Student's budget rolling stock...

[SRD art]

Hey all,

Working on a project plan list for my 79 Cutlass G-body wagon build that I'm working on in my Street Rod program classes. (see build thread link in my sig) I want to run a 315-35-17 out back, looks like I need a 17x11 minimum wheel. I found a couple different companies that have a set of ZR1 style wheels in a 17x9.5 F and 17x11 R for a great price of $450-$650 for all four, but once I lay down the cash for the 2.5" adapters I'll be adding another $400+ to that price. I'm also a little leery of running that wide of an adapter because I intend to drive the car a lot and beat it hard on the local SCCA autocross circuit.

Unfortunately I'm working on a student's budget and feel like I'm banging my head against a wall when it comes to rolling stock pricing. I can swing between $1000 and $1500 complete for wheels and tires. Closest I've found is Discount Tire Direct with an MB Old School and Nitto NT555s for around $1100 shipped, but I'm limited to 9.5" wide and 275 or 285-40 out back.

I'm really hoping I can make the impressive width of the 315 fatties work out. My internet connection stinks so it takes me forever to search through large online wheel websites/catalogs, anybody have any suggestions of wheels they may have seen while shopping around? Personal thoughts or links to other posts in the forum that cover this is cool.

Thanks tons for any help!

[SRD art]

I should probably mention the style wheel I'm after- the colors for the car are burnt orange, satin black, and brushed aluminum accents. I was thinking along the lines of a black wheel with a brushed/raw finished lip. In class I can paint anything so most any wheel will work, but I'm not as much interested in the common full polished wheels unless the price is right, and probably not interested in chrome at all. Thanks again!!!

[64impala]

Check out MB "Old School" Wheels. Amazing wheels for the money!

[srh3trinity]

If you are going to run adapters anyway, you could look at some BMW wheels. There are a lot of styles out there, many more than what is available for newer Camaros or Corvettes. You can get adapters that are hub centric and will change the bolt pattern to the correct size. Even stocker BMW wheels could work out for you and you could rattle can them. Finding an 11 inch wheel will be difficult, usually they are 9.5-10 inches max width. I may be in the minority here, but 315's are cool, but I doubt they will be the limiting factor at track events. If 275's or 285's fit your budget better, then go with them, they are cheaper and more readily available. If you are a student, then your money situation will likely turn around at some time and then you can step up to 315's.

[Nessumsar]

I just picked up a set of replica '03 Cobra wheels for my Nova. They are 17x10.5 and have much less backspacing that the ZR1 wheels; but they are a 5x4.5, which doesn't really matter as you would be running adapters anyways. They were around $130/ea from Americanmuscle.com

You can pick up the proper adapters online for about $200.

As far as tires are concerned, I would get with Jon @ Drivers on some Nittos, my 315 NT05s were $30 less EACH than at Discount Tire.

[64impala]

I just picked up a set of replica '03 Cobra wheels for my Nova. They are 17x10.5 and have much less backspacing that the ZR1 wheels; but they are a 5x4.5, which doesn't really matter as you would be running adapters anyways. They were around $130/ea from Americanmuscle.com

You can pick up the proper adapters online for about $200.

As far as tires are concerned, I would get with Jon @ Drivers on some Nittos, my 315 NT05s were $30 less EACH than at Discount Tire.

FYI Discount tire price matches!

[Nessumsar]

FYI Discount tire price matches!

But they don't support us!

[64impala]

But they don't support us!

OOOO True...

[sr73bu]

I should probably mention the style wheel I'm after- the colors for the car are burnt orange, satin black, and brushed aluminum accents. I was thinking along the lines of a black wheel with a brushed/raw finished lip. In class I can paint anything so most any wheel will work, but I'm not as much interested in the common full polished wheels unless the price is right, and probably not interested in chrome at all. Thanks again!!!

Heck, you could always go with cragar soft 8's... iv'e got black 17x9's with 285/40/17 nittos on all four corners. $75 a pc. This winter i'm probably going to stretch the rear wheels to 17x11. Just a thought. They are heavy, but then again my whole car is...

-Sean

[John Wright]

They are heavy

truer words have not been spoken......I have them heavy things on my car too.

[sr73bu]

truer words have not been spoken......I have them heavy things on my car too.

hahaha! They actually look pretty bad ass, but plan on finishing the wheel/tire mounting with a protein shake...lol

-Sean

[SRD art]

I just picked up a set of replica '03 Cobra wheels for my Nova. They are 17x10.5 and have much less backspacing that the ZR1 wheels; but they are a 5x4.5, which doesn't really matter as you would be running adapters anyways. They were around $130/ea from Americanmuscle.com

You can pick up the proper adapters online for about $200.

As far as tires are concerned, I would get with Jon @ Drivers on some Nittos, my 315 NT05s were $30 less EACH than at Discount Tire.

I considered the soft 8 for a long time but I decided I needed an aluminum wheel mostly for the right look.

I checked out those 'Stang wheels thanks for the tip. There was a particular wheel that catches my eye, Black FR500 (http://www.americanmuscle.com/black-deep-dish-fr500-wheel-17x10-5.html)

Any idea how much backspace is on a 10.5? I didn't see a listing, only which cars they fit.

I found a place in Nevada that makes adapters, both hub and wheel centric, he quoted me $205 shipped for 2.5" wide. I also asked about a 1" that converted a Ford truck 9" pattern, 5 on 5.5 to a Chevy car 5 on 4.75 $145 shipped. Definitely reasonable for the quality.

How do I get in touch with Jon?

[Nessumsar]

I considered the soft 8 for a long time but I decided I needed an aluminum wheel mostly for the right look.

I checked out those 'Stang wheels thanks for the tip. There was a particular wheel that catches my eye, Black FR500 (http://www.americanmuscle.com/black-deep-dish-fr500-wheel-17x10-5.html)

Any idea how much backspace is on a 10.5? I didn't see a listing, only which cars they fit.

I found a place in Nevada that makes adapters, both hub and wheel centric, he quoted me $205 shipped for 2.5" wide. I also asked about a 1" that converted a Ford truck 9" pattern, 5 on 5.5 to a Chevy car 5 on 4.75 $145 shipped. Definitely reasonable for the quality.

How do I get in touch with Jon?

The backspacing for the wheels are on their under the "specs" tab. That wheel in a 10.5" has 6.8" of BS or +27mm of offset.

You can get Jon at: www.driverzinc.com , or shoot a pm to "DriverzInc".