17" and 18's
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,795
Likes: 1,196
From: Canberra Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
17" and 18's
Hi
Can someone please explain why so many people run 17"s front and 18"s on the rear ?
Is it to create some more rake for stance ?
Clearance ?
The fronts often seem to be way under the 27" height of originals.
Is there any reason not to run 18"s all round on my 71.
I was thinking Coys C5 Polished 18*8 all round (I dont want to change e-brake etc)
Front 235/45/18 - 26.3"
Rear 255/45/18 - 27"
Your comments appreciated.
Can someone please explain why so many people run 17"s front and 18"s on the rear ?
Is it to create some more rake for stance ?
Clearance ?
The fronts often seem to be way under the 27" height of originals.
Is there any reason not to run 18"s all round on my 71.
I was thinking Coys C5 Polished 18*8 all round (I dont want to change e-brake etc)
Front 235/45/18 - 26.3"
Rear 255/45/18 - 27"
Your comments appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
Did you have to modify rear control arms at all (ie. emergency brake) to make the 9.5" rims work? I'm looking at going with some bigger wheels and R compound tires for HPDE's to give me a bit more traction.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Chapel Hill NC
17's in the front are a good choice if you like a little more rubber... may make the car take the bumps softer. But either 17's or 18's will work.
The rear is a bit different.. in that a 17" wheel may rub against the parking brake cable... while an 18" wheel has a larger radius and may clear the brake cable with no alterations required. This may be a moot point if the wheels you are going to put on have the exact same backspacing as the original wheel.
I just put on a set of 17's in the rear and had to use a 1" adapter to move the wheel out because it rubbed on the parking brake cable and the monospring. What I noticed was that an 18" wheel may have cleared that area and been a non-issue.... but my replacement wheel had a 5" backspacing compared to the original wheels that have a 4" backspacing.
The rear is a bit different.. in that a 17" wheel may rub against the parking brake cable... while an 18" wheel has a larger radius and may clear the brake cable with no alterations required. This may be a moot point if the wheels you are going to put on have the exact same backspacing as the original wheel.
I just put on a set of 17's in the rear and had to use a 1" adapter to move the wheel out because it rubbed on the parking brake cable and the monospring. What I noticed was that an 18" wheel may have cleared that area and been a non-issue.... but my replacement wheel had a 5" backspacing compared to the original wheels that have a 4" backspacing.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 281
From: New York
I went to 17 inch rims just to get a better selection of high performance rubber. I now run 335/35X17 Michelin Pilots in the rear. Yes I have flairs, yes, I relocated the emergency brake clip on the control arm.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Chapel Hill NC
That's my favorite size of tire. Love to see some pics of that rear end!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Many good comments especially the one about the 18's clearing the parking brake bracket, I never had to relocate it. And about the staggered or rake look. Take a look at the new supercars most are running bigger wheel on the back.
One more thing to realize that hasn't come up is that I used 18's on the back and 17's on the front and the 17 are 26inches and the 18's are 27inches tall. But the sidewalls are both 4.5", meaning the distance from the rim to the edge of the tire is the same so from the side the tires front and back look the same you can't really tell the difference because the sidewall is the same but the fronts are an inch smaller.
This is what the new cars try and achieve but not always possible with the size of the rear tires they are putting on them these days.
One more thing to realize that hasn't come up is that I used 18's on the back and 17's on the front and the 17 are 26inches and the 18's are 27inches tall. But the sidewalls are both 4.5", meaning the distance from the rim to the edge of the tire is the same so from the side the tires front and back look the same you can't really tell the difference because the sidewall is the same but the fronts are an inch smaller.
This is what the new cars try and achieve but not always possible with the size of the rear tires they are putting on them these days.
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 233
Likes: 2
From: Sacramento CA
I really want 18/19's on my '80. I'm, most likely, going to end up with this combo;
http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Wheels-fo...39475-2-1.html
I currently have Y2k 17/18 chrome wheels on the car right now. The 17's look too small in the front, IMO. The 18's fill up the rear wheel well really nice, though.
for me, its a personal preference of looks to go with the staggared look. I also like the rear wheel "lip" look as well. 18's all around would look really good as well, I would go with a wider 18" wheel in the rear, though.
I had no clearance issue's with my 275's in the rear. I did have to find a way to keep the e-brake cable from rubbing the tire in its natural position. But, nothing a big zip tie couldn't fix for a short term fix ;-)
http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Wheels-fo...39475-2-1.html
I currently have Y2k 17/18 chrome wheels on the car right now. The 17's look too small in the front, IMO. The 18's fill up the rear wheel well really nice, though.
for me, its a personal preference of looks to go with the staggared look. I also like the rear wheel "lip" look as well. 18's all around would look really good as well, I would go with a wider 18" wheel in the rear, though.
