Seems I've been going through some sort of wheel issue all year. Over the last 20 years I've had American Torque Trusts (grey), American Torque Thrust II's(polished), Cragar's and several versions of M/T's and Bogarts and Rally's and Weld wheels on it when racing.

Earlier this year I decided to jump into the the TX Mile to see how fast I could go and after some last minute rule changes I had to grab some US Mag's wheels and Bridgestone tires to meet the speed requirements (186+ MPH rating). The only wheels I could find on short notice looked Ok with their gray center sections...but I really like a little "bling and jewelry" on it. The blue color just seems to like shiny stuff...at least to me.

I found a buyer for those wheels and ordered the ones I had originally wanted...Ridler 650's. I also went up on tire size a little because the last ones looked a little small overall. The rear wheels are 18x9.5 with 5.25" back spacing. The fronts are 17x7-17's with 4" backspacing.

Old ones were 275/45-18's on the rear and 225/45/17's on the front. The new ones are 295/45-18's on rear and 235/45-17's on the front. The front will come down a little...I hadn't driven it after jacking it up to install them. The tires are Nitto NT05's.

So here's some pics of the old and the new.


JIM

 

Very nice.

 

Obviously it's your car and your decision, but like the old ones better. Don't get me wrong, either way I LOVE your car!

 

Nothing wrong with a little bit of old school chrome. The wheels compliment the bumper(s) imo.

 

I've still got the Cragar's. They've got the drag radials mounted for the old school look.

Wheels are the quickest way to change the look of a car for not huge $$. You can always sell what was on it.

Once you've had one 20+ years...it's fun to tweak it once in awhile. I never thought I'd try the big wheel format...but I will say it sure drives nice with them!

Young guys say you can tell the age of a new Vette owner by the wheels. Old guys will have shiny ones...young guys will have black or titanium or something. I never quite got the black wheel look. Even on a 'murdered out" black car....shiny is definitely better IMHO.

The Torque Thrust II's were the hardest to take care of properly. You have to polish those things. Chrome you can just hose off!


I'm sure there will be something else to catch my eye in a few years!!


JIM

 

I actually live closer to Dallas these days....need to update my signature.

JIM

 

I like the chrome wheels better . Black wheels just don't get it, from 20 feet you can't tell if the wheels are steel or some high end stuff.blue and red both need chrome. Somewhere floating around is a picture of my car. Darned if I can find it and I forgot how to post it

 

Jim, how do you like those 295/45/18 Nitto NT05 tires? I was thinking about changing from the Goodyear F1 Supercar 285/40/18 to Nitto's in your size.

Mike

 

I haven't really driven them yet. Just bolted them on last night. Everyone I've talked to say they're great except in the rain.

JIM

 

Congrats on the new wheels, were the old ones US Mags Rambler wheels?

 

Yes sir. U111's Nice wheels. U110's are the same wheel just shiny.

JIM

 

I like them,

Car looks good,

Neal

 

Looks great! I'm a Chrome guy and it picks up on all the other chrome on the Vette.

You have to go to a larger wheel size to get the performance
rubber now a days, comp TAs, just don't do it anymore.
Nittos run nice, you will like them and I feel the cars ride a whole heck of a lot better with bigger wheel/tire setups, especially if you are using performance suspension

 

Same here!

 

Jim,

Do the US Mag's clear the stock calipers?

 

I have Wilwood calipers and they cleared them just fine. I would expect they would clear stockers also.

JIM

 

I usually don't like the look of the "big wheels" on old cars, but I think that's because people use real short tires and they don't fill the wheelwells. With the right tires...I'm starting to like this.

They definitely drive nice...but of course I've been running around with either BFG's or drag radials and skinny front tires for years...so definitely a difference. Once I collect an 8 sec 1/4 mile timeslip, I'll put the Viking coil overs back under the front and might even dig out the old Vette Brakes swaybar for the front and see how it really drives!

JIM

 

Yeah...it wasn't that I didn't like the grey ones at all...they go with the blue well and I ran Torque Thrusts in the past with grey centers. But I guess I'm in a "shiny" mode the last few years!

Heck...I won't like the shirt I'm wearing next year! Wheels are easy to change and make a completely different look.

JIM

 

Don't worry, I understand what you mean. Prior to my '01 C-5, I had a '77 Pontiac T/A, for 25 years. During that time, I had 3-4 sets of wheels on it, and the C-5 is on it's 3rd set.....

 

Jim, thanks. I am also running the D8-6 and D8-4 calipers. Good to know that these will clear.