ultimix

Hello all -

I have a Blue 70's (love it, love it) and I have the original rally wheel on it now and really want to get some new rims. I know that this topic has been talked about a lot and I have searched and read all the threads etc.. My gut says go with the 15" rims (American Racing Hopsters) and keep the tires I have on, since they are still in great shape, but my friend who is a corvette person says that I have to go up with 17" - that I wont be happy with the 15"s with the new rims.

Would love to hear the pros and cons on this..before I make the purchase -

thanks

Mark

Nowhere Man

no

ultimix

No, dont go with the 17" or no dont with the "NEW" wheels period?

Mark

Nowhere Man

I don't understand why everone whants big wheels all thay do is give you a rough ride and a lot of tire noise. I think old cars look better with the original size wheels

CGGorman

I'm ordering some 17" Billet Rallyes from Wheel Vintiques next week. The "proper" tire size for a 17" wheel is 255/50 which doesn't leave you with many options. If you cut the sidewall down to 255/45, you get lots of choices, but the speedo goes out the window, as does the wheel well gap. Drop the car an inch and recalibrate the speedometer and you're good to go...unless you don't care about those things. I'm sticking with the 50 series.

Also be aware of width, backspace, and weight. Unsprung weight and rotating mass are the devil.

Those are the pros and cons I'm aware of...

1979toy

I've got 17 inch TTII's for my '79. During the winter I put the 15 inch wheels back on in case there is a nice day for driving but might still be some salt on the roads.
Currently it's July and I just got the TTII's out and polished them up because I may put them on. The ride is much better with 15 inch wheels. MUCH

Tom73

NO!

17s just do not look right on older cars. They were never designed for wheels that size and the wheel arches and fender shapes are not contonured to complement the large rims. Stay with the 15s and your car will look like it right and not rice

tom...

95wht6spd

Only you can decide on what you like as far as looks go. I think you should go with 16 or 17's and 1" wider. I think it will look better, they are not "big" wheels, they are just an average size today. Big is 20, 22, 24" and yes, they would look stupid, even if you could get them to fit. The advantages or a 16 or 17, would be better handling, more tire selection, and more high performance tires (I don't think you can get a ultra high performance street tire in 15's), more traction if you go wider and higher performance tires, also a more modern look, and maybe the biggest reason you can go with larger higher performance breaks.
The disadvantages are you would have to get new tires, the ride would be a little firmer (I don't think a lot, you won't be going to 20's with rubber band thin sidewalls). My car has a very hard ride, but I love it, it doesn't bother me unless I drive it for a few hours straight.

zwede

Well, here's my 71 with 17" American Racing rims. If they don't fit the car and mess up the wheel arches and fender shapes then so be it...

terryrudy

I can understand the argument that people make of 15"ers looking better. In a way I agree. But the handling is like night and day. If you are toeing the line then go 17 (not larger). And get some Z rated tires. They blow doors on any street tires you will find for your 15" rim. I got the Potenza RE730 on mine. The change between my 15s and my 17s was larger than the VB&P Street & Slalom kit. Better than any sway bar setup. I remember reading that the biggest handling change for the '84 Vette was the tires. After my experience on my 77 I can see why. Tire compound is everything on the street. Wider tires aren't nearly as important as tire compound too.
Just some thoughts,
-terry