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Hello all, new vette owner here. I live in Canada and am curious if anyone has put firebird rims on their 85 vet Base model? i dont plan on doing alot of driving in the winter months with it, but if i need to go out and its snowy i want to make sure im not gonna die. I also dont want to spend a fortune on special rims because of the fitment, just something to get me by. Any help would be great.
I would have thought you could find a descent set of factory 84- 87 stock rims for a descent price . Like many things prices on vintage parts are rising . Especially for reman or really nice originals. I worked for a tire dealer from 1982 - 1990. We never tried 15" rims like the 15 x 8 Corvette steel rally on the early C4's. Mainly because the new 16 " Goodyear 255 / 50 VR16 Gator back was developed along with the new Corvette and was better than what the previous C3's had.
We did however put 15" rims on Iroc Z's that came with 16" rims. The Iroc had smaller front rotors. The real issue is the offset or backspacing . Even on the 15 x 8 steel rally you will find different back spacing made today from 4.00 to 5.00 . These new wheels go anywhere from just under $100.00 to over $ 120.00 per wheel. The originals might bring more for someone looking for date code correct ones .
The literature on the new 84 Corvette listed 15" wheels standard with 215/ 65 R 15 tires , the option was listed as 255 / 50 VR 16 . Infact I believe the only 1983 Corvette at the museum has 15" wheels . Where as all 84 Corvettes came with the 16's . So the issues are back spacing and front caliper clearance . I'm sure someone has played with running 15 " wheels on the C4. You have to figure it's going to cost you . Even if you got real lucky and got a descent set of four wheels for $250.00 your going to spend at least $ 80 to $ 100 or more for tires. Probably more when all said and done. Unless someone gives you a set of wheels. It can happen . A good friend gave me a nice set of 17 " chrome A-mold wheels with two tires for my ZR1.
1983 Corvette at NCM in Bowling Green, KY.
The wheels may be 16" on the 83. This is one of several pre productions cars .
Last edited by ZWILDZR1; Dec 10, 2021 at 02:20 PM.
The 16x8 3rd-gen Firebird wheels had an offset of 16mm. That's 16mm less (further to the outside) than 16x8.5 C4 wheels. Given that they are 1/2 narrower and you'd probably be putting narrower (245?) tires on them, they would sit a bit further toward the outside but not by much. They should fit fine. The 7x15 wheels are et12, and they should fit similarly with 225 tires.
I love the detailed advice provided by experienced members. I may be a senior member but certainly limited in overall knowledge. But then… once in a while there is some subtle irony sprinkled in.
Winter tires
