Will these wheels work?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 154
From: Somewhere Near Bakersfield California
Will these wheels work?
Gonna get a c4 (92-96 base) for myself to mod soon. I found really nice wheels that replicate the fm5 pretty damn nice. Hyper silver with polished lip. And also concave which is why I am asking... these specs are aggresive.
Front: 18x9 +35 offset | Tires: Nitto drag radials 255/35x18
Rear: 18x10.5 +12 offset | Tires: Nitto drag radials 305/35x18
I know the Rear is stock size in terms of width but the offset is way aggresive. But I do plan on having fender flares no doubt. So the rears might be good to go? What about the fronts?
Front: 18x9 +35 offset | Tires: Nitto drag radials 255/35x18
Rear: 18x10.5 +12 offset | Tires: Nitto drag radials 305/35x18
I know the Rear is stock size in terms of width but the offset is way aggresive. But I do plan on having fender flares no doubt. So the rears might be good to go? What about the fronts?
Last edited by Jaime-Corvette; Mar 18, 2020 at 10:29 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,483
Likes: 1,231
From: Fredonia WI
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2020 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods)
2018 C4 of Year Finalist
Look good. I'm interested to see them on your C4.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 154
From: Somewhere Near Bakersfield California
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,125
Likes: 2,001
From: St. Charles MO
I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner. Those aren't going to be close to fitting in back, and the fronts will be dicey, too. I don't know where you got the idea that 10.5" is "stock" size, but it's not. Most 88-96 C4s came with 9.5" rear wheels, but the ZR1 and Grand Sport came with 11". The width isn't your problem - the offset is. A gradn Sport 17x11 has 50mm offset, which gives it 7.97" of backspacking and 4.03" of "frontspacing" (the distance from the hub face to the outside edge of the wheel). It sits just flush with the fender edges with 315 tires. The 10.5" wheels you're looking at with 12mm of offset will sit a full 1.25" further out than that. IOW, they are going to poke outside your fender edges by 1-1/4"! It's a terrible idea.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 154
From: Somewhere Near Bakersfield California
I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner. Those aren't going to be close to fitting in back, and the fronts will be dicey, too. I don't know where you got the idea that 10.5" is "stock" size, but it's not. Most 88-96 C4s came with 9.5" rear wheels, but the ZR1 and Grand Sport came with 11". The width isn't your problem - the offset is. A gradn Sport 17x11 has 50mm offset, which gives it 7.97" of backspacking and 4.03" of "frontspacing" (the distance from the hub face to the outside edge of the wheel). It sits just flush with the fender edges with 315 tires. The 10.5" wheels you're looking at with 12mm of offset will sit a full 1.25" further out than that. IOW, they are going to poke outside your fender edges by 1-1/4"! It's a terrible idea.
Also my bad I said 10.5 stock on rear cause I'm so used to the c6 section of the forum.
Last edited by Jaime-Corvette; Mar 20, 2020 at 01:38 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,125
Likes: 2,001
From: St. Charles MO
I don't know what those are. A quick search makes me think they are replica GS flares. If so, then answer is no. GS flares are just tacked-on pieces that don't actually increase the fender clearance at all. Real flares require cutting a bigger arch in the fenders and then they cover the cut-out portion with the flare. These are not those. The GS flares were just meant to provide legality to the 17x11 et50 wheels on the GS vehicle in 96. Those are the same wheels that sit 1.25" inward as compared to the ones you want to buy. They're going to stick out, and it's not going to be subtle. They may or may not hit the top of the fender arch as the suspension compresses, depending on how much of a 4x4 look you want to have.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 154
From: Somewhere Near Bakersfield California
I don't know what those are. A quick search makes me think they are replica GS flares. If so, then answer is no. GS flares are just tacked-on pieces that don't actually increase the fender clearance at all. Real flares require cutting a bigger arch in the fenders and then they cover the cut-out portion with the flare. These are not those. The GS flares were just meant to provide legality to the 17x11 et50 wheels on the GS vehicle in 96. Those are the same wheels that sit 1.25" inward as compared to the ones you want to buy. They're going to stick out, and it's not going to be subtle. They may or may not hit the top of the fender arch as the suspension compresses, depending on how much of a 4x4 look you want to have.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,125
Likes: 2,001
From: St. Charles MO
Not only no, but hell no. The problem is the offset in those wheels. Get proper-fitting wheels and then you can lower the car to your heart's content.