16x9.5 stock wheels
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 26
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On my '86, I run 17x9.5s from a '90 with 275/40s with a 1 inch spacer. My originals were 16x8.5. No clearance issues as a daily or in AutoX/tracks. It's not a prefect answer but should give you a little bit of an idea. I would assume most widths that are safe to be installed on the factory rim would work.
What year is the car? I thought the stock wheels were mostly 16x8.5 on 1988 and under or 17x9.5 on 1989 and up. I could be wrong though. There's a ton of sites with contradicting info.
What year is the car? I thought the stock wheels were mostly 16x8.5 on 1988 and under or 17x9.5 on 1989 and up. I could be wrong though. There's a ton of sites with contradicting info.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 1,996
From: St. Charles MO
I've posted many times on here that the Toyo Proxes RA1 is available in 255/50/16. While ostensibly a track tire, it's not a super-hard-core one, so it will hold up for some street miles. And it has legit tread at 8/32" and is good in the rain, the point that some racers use it as a rain tire (because it's honestly not a very fast dry tire these days). I would recommend it for any early C4 owner who isn't putting 15k miles on his car every year. Also, you can safely mount 245/50/16 on either 16x8.5 or 16x9.5. It's just that tire manufacturers don't recommend a 9.5" rim width for that size tire, but you can still do it.
Tyler, from 84-87, the base C4s all had 16x8.5. The first Z51s had 9.5 in back, and then from 85-87 they had 9.5 front and rear. I don't think they sold tons of Z51s in the early years because they had a reputation of having a way-too-stiff ride, so most early C4s have 8.5s.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 55
Likes: 7
I am wanting to stick with my 16x9.5. It is a 30,000 mile car with the original Gatorbacks that I will keep on it until after I get it Top Flight Judged. You loose all the points for different size and different brand. I dont want to invest in 17" and spacers. I was looking for something in a size that is readily available without breaking the bank. It seems like 245/50 is the most economical route. I dont drive hard and only drive my vettes to local cruise-ins ( less than 100 miles/month) so my tires will age way before they wear out. I put $68 Phantoms on my 73 and I guess I will go with $95 Falkens on my 1985.
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 2
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I just put on FALKEN ZIEX ZE960 A/S 245/50-R16 from Discount tire on my 1986 and they fit and drive well. They are all season and beat the summer tires that I tried that break down in the winter. About $650 including mounting. Using my stock wheels.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 55
Likes: 7
I just bought those same tires just under $500 mounted and balanced. The only thing I found cheaper that size was the ZE950 but I was afraid of how old they would be since they have been out of production for a while. Thanks!
