Wheel and tire size
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 12
From: Midwest
Wheel and tire size
I want to get American racing torq-thrust wheels for my 68. I will be getting offset trailing arms and the dual mount spring. I would like 18X8 on the front and 18X10 on the rear. Will this setup realistically work, any rubbing etc? What size tires as well as back spacing do I need? Thanks for all the input!
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 262
Likes: 2
From: FREDERICKSBURG VA
I'm not sure about C3's but you can use the wheelrite tool find the wheel & tire size size & offset.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
C3 backspacing is 4 in. I have 17 x 8 with 4 in BS on the front of mine and 18 x 9.5 with 5 in. BS on the back with stock trailing arms and 285/40/18 rubber on the back. Car handles real good now with ZR rated Toyo T1R tires. 
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: DFW Texas
motorhead,
Did you have to relocate the e-brake cable bracket or the remove the rear sway for for the 9.5'' rims to fit in the rear? Any other things to lookout for with the wider rear tire?
Thanks,
Jason
Did you have to relocate the e-brake cable bracket or the remove the rear sway for for the 9.5'' rims to fit in the rear? Any other things to lookout for with the wider rear tire?
Thanks,
Jason
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 12
From: Midwest
Ok so the standard backspacing is 4” and for 18X10 I need 5.5”. To me that mean 1.5” of the extra 2” goes into the car and the other 0.5” goes out. I was looking at my vette this weekend and it does not look like there is space for the wheel and tire to stick out ½” inch more. One possibility is my current wheels could be 3.5” backspacing. I currently have wheel vintiques rally’s 16X8. I will have to measure.
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but in my humble opinion putting oversize rims with little bitty sidewall tires makes me think some-one whats to Rice-r-ize 
the look of a CLASSIC C-3.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 3
From: Springfield Illinois
As far as rice r ize goes... I think that is impossible to do to a C3 its too AMERICAN
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Nice Lake Ontario
But then again IF I was to be chasing you around corners a 40 year old car would not be my vehicle of choice either!
I prefer to be a little gentler on mine
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
The kind of rubber you mount on the rims can make a HUGE difference. I need to upgrade my rims/tires. 225/70/15 sucks. It does look classic; but handles classic too.
And as we all know they don't make performance tires on 15" rims for us.
My civic daily driver with Z rated rubber will out handle the corvette easily. That wasn't the case until I got the new tires on the civic.
And as we all know they don't make performance tires on 15" rims for us.
My civic daily driver with Z rated rubber will out handle the corvette easily. That wasn't the case until I got the new tires on the civic.
Last edited by flood; Sep 5, 2007 at 02:39 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 12
From: Midwest
I think with the classic wheels being made in bigger sizes the bigger wheels look better on the older c-3's. The hard nose sharks look nice with vintage style wheels.
I figure I only live once which is too short a time to baby my car all the time. I like it to look like a show car and drive it like a rental.
I figure I only live once which is too short a time to baby my car all the time. I like it to look like a show car and drive it like a rental.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,720
Likes: 25
From: Sorrento Italy
Tires you use is only part of the game, if good rubber was enough to transform a bad handling car into a hillclimb champion...
but it's not enough, it is just part of a whole with many variables.
weight and its distribution, chassis design, steering, unsprung weights, suspensions (with all its components), tires...
each one of them that is uprated contributes to better the handling but not to transform the way a car drives.
my personal half cent of course
but it's not enough, it is just part of a whole with many variables.
weight and its distribution, chassis design, steering, unsprung weights, suspensions (with all its components), tires...
each one of them that is uprated contributes to better the handling but not to transform the way a car drives.
my personal half cent of course
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
When I took the mighty S rated BFG's off and put on the ZR rated Toyo T1R's and went around the first corner it was amazing.
It was like the car was glued to the pavement. I thought to myself so this is what it feels like to go around a corner in a sports car, finally after 10 years
It was like the car was glued to the pavement. I thought to myself so this is what it feels like to go around a corner in a sports car, finally after 10 years
