Ok I have done the searches, and not just on here, but I still can't find a definitive answer on what offset would I need when going to a 17" wheel. I do not want the tire or rim to go past the fender well. I am just starting on the build having just dropped my cradle to do a 4.9 conversion and the 13" brake upgrade will be coming as well. I will probably have alot of questions will surely be in need of advise, I have never done anything but a like for like swap. I have always wanted my dream Fiero and I am finally in a position to start making it happen.
Can anyone give me some advice on the wheels? I don't want to have to make any mods to make them fit, other than maybe a spacer if needed.
Yes I have and pulled up Joe's chart as well, I don't quite understand the chart as I know nothing of wheel sizing and I am unsure as to what the red line on the left is indicating or the white tips at the edges of the bars. Am I correct in assuming narrower wheel is needed in the front for better handling? At the moment I suspect that a 7" with a 50mm offset would fit nicely on the front and maybe an 8" with a 42mm offset in the rear. Is that a setup that will keep the wheels from coming out farther than stock?
Assuming that is correct, aside from custom made rims, I haven't found those exact offsets so could spacers be used to adjust them properly? I apologise ahead of time for my ignorance.
The red line means you are going to hit something on the inside. The white ends are normal tolerance variations in wheels/tires....so you have to assume the larger dimension...blue lines are stock positions for various wheels. The narrower front wheels on the 88 are a topic for debate, but most agree that they were added by Pontiac to reduce effort at low speed, since there is no power steering.
As for "ignorance", the whole point of this forum is to help people who have decided to save or improve a Fiero, so we like to see basic questions!
[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 09-02-2013).]
My car is set up with 17x7 / 48mm in the front and 17x8 / 35mm in the rear. The rears stick out just a bit, but not excessively. The fronts? Depends upon where you measure.
These next pics are with the same size/offset rear, but with 38mm offset on the front.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 09-02-2013).]
I think the 35mm in the rear are fine but the 38mm in front sticks too far out for my tastes. Those are some clean rides for sure.
That`s cool, I think the stock is 42mm but it`s hard to find wheels that have that particular offset. I just picked the wheels I liked and got the sizes they came in but I`m please because I like them sticking out a little. Gives it more of an aggressive look.
[This message has been edited by TXGOOD (edited 09-02-2013).]
I think the 35mm in the rear are fine but the 38mm in front sticks too far out for my tastes.
While I much prefer 48mm in the front, I think that I calculated that 38mm would place the fronts and rears (with 8", 35mm in the rear) at about the same distance, relative to each other, as the stock 88 GT wheels.
Keep in mind that the lower the car is, in the front, the more it tends to give the appearance of tucking the wheel further in.
So I found a set I like, ICW Racing 210MB Kamikaze in 17'x7.5" with a 42mm offset. Could a spacer be used to bring the rear wheel out the make the look uniform?
Here's what my DRAG DR-34's look like on my 88GT. I think they are pretty close to stock as far as how far out of the wheelwells they stick out. I included the factory 15x7/6.5 before pics so you can see the difference. I went staggered: 17x7.5(45mm offset) front and 18x8(35mm offset) rear with 225/45x17 front and 225/40x18 rear.
Stock wheel offsets with factory GT tire sizes: New wheel offsets: View from the front. This is about the same as the stock wheel:
These are Tenzo R Type M Version 2 wheels, black with machined centers and lip. 17x7 5-100/5-114.3 ET42 for the front and 18x8 5-100/5-114.3 ET37 for the rears. The tires are 215/45ZR17 91W Hankook Ventus V4 ES H105 front and 245/40ZR18 97W Hankook Ventus V4 ES H105 for the rears. I know that there is a lot of debate about what offsets to use on 88's but after a fait bit of research, angziety and more research I settled on these. I'm quite happy with the results:
And for those who would like to see how much further they stick out from stock, first the front then the rear:
Personally, I can`t really see that they stick out very much further.
Can anyone tell me why these wheels won't work? Tire rack says they don't fit, but they look like they would. Thinking of going with a 17x7 42mm in front and a 18x7.5 42mm in back
Can anyone tell me why these wheels won't work? Tire rack says they don't fit, but they look like they would. Thinking of going with a 17x7 42mm in front and a 18x7.5 42mm in back
So if I run the 8" wide rear wheel with 46mm offset the tire might rub the spring? Anyone running something similar? I'm not planning on ever doing coil overs.
Sourmug, your car does look good. I like the factory look of the black center mesh with polished lip. I'm just looking for something a little different and 17's both front and rear...... plus, the 7 spoke is easier to clean
That's exactly what I ended up using: Fronts 17/7x48mm as is; added 13mm spacers on the rear with the 17/8x46mm offset wheels.
CarverToo, so the 13mm spacers fit behind the wheels and the lug nuts had enough grip on the studs to hold the wheels? Any way you can send me some pics? Email is eunospeed@msn.com
Guys, I got under the car lastnight and it looks like the wheel I want in the 17x8 46mm offset will rub the strut in the rear. If I go with an 18" wheel I might have more luck or go with a spacer...... I don't want an 18" wheel becuase of ride quality and cost. More thoughts?
We've discused the use of a 13mm spacer on the rear to help maintain factory centerline/spacing. The spacers also help the clearance issue you mention above. You can stay with the 17s.
Here's what my DRAG DR-34's look like on my 88GT. I think they are pretty close to stock as far as how far out of the wheelwells they stick out. I included the factory 15x7/6.5 before pics so you can see the difference. I went staggered: 17x7.5(45mm offset) front and 18x8(35mm offset) rear with 225/45x17 front and 225/40x18 rear.
Stock wheel offsets with factory GT tire sizes: New wheel offsets: View from the front. This is about the same as the stock wheel:
Man do I wish those old photos still worked nearly ten years later, LOL. Wife finally got one of her dream cars; a 1988 Formula with T-Tops. Need bigger brakes and thus bigger wheels. Any modern (2020 era) ideas and exampled would be appreciated :-)
Man do I wish those old photos still worked nearly ten years later, LOL. Wife finally got one of her dream cars; a 1988 Formula with T-Tops. Need bigger brakes and thus bigger wheels. Any modern (2020 era) ideas and exampled would be appreciated :-)
Rule of thumb for 1988s. For the rear, search for wheels that fit a 1998 VW New Beetle. ~35mm offset For the front, search for wheels that fit a 2005 Subaru Impreza. ~45mm offset.
Make sure the bolt circle is 5x100 (which it should be for both cars.) Make sure that the centerbore is at least 57.1mm, which matches the Fiero. (Most aftermarket wheels are ~72mm centerbore, and use a hub-centric ring, so you should be good. There are a few Subaru specific wheels, however, that use a 56.1mm centerbore, and will have to be bored out, in order to fit the Fiero.)
The trick is finding the same wheel, available for both cars. But Tire Rack has several styles. I looked just a few days ago.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 04-02-2021).]
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and more research 
I settled on these. I'm quite happy with the results:.JPG)
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