MO
2020 Corvette of the Year (appearance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
CI 4-5-7-9-10-11 Car Show Winner
CI 2-3-4-5-6-7-9-10-11 Vet
Below is what I'm running. Tight fit but has NEVER rubbed.
Note: I have RideTech coil over suspension front & rear w/offset trailing arms.
George
Front:
Billet Specialties 18 * 7 wheels 4 ½ offset
Hankook Ventus 235/40/ZR18 V12evo --- 95Y
Rear:
Billet Specialties 18 * 8 wheels 5 ¼ offset
Hankook Ventus 245/45/ZR18 V12evo --- 100Y
Note: I have RideTech coil over suspension front & rear w/offset trailing arms.
George
Front:
Billet Specialties 18 * 7 wheels 4 ½ offset
Hankook Ventus 235/40/ZR18 V12evo --- 95Y
Rear:
Billet Specialties 18 * 8 wheels 5 ¼ offset
Hankook Ventus 245/45/ZR18 V12evo --- 100Y
Last edited by Black_Magic; Jan 31, 2020 at 09:43 AM. Reason: spelling
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 62
From: Redondo Beach CA
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Since I have used 245 width 16 inch tires (but with light frame rub at full lock when turning), I would advise anyone not wanting to push the limits on 235 width to be safe. Nice to see Black Magic using 245 in the rear. A couple of other interesting things looking at the tire heights. Stock (205/75/15) tires are 27.1" tall. Looking at alternatives, you see that both my and Black Magic's tires are substantially shorter, which can help when you look at possible interference, but also gaps between the wheel and wheelwell that start to look funny when tires get too short. Below are calculations of tire heights and sidewall heights. (updated since I used 17" and not 18" for the table the first time.)
205/75/15 - 27.1" tall (6" tall sidewall)
245/50/16 - 25.7" tall (4.8" tall sidewall)
235/40/17 - 24.4" tall (3.7" tall sidewall)
245/45/17 - 25.7" tall (4.3" tall sidewall)
225/50/18 - 26.9" tall (4.4" tall sidewall)
235/40/18 - 25.4" tall (3.7" tall sidewall)
245/45/18 - 26.7" tall (4.3" tall sidewall)
It's easy to calculate, but you can also look at manufacturer tire specs, as they will have the "loaded" height and wheel revolutions per mile for that specific tire.
205/75/15 - 27.1" tall (6" tall sidewall)
245/50/16 - 25.7" tall (4.8" tall sidewall)
235/40/17 - 24.4" tall (3.7" tall sidewall)
245/45/17 - 25.7" tall (4.3" tall sidewall)
225/50/18 - 26.9" tall (4.4" tall sidewall)
235/40/18 - 25.4" tall (3.7" tall sidewall)
245/45/18 - 26.7" tall (4.3" tall sidewall)
It's easy to calculate, but you can also look at manufacturer tire specs, as they will have the "loaded" height and wheel revolutions per mile for that specific tire.
Last edited by bcwaller; Feb 1, 2020 at 03:17 PM. Reason: Did 17" and not 18" the first time...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 62
From: Redondo Beach CA
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I just noticed that three of us anwering all had cars in the C2 of the Year 2019 (Black_Magic a winner for appearance mods, reno stallion was a finalist for appearance mods, I was a finalist for performance mods).
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 138
Likes: 13
From: Alabama
18'' Wheels
Thanks to everyone for the help. I presume 4.25 back spacing with some possible shimming up front (disc brake modification) would be the general rule of thumb on the wheels. would that be correct ?
Keith
Keith
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,483
Likes: 1,824
From: McCloud CA
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
With drums in the rear your back space will be 3/4 of an inch different. Disc brakes stick out 3/4 of an inch more then drums. So not sure the back space you need but I do know you will be able to have 3/4" more dish to the rear wheels
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,477
Likes: 5
From: Florida 33460
Below is what I'm running. Tight fit but has NEVER rubbed.
Note: I have RideTech coil over suspension front & rear w/offset trailing arms.
George
Front:
Billet Specialties 18 * 7 wheels 4 ½ offset
Hankook Ventus 235/40/ZR18 V12evo --- 95Y
Rear:
Billet Specialties 18 * 8 wheels 5 ¼ offset
Hankook Ventus 245/45/ZR18 V12evo --- 100Y
Note: I have RideTech coil over suspension front & rear w/offset trailing arms.
George
Front:
Billet Specialties 18 * 7 wheels 4 ½ offset
Hankook Ventus 235/40/ZR18 V12evo --- 95Y
Rear:
Billet Specialties 18 * 8 wheels 5 ¼ offset
Hankook Ventus 245/45/ZR18 V12evo --- 100Y
Black_Magic do you mean back spacing by offset?