tire and wheel combo for my 79z

[dm79z]

Does anyone know what the largest tire I can fit under the front and the rear of my 79 z28 is and what backspacing I would need on the wheels? I'm thinking of getting 16 inch wheels but not sure yet I may stay with the 15s.

[NorhternSS]

I have an article that CHP did a couple of years ago that showed the biggest wheels you could stuff under all gens without fender modification. I'll see if I can dig through my piles of mags and find it but it might be a little while.

[Dave]

ok thanks

[dm79z]

That would be great.

[Mr. TroPiCal]

im surprised jason hasnt answered this one yet

[79 Z28]

im surprised jason hasnt answered this one yet
i didnt see it till now, it all depends really, and if you move the shock inboard. im running 15x10" rims in the back for race, 15x8" for street. as for front id say a 15x8 with a 255. i only got skinnes on the front now though on a 4" rim :D

[dm79z]

with the 15x8 on the front with the 255 is there lock to lock clearance? Do you have any pics of your car with the 15s on the front and rear I could see?

I have heard that if I use a 16x10 inch wheel with a 4 inch backspace I can run 255/50/16 on the back without rolling the fenders and 245/45/16 on the front. Will I have lock to lock clearance. Is any of this true?

[79 Z28]

with the 15x8 on the front with the 255 is there lock to lock clearance?* Do you have any pics of your car with the 15s on the front and rear I could see?

I have heard that if I use a 16x10 inch wheel with a 4 inch backspace I can run 255/50/16 on the back without rolling the fenders and 245/45/16 on the front.* Will I have lock to lock clearance.* Is any of this true?
you can fit bigger in the back, i used to have 15x7" on the front with 245's and i had no clearance issues at all in my 79, you can go pretty damn wide. the key is the right offset. like in the rear. if your diff is factory length, the a 8" rim with a 4.5" bs will go easy.heres a crappy pic, but those were 235 on the front, pretty skinny, and those rears are 28x10.5 slicks. i got 10" rims for them now but in that pic those are on the 8"

http://www.vancouverfbody.com/images/user_cars/20-4.jpg
http://www.vancouverfbody.com/images/user_cars/20-2.jpg

[NorhternSS]

I found the article.* F I have too many Chev mags :D* It is from the Jan. 2002 CHP.* The article says to always double check and make sure of your sizes but this is what they found was the biggest wheel/tire combo you can run without wheelwell and fender modification.

15 in wheel:* Front* * * * * * * * * * * Rear
* * * * * * * * * Backspacing:3.75* * * Backspacing:4.0
* * * * * * * * * Wheel width:7.0* * * * Wheel Width:8.0
* * * * * * * * * Tire size:225/55* * * * Tire size:245/50

16 in wheel:* Front* * * * * * * * * * * Rear
* * * * * * * * * Backspacing:4.0* * * * Backspacing:5.5
* * * * * * * * * Wheel Width:8.0* * * * Wheel width:9.5
* * * * * * * * * Tire size:245/45* * * * Tire size:245/50

17in wheel:* *Front* * * * * * * * * * * *Rear* * *
* * * * * * * * * Backspacing:4.0* * * * *Backspacing:5.5
* * * * * * * * * Wheel width:8.0* * * * *Wheel width:9.5
* * * * * * * * * Tire size:245/40* * * * *Tire size:275/40

This is straight from the article so all Im doing is passing on info to you, take it as is.* But one thing Im not sure of is that Ive heard not to put a 245 tire on a 9.5in wide wheel.* Ive read that 275 is pushing the limits of how wide to go with a 9.5 wheel ???* I read that a 9in wide wheel is what you'd want to put a 275 tire on or does this only apply to a lower profile tire??* Most info Ive read on is more 4th gen with lower profile tires so I could be wrong.* Anyone????

[Drakar]

275/40/17 fits front and rear on 3rd and 4th gens all around, 17x9 and 17x9.5, too many people on TGO have it.

