17x9 yearone snowflakes color opinion and brake questions

[yellow1098Greg]

My next step in upgrading the TA is the wheels. Since I need new tires anyway for my 15's and plan on going up to 17's anyway, now is the time. I am going to go with the 17inch cast wheels from yearone that everyone knows and loves. I wanted to wait and save my money for the 2-piece wheels but year one is out of the 17's and 18's for the 2-piece and I don't want to go any larger than that. I want a good size tire and don't like big wheels on muscle cars.

A couple questions/favors/opinions to ask you guys. First which color would you go with for the cast wheels? The silver painted or the black painted? My TA is a silver 77 with black interior. If anyone has, or could post a couple pics of a transam that color with either wheels that would be awesome, especially black because I haven't seen very many cars with the yearone 17's that color.

Along with that, what is the biggest size tires I can fit on my car with those wheels without tubs?

Lastly, what are the biggest size aftermarket brakes and rotors that can fit with these wheels? I know a lot of people have gone a different way on wheel choice because it limits what size brakes you can use.

Thanks so much for everything as usual, I don't know what I would do without you all.

[72BBSwinger]

Black with polished lip.

[Apogee]

You'll generally be limited to ~13" front brakes with 17" wheels, but that should be more than adequate for most street/auto-x/track purposes assuming a typicaly PT type build.

Tobin
KORE3

[yellow1098Greg]

Thanks Tobin, I need to put together a package with you soon...... The black with a polished lip sounds like the better choice to me as well....I just would like to see some good pics of them on a silver car before I buy them....Gotta be some floating around out there I could find....Thanks guys

[Project92rs]

Take a look at this eBay ad.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-17x9-Snowflake-Wheels-1st-2nd-Gen-Firebird-Trans-Am-/320692163524?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Wheels&hash=item4aaabe13c4&vxp=mtr

One of the pictures is a silver 2nd gen TA. We run the gold insert model on our 1988 GTA with a 12.2 inch rotor and Wilwood 4 piston calipers. I could go larger but the brakes were originally installed with a 16 inch wheel and this was the largest that would fit inside that one. 13 inch rotor should fit just fine though.

[yellow1098Greg]

Thank you, The pics of the silver car with the silver painted wheels looks very nice...Now I just need to find a good pic with some of the painted black 17's on a silver TA. I cant find a pic of that anywhere, wish there was a way to do a mock up. If anyone has a pic of any kind that would be great!

[Project92rs]

Page 2 and 3 have pictures of the black snowflakes on a black car

http://transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=54459.30

This one is 53 pages but contains pics of cars with the snowflakes on them

http://transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=23970.0

[yellow1098Greg]

Thank you so much project, ya those black ones look really nice on the black car. I'm definitely leaning that way.....I might try to photoshop them on a silver 77

[1965gp]

You will love the wheels- quality is great. I have the silver ones on my GTO. I vote for the black on a silver car. If it helps my wife's TA has 275/40 17's on the year one 17 x 9 snowflakes all the way around with no issues.

[Mark68]

I would go with the black wheels and a 275 tire. Should look great on your car!!

[bonspeedbrad]

You could also go with the bonspeed FREEBIRD wheel and have any size and backspace to fit the car and it would be lighter that a cast wheel.
Available in 17-22" widths from 7" - 15"
If you join our VIP club see post in the Wheel & Tire special section you could save $500. CLICK HERE (https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/102711-bonspeed-Wheels-Offers-VIP-Membership-to-Pro-Touring-Users?highlight=bonspeed)
Call me and we can discuss your needs.
84374

[opnwide]

I had a little rubbing with my 275s up front when car was slammed 3 1/2". I had to settle for a 2" drop. 255s would be fine at this ride height.

[yellow1098Greg]

Ok so I got the black year one 17x9's and I'm leaning toward the 255/50's? But I'm trying to decide between those and 275/40's...I like the idea of the bigger sidewall and since the rims are all the same size I thought it would make more sense not to stagger the wheel size. Any thoughts?

[Paul Huryk]

You'll generally be limited to ~13" front brakes with 17" wheels, but that should be more than adequate for most street/auto-x/track purposes assuming a typicaly PT type build.

Tobin
KORE3

Depends on the wheels:

13" under 17 x 9.5"

98720

14" under 17" x 9.5"

98721