basic steel wheels to fit '87?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 1
From: OR
basic steel wheels to fit '87?
Are there any standard sized rims that will fit an '87 vette? Something off a Camaro, Impala, whatever? I drive mine all year and would like to get winter tires if I can find some wheels that will fit the car and the tires available. Love driving the car on dry pavement. Not as much when it's wet, and with just a little frost on the road, it's like trying to ride a bull on a skid pad coated with STP.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
15" steel wheels will probably not fit over the front brakes, unless they are pretty narrow and have zero offset.
I don't think anyone's tried this. Are these for studded tires?
I don't think anyone's tried this. Are these for studded tires?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The later F-body wheels were 16". Just check for brake caliper clearance. If the wheel spins with no interference, you should be OK. There are some offset differences between the Camaro, and Firebird/ Trans Am wheels; you should find wheels from a Firebird coupe to get the closest offset to the Vette wheel. The Camaro offset will be different and the wheels will fit further inside the wheelwells by about 3/4".
For tires, try to stay as close to the 255-50-16 stock tire diameter as possible so you won't throw the speedo off. A mounted tire on an F-body wheel needs to be about 26" in diameter to keep the speedo close.
For tires, try to stay as close to the 255-50-16 stock tire diameter as possible so you won't throw the speedo off. A mounted tire on an F-body wheel needs to be about 26" in diameter to keep the speedo close.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
Originally Posted by newbecorvetteguy
Are there any standard sized rims that will fit an '87 vette? Something off a Camaro, Impala, whatever? I drive mine all year and would like to get winter tires if I can find some wheels that will fit the car and the tires available.
(If you post this in the wheel/tire section then Luke from Tire Rack will probably chime in, but I'd just call them.)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
yes... been a few years, but i actually used 15'' uglies for winter storage on my 86...IIRC the rusties were left-overs from an 80's caprice...surprising, but the diff offset put the narrow stl rim out enough so they didn't look too bad...doubt that they would clear my c5 calipers tho
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