C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

C4 Wheel Specs

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 18, 2020 | 11:14 PM
  #1  
Chase Williams's Avatar
Chase Williams
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
 
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Default C4 Wheel Specs

I am new to c4 corvettes and I am doing research on the best aftermarket wheel specs to do for a c4 corvette. I am looking for something that is wide for performance but does not cause rubbing so that I could still daily on a base model c4. Does anyone have suggestions for wheel specs?
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2020 | 10:21 AM
  #2  
Kevova's Avatar
Kevova
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 748
From: near the thumb in the mitten
Default

There are 2 series of wheels depending on years. 84-87 and 88-96. There is a sticky about factory wheels and offsets. Car will accept 275 wide 26 inch tall tire front and rear. Slightly taller tire could be installed in rear. Budget determines whats available.
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2020 | 10:28 AM
  #3  
playsdixie's Avatar
playsdixie
Drifting
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
Default

I changed the 16" 85 rims to 18" and bought 275/35/18 tires.....kept the speedometer correct......Your year would be helpful when you post
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2020 | 10:50 AM
  #4  
vader86's Avatar
vader86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,016
Likes: 1,715
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default

You can run 9.5" wide or maybe 10.5" wide rims on front, but I'd stick with 9.5". In the rear 10.5 or 11" are common. Just getting the right offset for your year, as stated there are basically two eras based on how GM changed the suspension around, 84-87 and 88-96.

I ran 275s on a 17x9.5 for a long time, now I run 275s and 315s on 18x9.5 and 18x10.5 F/R.

I personally don't usually like the look of any larger rims than 18" on a C4, but it depends on the stance.
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2020 | 01:03 PM
  #5  
BOOT77's Avatar
BOOT77
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 112
From: Michigan
Default

I got a killer deal on some bran new 17x9 rotary forged, $430ish shipped for the set! Not bought tires yet, can't rem the size atm got it noted somewhere but it was a 26" tire. Been wanting to get some decent wheels beside my drag pack or stock

Last edited by BOOT77; Jul 19, 2020 at 01:03 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2020 | 02:25 PM
  #6  
FKING1's Avatar
FKING1
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 105
From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
Default

Originally Posted by playsdixie
I changed the 16" 85 rims to 18" and bought 275/35/18 tires.....kept the speedometer correct......Your year would be helpful when you post
Did the same on my 86. Slight rub at full lock, but, no prob.
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2020 | 07:06 PM
  #7  
Chase Williams's Avatar
Chase Williams
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
 
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Default

The year would be 1990. The suggestions are really helpful. I am curious, does the zr-1 allow for wider wheels because I have heard of people putting 11" wide in the front and 12.5" wide in the rear on a zr-1 but haven't heard about anything for a base model? Would such wide wheels result in rubbing?

Here is a video link from a channel called OffTheRanch where he talks about his wheel dimensions on his 1990 zr1 at 1:14:

Last edited by Chase Williams; Jul 19, 2020 at 07:06 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2020 | 08:14 PM
  #8  
Kevova's Avatar
Kevova
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 748
From: near the thumb in the mitten
Default

ZR1 has a unique tapered body. The rear end is 3 or so inches wider than the standard c4. It uses a 36mm offset 11 inch rear wheel. The fronts are 54mm standard offset for.88-96. The offset will limit aftermarket wheel selection. You could get a way with 50mm , the 96 Grand Sport Coupes used 11 inch 50mm offset wheel. Tire will be on the edge of fender. Aftermarket wheels typically run over 1k used tsw ccw forgeline. It's what you want to spend 500 per wheel should net something you like.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

How Likely Are These Five 2027 Corvette Rumors to Be True?

 Brett Foote
story-5

9 Best Corvettes You Can Buy for Half Price (& 1 You Should NEVER Buy!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

8 Very Best Corvettes of Amelia Island 2026

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 WORST Corvette Engineering Failures of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Records the C8 Corvette Generation Has SMASHED (& 1 Glaring Failure)

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

7 Wildest Corvette Concepts Ever Made

 Brett Foote
Old Jul 21, 2020 | 12:48 PM
  #9  
MatthewMiller's Avatar
MatthewMiller
Le Mans Master
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,061
Likes: 1,955
From: St. Charles MO
Default

Originally Posted by Kevova
The fronts are 54mm standard offset for.88-96.
Very small correction: the front ZR1s were like all 17x9.5 wheels on 88-96 C4s, with 56mm offset.

I and others are able to run as wide as 11" wheels with 50mm offset both front and rear on 88-96 C4s, with 315-width tires. As Kevova wrote, these are right at the edge of the fender, with no extra room on the inside. They are the max. A lot of people run C5 Z06 rear wheels, which are 18x10.5 with offset of 58mm. If you run wheels this wide, you can use tires of 275/35/18, 285/35/18, or 295/35/18 without issues. There are lots more choices in those tire sizes than in 315 sizes for either 17" or 18" wheels. This is all assuming you want to run pretty wide rolling stock both front and rear, as you indicated.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To C4 Wheel Specs





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:41 PM.

story-0
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

Slideshow: Every Corvette Grand Sport explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-26 07:13:44


VIEW MORE
story-1
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

Slideshow: Breaking down the 2027 Grand Sport, Grand Sport X, Stingray, and LS6 V8.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-03-26 13:48:45


VIEW MORE
story-2
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

Slideshow: 5 reasons bad drivers crash sports cars & 5 ways to avoid a costly shame!

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-25 16:32:55


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette

Slideshow: Check out these easy-to-install upgrades from Extreme Online Store that reshape the look and feel of the C6 Corvette.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-03-23 17:00:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
How Likely Are These Five 2027 Corvette Rumors to Be True?

There may be some big changes on the horizon.

By Brett Foote | 2026-03-18 06:55:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
9 Best Corvettes You Can Buy for Half Price (& 1 You Should NEVER Buy!)

Slideshow: 9 best Corvettes you can buy for half price (and 1 you shouldn't!)

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-17 10:20:26


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Very Best Corvettes of Amelia Island 2026

Slideshow: 8 best Corvette of Amelia Island 2026

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-11 09:28:52


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 WORST Corvette Engineering Failures of All Time!

Slideshow: Top 10 worst Corvette engineering failures

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-10 17:38:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Records the C8 Corvette Generation Has SMASHED (& 1 Glaring Failure)

Slideshow: 10 records the C8 Corvette generation has SMASHED (& 1 glaring failure).

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-02 11:16:36


VIEW MORE
story-9
7 Wildest Corvette Concepts Ever Made

Out of the many Corvette concepts that exist, these are by far the wildest of the bunch.

By Brett Foote | 2026-03-02 11:03:54


VIEW MORE