Another Wheel Fitment Question
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Watkins Glen NY
Another Wheel Fitment Question
Yes, I'm being lazy. Now that that is out of the way:
We have the opportunity to purchase 11" x 17" ZR1 -style wheels, with a 8" backspace.
(1) Will these fit on the rear of a C4 WITHOUT modification to the fenders?
(2) Are they suitable for road racing use? Light enough? Ridgid enough? Strong enough?
We welcome opinion AND facts, as long as they are identified as such.
Ed LoPresti
607-535-4237
We have the opportunity to purchase 11" x 17" ZR1 -style wheels, with a 8" backspace.
(1) Will these fit on the rear of a C4 WITHOUT modification to the fenders?
(2) Are they suitable for road racing use? Light enough? Ridgid enough? Strong enough?
We welcome opinion AND facts, as long as they are identified as such.
Ed LoPresti
607-535-4237
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,146
Likes: 1,730
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
You gonna tell us a year for the car or are we supposed to guess?
Are they ZR1-style or real ZR1 wheels?
Are they ZR1-style or real ZR1 wheels?
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 6
From: Watkins Glen NY
Vader,
You are probing the deep, dark corners of my ignorance on the subject.
My understanding is that ALL C4s (perhaps with the exception of the ZR1s) have the same spacing in the rear wheelwells. Am I wrong on that?
The candidate wheels LOOK like the ones with which the ZR1 came from the factory, they have a Corvette emblem center cap, and are 11" x 17" with an ~8" backspace. Other than that, what is the secret to telling if they are the "real thing" or a replica?
Thanks for any help you can give.
Ed
You are probing the deep, dark corners of my ignorance on the subject.
My understanding is that ALL C4s (perhaps with the exception of the ZR1s) have the same spacing in the rear wheelwells. Am I wrong on that?
The candidate wheels LOOK like the ones with which the ZR1 came from the factory, they have a Corvette emblem center cap, and are 11" x 17" with an ~8" backspace. Other than that, what is the secret to telling if they are the "real thing" or a replica?
Thanks for any help you can give.
Ed
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,146
Likes: 1,730
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
84-87 have 38mm offset
88-96 have 56mm offset
With 2 caveats, the 96 GS rear rims have 50mm offset, and the actual ZR1 rim has a 36.5mm rear offset. These are both 5-spoke designs, but the GS is black.
The actual ZR1 rim will fit the 84-87 without a spacer plate.
GS or ZR1-style 5 spokes made for 88-96 fit those without spacers.
Aftermarket manufacturers (like AFS Wheels) make the rim to fit the year, and so no spacer/adapter is needed. If its not made to fit, then you have to use one. In a racing-only car, I wouldnt trust them. Its just another variable youre putting in that you dont have to, and in a race car, as you know, you dont want that if you can get around it. VetteBrakes makes a sturdy one that would be my only choice if I was forced into it.
If I recall correctly the 50mm rims equate to slightly more than 7 7/8" backspace, so those should be ZR1-style for the later years, not made to fit the 84-87.
88-96 have 56mm offset
With 2 caveats, the 96 GS rear rims have 50mm offset, and the actual ZR1 rim has a 36.5mm rear offset. These are both 5-spoke designs, but the GS is black.
The actual ZR1 rim will fit the 84-87 without a spacer plate.
GS or ZR1-style 5 spokes made for 88-96 fit those without spacers.
Aftermarket manufacturers (like AFS Wheels) make the rim to fit the year, and so no spacer/adapter is needed. If its not made to fit, then you have to use one. In a racing-only car, I wouldnt trust them. Its just another variable youre putting in that you dont have to, and in a race car, as you know, you dont want that if you can get around it. VetteBrakes makes a sturdy one that would be my only choice if I was forced into it.
If I recall correctly the 50mm rims equate to slightly more than 7 7/8" backspace, so those should be ZR1-style for the later years, not made to fit the 84-87.
Last edited by vader86; Feb 20, 2006 at 11:45 PM.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 6
From: Watkins Glen NY
Thanks again!
Vader,
Thanks again for the thorough information, and for the research conducted. We appreciate people who actually know things! I hope I can return the favor someday soon.
Regards,
Ed
Thanks again for the thorough information, and for the research conducted. We appreciate people who actually know things! I hope I can return the favor someday soon.
Regards,
Ed