I had no clearance issue's with my 275's in the rear. I did have to find a way to keep the e-brake cable from rubbing the tire in its natural position. But, nothing a big zip tie couldn't fix for a short term fix ;-)
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 281
From: New York
Last edited by cottoneg; Oct 6, 2010 at 04:14 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,795
Likes: 1,196
From: Canberra Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Thanks for the replies guys, the comment re 17"/18"s with same height side wall is an interesting point in overall look of the car.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
The reason the C5s/C6s have staggered wheel size begins with the active handling system: the system requires a specific tire diameter delta front:rear. (the rears are taller)
What this does is allow the system to calculate vast differences in rotation speed front:back to determine whether or not the car is in a spin condition (just as a system could determine traction loss on one side if the RH wheel is spinning faster than the LH wheel)
However, having a 1" difference front and back would look aesthetically displeasing if it weren't for the rim-size change, which makes things "appear" the same when viewed with minimal scrutiny.
What this does is allow the system to calculate vast differences in rotation speed front:back to determine whether or not the car is in a spin condition (just as a system could determine traction loss on one side if the RH wheel is spinning faster than the LH wheel)
However, having a 1" difference front and back would look aesthetically displeasing if it weren't for the rim-size change, which makes things "appear" the same when viewed with minimal scrutiny.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 289
From: Spring Park MN
The front 265/40/18 tires are 26.3 inches tall. The rear 285/40/18 tires are 27". The reason mine are the size they are is because I got the 18x9.5 Halibrand wheels brand new in the boxes for $300. I couldn't say no. I got a good deal on the Goodyear F1's too. I have a $1000 in everything.
Here's a photo. I had just dropped the car off the jack so the back wheels are tucked in still and it looks like I have a lot more clearance than I do to the fender.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
Here are the wheels I'm going to put on my vette. They are C-6 replica wheels in black chrome finish. Fronts are 18 and rears are 19 I bought them two years ago and this is the first time I took them out of my closet!!! I chose the 18/19 combo b/c it will give the car a nice rake.
Last edited by Oldguard 7; Oct 6, 2010 at 04:34 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
It was very close for the emergency brake. I maybe could have tied the cables back but it was a little iffy, so I took the cut off wheel to the brackets and moved them. Not a big deal to do. That was the only mod I needed.
The front 265/40/18 tires are 26.3 inches tall. The rear 285/40/18 tires are 27". The reason mine are the size they are is because I got the 18x9.5 Halibrand wheels brand new in the boxes for $300. I couldn't say no. I got a good deal on the Goodyear F1's too. I have a $1000 in everything.
The front 265/40/18 tires are 26.3 inches tall. The rear 285/40/18 tires are 27". The reason mine are the size they are is because I got the 18x9.5 Halibrand wheels brand new in the boxes for $300. I couldn't say no. I got a good deal on the Goodyear F1's too. I have a $1000 in everything.
.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,557
Likes: 9
From: Oquirrh Mountains
St. Jude Donor '09
Many good comments especially the one about the 18's clearing the parking brake bracket, I never had to relocate it. And about the staggered or rake look. Take a look at the new supercars most are running bigger wheel on the back.
One more thing to realize that hasn't come up is that I used 18's on the back and 17's on the front and the 17 are 26inches and the 18's are 27inches tall. But the sidewalls are both 4.5", meaning the distance from the rim to the edge of the tire is the same so from the side the tires front and back look the same you can't really tell the difference because the sidewall is the same but the fronts are an inch smaller.
This is what the new cars try and achieve but not always possible with the size of the rear tires they are putting on them these days.
One more thing to realize that hasn't come up is that I used 18's on the back and 17's on the front and the 17 are 26inches and the 18's are 27inches tall. But the sidewalls are both 4.5", meaning the distance from the rim to the edge of the tire is the same so from the side the tires front and back look the same you can't really tell the difference because the sidewall is the same but the fronts are an inch smaller.
This is what the new cars try and achieve but not always possible with the size of the rear tires they are putting on them these days.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Schererville IN
Here are the wheels I'm going to put on my vette. They are C-6 replica wheels in black chrome finish. Fronts are 18 and rears are 19 I bought them two years ago and this is the first time I took them out of my closet!!! I chose the 18/19 combo b/c it will give the car a nice rake.
I've been considering the same set up.
Can't wait to see what it looks like.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Schererville IN
It was very close for the emergency brake. I maybe could have tied the cables back but it was a little iffy, so I took the cut off wheel to the brackets and moved them. Not a big deal to do. That was the only mod I needed.
The front 265/40/18 tires are 26.3 inches tall. The rear 285/40/18 tires are 27". The reason mine are the size they are is because I got the 18x9.5 Halibrand wheels brand new in the boxes for $300. I couldn't say no. I got a good deal on the Goodyear F1's too. I have a $1000 in everything.
Here's a photo. I had just dropped the car off the jack so the back wheels are tucked in still and it looks like I have a lot more clearance than I do to the fender.
The front 265/40/18 tires are 26.3 inches tall. The rear 285/40/18 tires are 27". The reason mine are the size they are is because I got the 18x9.5 Halibrand wheels brand new in the boxes for $300. I couldn't say no. I got a good deal on the Goodyear F1's too. I have a $1000 in everything.
Here's a photo. I had just dropped the car off the jack so the back wheels are tucked in still and it looks like I have a lot more clearance than I do to the fender.
Any more pictures?? Those are sweet!