I was wanting to put on zr1 style chrome rims on my 87 vette
fronts are 17 x 9.5 38mm offset
backs are 17 x 11.0 36mm offset
would this work ?
Also does anyone have any tire suggestions to run with these rims for street use.

Currently the car has 20 x 9.5 rims on the front and back from previous owner (nimrod) and I have rubbing issues in the front because of it. Im guessing I would need new adapters to fit the 17s on?

 

An 87 would not need adapters if you got the ZR1-style rims with those offsets.

I run 275s on my 9.5 and 315s on my 10.5", which would be fine for the 11". You could use 335s on rear if you chose, and 285s in front.

 

thanks for the insight man! greatly appreciated I'll post a pic when I get new tires/rims on

 

I agree that when using OEM ZR-1 wheels no adapters are needed for the rear, but the front will sit quite far "inside".


However, if you have the (late model) wider track on the front of the '87, no adapters will be needed.


I have these same rims on my '87 with no adapters. I run 275s on the front and 335s on the rear. No rubbing issues.

 

How can i tell if i have the late model 87 wider track ? Didn't even know there was a difference of that sort. Yeah im mainly worried about rubbing while turning/highway driving. Just want an overall smooth ride and look. Do you have a link to where you bought your tires? or just a general brand name

 

The only way you would have the wider track is if you (or someone prior) had swapped the front cradle to the '88 or later cradle. I swapped my '87 cradle for a '96 take-out.


I run BFGoodrich tires on all four corners of my '87.

 

There was no "wide-track" variants with the 84-87. The base front wheels were 8.5" wide, but the Z51 and the '87 Z52 suspension option got 9.5" wide wheels up front with a 38mm offset. The '88 and later 17x9.5" wheels had a 56mm offset and those wheels would need 18mm (3/4") adapters to get the wheels to sit properly in the '87 wheelwells.

For the '87 and earlier cars, the aftermarket 17x11 wheels with a 36mm offset will work. 88 and later cars can use an 17x11 wheel with a 50mm offset.

 

Nonsense. There is no "wide track" 87 as c4cruiser has stated.

 

I am appalled at the lack of reading comprehension in many these posts.


Vader and C4Cruiser - please read the posts before commenting. I clearly stated that the cradle would have had to have been swapped to a late model cradle in order to have the wide track. I also stated that my '87 had been swapped to a '96 cradle.


When using the OEM ZR1 wheels on an '87, the fronts will require adapters to prevent rubbing. Unless one were to convert to the later model "wide track" cradle assy.

And I have been on this forum for a LONG time (prior AKS Racing) with extensive knowledge of the C4 that gets quite tired of the "know it all" posts from many of these long time members.

 

Thanks for your info guys much appreciated

 

I admit I didn't catch the meaning of the post, but I don't really GAF whether you were on here before or not, 99% of people would not have swapped a later cradle into the front of the 87, theres no need to even mention it to confuse the poster. In either case your statement "However, if you have the (late model) wider track on the front of the '87, no adapters will be needed.", still needs clarification.

There is no such thing as any factory wider track 87, 87 is 87, whether its Z51, Z52, or base. All 84-87s have the same geometry, the track width was changed in 88 for the 2nd generation suspension design.

Z51/Z52 with the 9.5" rim had a 38mm offset front and rear. The 8.5" base rim was just a few mm different. Any rim with offsets reasonably close to this will fit without any issues being flush with the body. That goes for all 84-87 cars.

OEM ZR1 wheels had a 36.5 mm offset in rear for the 17x11 and will fit without any issue on the 84-87s. Fronts had 17x9.5 with a 38mm offset and will fit without any issue on all 84-87s. We're talking about actual ZR1 rims here.

This is not the case for 5-spokes from the later C4 or Grand Sport, GS has a 50mm rear offset and they have 56mm offset in front for the 9.5" rim. These need adapter plates. If the OP has actual ZR1 rims, nothing is needed. If he has ZR1-style rims made for the 88-96, he will then need the adapter.

 

Welp, he told us that our long term knowledge is unwanted.
I for one feel that if these noobs don't learn to use the search function.
Or take time to read a FSM or research themselves.
Their only recourse is to depend on other noobs or youtube.

In which they come back to ask questions that we "old guys" will still answer.

That's why we stay to help.

 

This gets the nope card. Real ZR-1 fronts are 17x9.5 56mm offset, same all other 88-96 with the 9.5 in wide wheels. They WILL require adapters to properly fit 84-87 cars.

Just keeping it real...