C5 Wagon Wheels, Spacers?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 165
Likes: 4
C5 Wagon Wheels, Spacers?
Thinking of running old 17x8.5 1998 corvette wagon wheels with some drag radials. Anybody know if I will need spacers? and if yes a rough idea of what size? I have a 07 z51 c6. Thank you in advance for your time. Drag strip use only
Wagon Wheel Offset: +56
Wagon Wheel Offset: +56
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,106
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I'd suggest 17 x 9.5 wheels, not 8.5, so you don't excessively crown the DRs.
Sawblades are fairly light, inexpensive, and fit fine, they just look a little funky on a C6.
Sawblades are fairly light, inexpensive, and fit fine, they just look a little funky on a C6.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 165
Likes: 4
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
They'll work fine. I have a set of 275/40-17 Nitto Drag Radials mounted on 17 x 8.5 wagon wheels and even though the rim is 1/2" narrower than recommended, the tires work good and are not crowned. The wheels fit over my stock Z51 rear brakes with plenty of clearance and I do not run spacers.
One other benefit of this setup is weight. The 17 x 8.5 wagon wheel is very, very light and so are the 275/40-17 drag radials.
Good luck.
One other benefit of this setup is weight. The 17 x 8.5 wagon wheel is very, very light and so are the 275/40-17 drag radials.
Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,253
Likes: 133
From: Short Hills, NJ
True, the 8.5s work but are are not an ideal fitment for a 275-40 tire.
But it might be worth noting that Nitto drag radials do tend run slightly more narrow than other tires of the same size (ie: their 275 might appear closer in size to other manufacturer's 265s) but either way any 275 will still work fine on those rims. One can also consider the 17" M/T ET Streets (bias plies) as they're listed as 'ok' for an 8.5" rim.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
True, the 8.5s work but are are not an ideal fitment for a 275-40 tire.Also true.
But it might be worth noting that Nitto drag radials do tend run slightly more narrow than other tires of the same size (ie: their 275 might appear closer in size to other manufacturer's 265s) but either way any 275 will still work fine on those rims. One can also consider the 17" M/T ET Streets (bias plies) as they're listed as 'ok' for an 8.5" rim.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,106
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Here's a quick tire size differential calculator.
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireMath.dos
