93 Base
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 334
Likes: 23
From: Muskegon Michigan
93 Base
Any problems changing the saw blades on a 93 to 17x8.5 on all four wheels instead of the staggered 17x8.5 and 17x9.5 as now? I think the off set is the same.
I just can't foresee a problem but better to ask.
Thanks
I just can't foresee a problem but better to ask.
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: May 2000
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From: Plantation Florida USAF(Retired) 1966-1990
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St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
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Why not ask a store that sells wheels, or tire store that sells tires, they would know what works, cause if they sell you something that doesn't work, law suit.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,674
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From: Saskatoon Sask.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 755
Likes: 42
From: Sierra Foothills, State of Jefferson
Why not have the 9.5's all the way around? From '88 onward, the Z51/Z07 option used all 9.5 wheels.
275/40/17 tires. Still popular
C4 suspension chart
275/40/17 tires. Still popular
C4 suspension chart
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 396
From: Northwest Ohio
I agree I would go 9.5 all around....would never consider downsizing the rear (I would think it would tuck in more and not look as good, the fronts being narrower already tucks in more than I like on my 93. My plan is to go 18inch 10.5s all around at some point
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,091
Likes: 1,972
From: St. Charles MO
Sprongs, there will be zero issue using the 17x8.5 wheels all around, but you will need the proper tire size to go with them: 245/45/17 or 255/45/17. Don't try to use 275/40/17 on them. They are too narrow for that tire size. As others have said, 17x9.5 at all four corners with 275/40/17 would be preferable from a performance standpoint. But...
I'm assuming you already have a set of "staggered" 8.5/9.5 base sawblade wheels for your car? And I see you live in Michigan. If you get another staggered set of sawblades (which you can usually find cheap), you could then have a full set of 17x9.5 with "summer" (really "three season") tires in 275/40/17 and a full set of 17x8.5 with winter-oriented tires for, you know, winter. That's what I'd do in your situation.
I'm assuming you already have a set of "staggered" 8.5/9.5 base sawblade wheels for your car? And I see you live in Michigan. If you get another staggered set of sawblades (which you can usually find cheap), you could then have a full set of 17x9.5 with "summer" (really "three season") tires in 275/40/17 and a full set of 17x8.5 with winter-oriented tires for, you know, winter. That's what I'd do in your situation.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: St. Charles MO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,024
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From: Central Alabama
Why not have the 9.5's all the way around? From '88 onward, the Z51/Z07 option used all 9.5 wheels.
275/40/17 tires. Still popular
C4 suspension chart
275/40/17 tires. Still popular
C4 suspension chart
OP just so you understand what drove GM to the 8.5's up front on base cars.
This was posted in another thread on this same subject by corvetteronw
GM Press release Sept 92 as quoted in Mike Antonik's Cor-Vette Specs C4 book: "The ride and handling of the ZR-1 inspired the engineers to change the wheel and tire size on the standard Corvette. The coupe and convertible are now equipped with 17 X 8.5 in. wheels up front and 17 X 9.5 in. wheels in the rear. (The '92 models were equipped with four, 17 X 9.5 in. wheels.) The new wheels are mated to P255/45ZR17 and P285/40ZR17 tires respectively. The change is designed to balance tractive efforts--fore, aft and laterally."
"The exception to this was the RPO Z07 suspension package which dispensed with the smaller wheels and tires up front and went with the bigger rims and P285/40ZR1s front and rear."
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,091
Likes: 1,972
From: St. Charles MO
GM Press release Sept 92 as quoted in Mike Antonik's Cor-Vette Specs C4 book: "The ride and handling of the ZR-1 inspired the engineers to change the wheel and tire size on the standard Corvette. The coupe and convertible are now equipped with 17 X 8.5 in. wheels up front and 17 X 9.5 in. wheels in the rear. (The '92 models were equipped with four, 17 X 9.5 in. wheels.) The new wheels are mated to P255/45ZR17 and P285/40ZR17 tires respectively. The change is designed to balance tractive efforts--fore, aft and laterally."
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,329
Likes: 6,509
From: Melbourne, FL
That's a type of faux-engineering marketing gobbledeegook. It doesn't mean anything. No Corvette ever improved its tractive efforts by going to smaller front tires. Anyone who races a Corvette will tell you that you should use the widest wheels and tires that the rules will allow. They went to the narrow 8.5 wheels up front on base Corvettes in order to reduce tramlining, and they put balloon tires on it to give a cushier ride to all the old people who were buying them and complaining about ride harshness. This was also the time they started putting softer and softer springs in the car. But for best tractive efforts in all directions, you clearly don't use narrower wheels and tires.
The handling package added the 9.5" wheels back, so what does that tell you? They are better, that's what.