17" wheels?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 166
Likes: 73
From: Indiana
17" wheels?
There is a ton of threads and info out there on 17" wheels to the point my head is spinning. I have a z51 86 that I may switch to a 17" wheel due to limited tire selection for the factory 9.5" wheel. I want to run 274/40 17 on all corners. Is there an aftermarket 17" wheel that would fit my early 86 without spacers? Not a fan of spacers. Any pics?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,078
Likes: 283
From: Dyersburg TN
I just put 86 Corvette into tirerack.com and saw only two sets to fit and there were available in 17 and 18 inch versions. The problem with the C4 has always been their offset. Stuff that fits a ton of other Chevys will not work and the C4 does not even share well between years. Good luck in your search.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 449
From: NJ
Most, if not all, of the 17x9.5 aftermarket A mold wheels, which is what you would need for 275’s, are +56mm offset. I believe you would either need to find something more in the +38 mm offset range or run the 56 offset with spacers. To be honest, I don’t know if any of the aftermarket A molds are the offset you need. I could be wrong, but the “OE Wheels” I have seen on Jegs and the like are all 56 offset. The original companies that were making the A molds are out of business. Not sure if they made anything with different offsets in the older days but if they did you might be able to find some.
Also, I wouldn’t throw wheel spacers out of bed just yet. Quality spacers of both pass through and bolt on styles are just as good and reliable on the track as they are on the street. Many guys that push these cars way harder than I ever will run them on the track all the time without fail. They will also center those 56 offset wheels juuuust right. If you want A molds, the easiest thing to do is get some brandy new ones and run spacers.
Also, I wouldn’t throw wheel spacers out of bed just yet. Quality spacers of both pass through and bolt on styles are just as good and reliable on the track as they are on the street. Many guys that push these cars way harder than I ever will run them on the track all the time without fail. They will also center those 56 offset wheels juuuust right. If you want A molds, the easiest thing to do is get some brandy new ones and run spacers.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 166
Likes: 73
From: Indiana
Most, if not all, of the 17x9.5 aftermarket A mold wheels, which is what you would need for 275’s, are +56mm offset. I believe you would either need to find something more in the +38 mm offset range or run the 56 offset with spacers. To be honest, I don’t know if any of the aftermarket A molds are the offset you need. I could be wrong, but the “OE Wheels” I have seen on Jegs and the like are all 56 offset. The original companies that were making the A molds are out of business. Not sure if they made anything with different offsets in the older days but if they did you might be able to find some.
Also, I wouldn’t throw wheel spacers out of bed just yet. Quality spacers of both pass through and bolt on styles are just as good and reliable on the track as they are on the street. Many guys that push these cars way harder than I ever will run them on the track all the time without fail. They will also center those 56 offset wheels juuuust right. If you want A molds, the easiest thing to do is get some brandy new ones and run spacers.
Also, I wouldn’t throw wheel spacers out of bed just yet. Quality spacers of both pass through and bolt on styles are just as good and reliable on the track as they are on the street. Many guys that push these cars way harder than I ever will run them on the track all the time without fail. They will also center those 56 offset wheels juuuust right. If you want A molds, the easiest thing to do is get some brandy new ones and run spacers.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,721
Likes: 333
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
Pay attention to the specs for the specific wheels you purchase. The key item is "offset". You're looking for +38mm or so.
Various "A mold"-looking wheels were made with different offsets to avoid the spacers on '84-'96. Double check the listing.
Can hand measure as well: https://www.jegs.com/tech-articles/e...kspacing-more/
Another option, look for C7 (7th generation Corvette) 18x9.5 wheels with +40mm offset, these will fit fine without spacers as well. I run these on my '87, with 255/40r18 tires, which results in the same size as the original stock 16x9.5 with 255/50r16 tires.
Various "A mold"-looking wheels were made with different offsets to avoid the spacers on '84-'96. Double check the listing.
Can hand measure as well: https://www.jegs.com/tech-articles/e...kspacing-more/
Another option, look for C7 (7th generation Corvette) 18x9.5 wheels with +40mm offset, these will fit fine without spacers as well. I run these on my '87, with 255/40r18 tires, which results in the same size as the original stock 16x9.5 with 255/50r16 tires.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 449
From: NJ
Sorry for the delay. With a half to 3/4” spacer I believe you would need to install longer studs. That’s the beauty of the bolt ons, but understand your concerns with them. I know guys who have them. They religiously pulled their wheels and checked the torque on the spacers just to find they hadn’t budged. You could always red loctite them as well. They will still break loose with an impact if you had to pull them. Once the red loctite seal is broken, I have found that it just crumbles and falls off the threads pretty easily. A little wire brushing to remove the stubborn remainder and you’re clean and ready to reinstall. I would trust either I think. I would probably feel better about pass throughs with longer studs but that’s just me. You’d be surprised how many vette owners have them. Without custom spec super expensive wheels like CCW, they are required equipment to put the wheels you truly want on your car. Hopefully some others can chime in on their experience with spacers for you or you could start a thread dedicated to that. I’m sure there are plenty of threads on here already on the subject.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,778
Likes: 652
From: USA
Pay attention to the specs for the specific wheels you purchase. The key item is "offset". You're looking for +38mm or so.
Various "A mold"-looking wheels were made with different offsets to avoid the spacers on '84-'96. Double check the listing.
Can hand measure as well: https://www.jegs.com/tech-articles/e...kspacing-more/
Another option, look for C7 (7th generation Corvette) 18x9.5 wheels with +40mm offset, these will fit fine without spacers as well. I run these on my '87, with 255/40r18 tires, which results in the same size as the original stock 16x9.5 with 255/50r16 tires.
Various "A mold"-looking wheels were made with different offsets to avoid the spacers on '84-'96. Double check the listing.
Can hand measure as well: https://www.jegs.com/tech-articles/e...kspacing-more/
Another option, look for C7 (7th generation Corvette) 18x9.5 wheels with +40mm offset, these will fit fine without spacers as well. I run these on my '87, with 255/40r18 tires, which results in the same size as the original stock 16x9.5 with 255/50r16 tires.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 87
Likes: 25
Got any pics of that?