2nd gen, I know one person running a 295 not sure on height but it;s a 15" rim in the rear of a 75 Camaro, with 245 up front.

[89vert]

you can get 315/35/17's in the back of 3rd and 4th gens with the right spacing

[CamaroRobZ28beer]

i heard 17's were peak for handling in any car

[89vert]

i heard 17's were peak for handling in any car

depending on tire profile,
17's have the best sidewall profile on average

if a tire profile is to low there will be no sidewall flex,
even though alot of sidewall flex is bad, none at all is bad also

[79 Z28]

I found the article.* F I have too many Chev mags :D* It is from the Jan. 2002 CHP.* The article says to always double check and make sure of your sizes but this is what they found was the biggest wheel/tire combo you can run without wheelwell and fender modification.

15 in wheel:* Front* * * * * * * * * * * Rear
* * * * * * * * * Backspacing:3.75* * * Backspacing:4.0
* * * * * * * * * Wheel width:7.0* * * * Wheel Width:8.0
* * * * * * * * * Tire size:225/55* * * * Tire size:245/50

16 in wheel:* Front* * * * * * * * * * * Rear
* * * * * * * * * Backspacing:4.0* * * * Backspacing:5.5
* * * * * * * * * Wheel Width:8.0* * * * Wheel width:9.5
* * * * * * * * * Tire size:245/45* * * * Tire size:245/50

17in wheel:* *Front* * * * * * * * * * * *Rear* * *
* * * * * * * * * Backspacing:4.0* * * * *Backspacing:5.5
* * * * * * * * * Wheel width:8.0* * * * *Wheel width:9.5
* * * * * * * * * Tire size:245/40* * * * *Tire size:275/40

This is straight from the article so all Im doing is passing on info to you, take it as is.* But one thing Im not sure of is that Ive heard not to put a 245 tire on a 9.5in wide wheel.* Ive read that 275 is pushing the limits of how wide to go with a 9.5 wheel ???* I read that a 9in wide wheel is what you'd want to put a 275 tire on or does this only apply to a lower profile tire??* Most info Ive read on is more 4th gen with lower profile tires so I could be wrong.* Anyone????

that stuff is jibberish :D when you have sidewall its a whole new can of worms lol 15x7" rim will hold a 255 15x8" will hold a 275 easy. bigger rims and low pro stuff needs more rim width to hold the same size tires

[89vert]

my brothers car has 265's on a 7" rim

[79 Z28]

my brothers car has 265's on a 7" rim
he likes to live life on the edge :D

[Wagonized]

ive heard of people running 28X12.5 et streets on a 7 inch rim.

kinda off topic but im running 32X11.5s on my explorer on the stock 7 inch rims

[79 Z28]

ive heard of people running 28X12.5 et streets on a 7 inch rim.

kinda off topic but im running 32X11.5s on my explorer on the stock 7 inch rims
keep in mind a 28x12.5 et street is like only a 9.5-10 slick foot print and section are totally different. besides theres no point to it, why crown the tire and make it less effective and have less contact patch. i would never do that, traction and stability are important to me :D and as for your explorer, the only way that is possible is because there is so much sidewall its not even funny. :|

[Wagonized]

12.5 et street is slightly smaller than a 10.5 slick as far as i know.

yea it does limit the contact patch a whooole lot. would make it a very hairy ride...im sure as hell not brave enough to do it.

im going to be using an 8 inch rim and a 9 inch et drag im thinkin. Perhaps a 10.5 inch slick if i make enough room under there

[CanadianTBone]

Hot rod TV had 315/35/18 on a first gen camaro in the rear &
255/40/18 on front You have ti massage one spot in the wheel well . check out the new PHR mag . they're doing a G machine 74 camaro with 18x 8.5 w/5.5bs f&r 255/3518 up front & 275/40/18 in the rear PHR may 2005 issue :cool: