87 cutlass

[461cutty]

hi guys, this is my first post here, but i have read a ton of threads over the past few months. i have an 87 cutlass supreme running a 461 olds. i have had the same wheels on her(17 inch mondera b52's) for 6 or 7 years now, and i think its time to upgrade a little. my question is will 20 inch wheels with 14mm offset and 5.25 bs fit without mods. if not what offset and bs should i run with 20's.

[86Cutlass383SR]

I don't think the 5.25" bs will work. I've got an 86 Cutlass and I have some 17 x 8.5 Rondell 58's with 5.25" bs (13mm offset I think) and I've been looking at getting some wheel adapters to get mine to fit. I have to finalize my front and rear brake setup first so my final measuring for them can't be done yet. I think something on the order of somewhere between 3.75" bs and 4.5" bs depending on wheel width.

[uneek1976]

I have a 86 regal and i have a set of 20 with a 5.5" bs. I think that i need 1", 1.5", or even 2"(for the rear) adapters. Because they are hitting the frame. I know its not much info but i hope it helps.

[461cutty]

i was told if i go with a 235 tire they would fit, but i would atleast like to keep 245's on the back.

[monteboy84]

They most definitely will hit the frame in back, regardless of tire...

I had 3.5" BS 15x10's on the back of mine when I was in high school, I had 1" at the most.

[86Cutlass383SR]

It's been well over a year since I did a preliminary measurement of mine and IIRC it was about 5'' from hub face to the frame.

[461cutty]

so using spacers would'nt give me the clearance?

[mc84_zz4]

Here's a shot of a Monte SS, same problem. A little over 5" of backspacing from hub plate to frame rail.


The wheel hub to the outside of a mounted tire, just under 5":

It is a tight fit.
The tires are BFG 255/50/16, on a 16x8, -10mm offset, 4" BS. They are 10.5" wide on the outer tire bulge.


A 8" wide wheel is 8 inches wide on the inside lip where the tire mounts, the external lips of the wheel are 9" apart.
A 255 tire would be 255 mm wide = 10 inches almost exactly, but the sidewall adds a extra .25" of tire
for each side. A larger diameter wheel/tire, usually show less tire bulge due to a lower profile.

A wheel with 5.25" backspacing may already be rubbing on the inside rail, a tire on that wheel would be need an extra .5-.75 to fit.
You might be able to use a 1" wheel adapter to get those wheels on.
It all depends on how much the tire overhangs the outer lip when it is close to the 5".
I personally would avoid a wheel that needs adapters to fit, but I have friends that have used them for long periods without problems.
HTH

[1bad87ss]

I had a 87 GN and i run a 18X9.5 with a 5in backspace and it worked fine. I had to use a 1/4 in spacer on the pass side but drivers side was fine. If I had the whole family in the car it would rub a little on the 1/4 lip during curves and dips..

[461cutty]

okay fellas, i bought the gray 20 inch boss 338s with 5 1/4 bs. that was the only backspacing they had in gray 20s. i tried one one the drivers side rear,and i can get a finger between it and the frame with a 1/4 inch spacer on it. what do you guys think i need to do as far as tire size and spacers to make it work?

[461cutty]

the wheels fit fine. i went with a 245/35/20 front and back. i did put air shocks on. i dont think they were necessary because i have clearance without any pressure in them. my problem is i cant put front center caps on. the rotor hub is flush with the wheel so, i cant snap them in.

[uneek1976]

Do you have any pics?

[461cutty]

cell phone pic. i will take better pics when i get a chance. tranny died on me sunday, so i had the car towed to a garage.

[461cutty]

this is it getting towed after the tranny failure

[CruizinKev]

looking good!

[uneek1976]

Yes sir the cutlass does look good.

[461cutty]

thanks fellas, any idea what i can do to fit the front center caps?