Summit or JEGS wheels
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Summit or JEGS wheels
I'm thinking of upgrading my 74 to 17 inch wheels and the one's from JEGs and Summit look appealing. They are the TTII knockoffs. I currently have Fenton Fanjets in 15 x 8.5. They are circa 1970s. Here's a pic
Here is a link to the JEGS wheel
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/67004...ductId=1211759
And here is a link to the Summit Wheel
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-141-7861GM0/
They both run about $150 each and look like a good bargain if they fit. So here's are the questions.
Will the 4.5 inch backspacing cause a problem? I have offset trailing arms in the back so I don't believe that's an issue. I'm more concerned about the front.
Will they clear the stock calipers without spacers?
What tire size would you recommend? I don't need monster rubber since I don't race it. I'm looking for good handling, ride and wear. I'm currently running 255 60 15 BFG Radial TAs and I get a little rubbing on the front fenders at full lock. I'd like to avoid that so I'm thinking of something in the 225 - 245 range.
Does anyone have a set or pictures?
Here is a link to the JEGS wheel
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/67004...ductId=1211759
And here is a link to the Summit Wheel
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-141-7861GM0/
They both run about $150 each and look like a good bargain if they fit. So here's are the questions.
Will the 4.5 inch backspacing cause a problem? I have offset trailing arms in the back so I don't believe that's an issue. I'm more concerned about the front.
Will they clear the stock calipers without spacers?
What tire size would you recommend? I don't need monster rubber since I don't race it. I'm looking for good handling, ride and wear. I'm currently running 255 60 15 BFG Radial TAs and I get a little rubbing on the front fenders at full lock. I'd like to avoid that so I'm thinking of something in the 225 - 245 range.
Does anyone have a set or pictures?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 216
Likes: 1
From: columbia south carolina
i believe that 235/60/15 tire size was an option, at least on my 78. by the way, i really like the wheels you have on your car. if you were closer i'd buy em when you got the new wheels/tires. unfortunately the shipping to south carolina would be a killer.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I don't know about the wheels but I am running a 255 45 17 front tire and no rubbing problems at all. A 255 50 17 rubbed slightly on the front. My wheels are 17X8 with a 4 inch backspace. You don't need to go narrower so much but lower profile most of the time works
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Yeah, I've had a few offers in the past for them but until now I haven't wanted to change. The problem now is that it's really difficult to get good rubber in the 15 inch size. Also, the wheels, since they're almost 40 years old are showing their age. The aluminum around the center is a little pitted and the spokes are faded. I could probably do a little sanding and polishing and bring them back up to snuff but that's a project for another day. Right now I'd like to replace them and maybe in the future do a restore on them. 
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
I haven't seen you for a while because I haven't been to any car shows recently. I've been recovering from prostate cancer and haven't been able to do much for the past couple of years. I'm hoping to get back in the swing of things this year.I was thinking that by going with a 4.5 inch backspace I would eliminate the rubbing. Do you think?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
The 4.5 will pull the wheel in closer to the frame. Where exactly is it rubbing. If it is the frame this will only make it worse. If it is the body Maybe. Hows that for a crappy answer.
Yes I have not seen you in a while. Hope everything is going OK now.
Yes I have not seen you in a while. Hope everything is going OK now.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Dublin
Hi
Got the same wheels a few weeks ago except that they are the chrome version:
Wheel, 141 Legend 5, Aluminum, Chrome, 17 in. x 8 in., 5 x 4.75 in. Bolt Circle, 4.50 in. Backspace, Each
Car's currently being restored so havnt driven on 'em yet but bolted the front on with a 245 45 17 dont see that there will be any problem.
Got the same wheels a few weeks ago except that they are the chrome version:
Wheel, 141 Legend 5, Aluminum, Chrome, 17 in. x 8 in., 5 x 4.75 in. Bolt Circle, 4.50 in. Backspace, Each
Car's currently being restored so havnt driven on 'em yet but bolted the front on with a 245 45 17 dont see that there will be any problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Be careful, when puting a 17 x 8 or 18 x 8 on your car with the 4.5" backspacing, it sucks the wheels under the car 1/2", which doesn't seem like much, but when you look at the tire profile of a 255.60/15 and a 255/45/17, you will notice that the 15" wheel looks about 1" wider because of sidewall bulge. When you lose this 1/2" and the 1/2" backspacing, the tires dissapear under the fenders. Look at my 17 x 8 Torq Thrust wheels with the 4.5" back spacing on my 72. I added a 1" spacer to the rear. You can see the difference between the front and rear in the pictures. I will be adding either a 1/2" or a 1" spacer to the front as soon as I get them.
You can see that the rears hit the sun, but the fronts don't.
Different angle here.
See how the front tires seem to be sucked into the fenders?
You can see that the rears hit the sun, but the fronts don't.
Different angle here.
See how the front tires seem to be sucked into the fenders?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I think your best bet is to stay with the 4 inch backspace and run a slightly smaller diameter tire such as the 255 45 17 in front. In the rear to fill out the wheel well a 255 50 17 tire is no problem. I ran 255 45 17s in the front and rear and the rear looked lost. I now run a 275 40 18 rear on a 18X10 with a 5.5 backspace.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Good info! My current tires rub on the fender lip and at the bottom of the front fenders where it kicks in. The rubbing is just a little but I'd like to eliminate it. Also, my current 255 60 15s stick out almost past the fenders. I'm not positive what my current backspace is but my 225 70 15s ( those in the picture) fit much better.
I checked the sites and it doesn't look like they offer a 17 x 8 with a 4 inch backspace unless I'm missing something.
I checked the sites and it doesn't look like they offer a 17 x 8 with a 4 inch backspace unless I'm missing something.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Thanks Gordon. It hasn't been fun and I've had some complications but I'm hoping the coming year will be better. The good news is the cancer is gone. The bad news is it doesn't leave you untouched even if you've beat it.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 409
Likes: 5
From: Orange County CA
I know you are looking at larger wheel diameter, but I have the 15 x 8 Chrome Summit wheels on my car and I did not need to do any modifications to the parking brake cable bracket, and no rubbing at all... Great Fit
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 216
Likes: 1
From: columbia south carolina
i went to tire rack and found THE wheels for my 78. theyre 16x8 and according to tire rack the 245/50/16 will fit.........can anyone here confirm that? they have the "view the tire/wheel combo on the car" thing and they look badass.
http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_gara...e+w%2FMach+Lip
i'd practically kill to have a set of these on the vette but i'm not paying 1235 dollars for each wheel.
http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_gara...l+w%2FMach+Lip
http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_gara...e+w%2FMach+Lip
i'd practically kill to have a set of these on the vette but i'm not paying 1235 dollars for each wheel.
http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_gara...l+w%2FMach+Lip
Last edited by bucky-katt; Dec 9, 2010 at 02:58 AM.
