So just this summer I am planning on putting some rims and painting my fiero gt. What do i need to do to make 17x9.5 and 17x11 wheels fit on my fiero, i am probably using adapters but what do i need to do to the suspension and body to make it work? Any comments would help thanks!
Is this for a body kit? I'm sure someone else can give exact details (there's a chart floating around here that you can see the effects of wheel size, and offsets). I'm thinking you are going to need to look for a wide track suspension kit, and completely change the panels to either flares or some other widened panel. You'll probably end up with wheels out about 4" when you're done. Whatever you do...avoid "spacers".
You will need to tell people the offsets you are proposing.
I'll look for the chart...someone will probably post it before I find it...
You might be able to get away with a small spacer, depending on your offset. I'm not a fan of spacers, but from the chart, it doesn't look as bad as I initially thought. The body panels will be the challenge. I'll let someone else comment on this, since I don't have any experience with installing flares.
[This message has been edited by Neils88 (edited 01-31-2014).]
I am trying to keep it as stock as possible, i can maybe do a little flaring on the rear or so....the offset is +50...back space is 7.987 on the rear. Fromt is +56 offset
I am trying to keep it as stock as possible, i can maybe do a little flaring on the rear or so....the offset is +50...back space is 7.987 on the rear. Fromt is +56 offset
You're never going to be able to keep things stock (mechanically or appearance) with this much wheel width. Likely going to need 2" spacers (or better yet, widetrack kit/coilovers) and 3" flares. Why do you want so much width?
The maximum you can go is 17x10 with the proper offset.....and that is with a widebody kit or IMSA. On a stock Fiero. the rear of the wheel lip will be about 1/4" away from the strut knuckle in the rear and the front of the wheel will stick out 3" past the fender. If you go to a 19" wheel with coilovers, you can go with a 19x9.5 in the rear and tuck the entire wheel into the fender well due to the fact that the 19" wheel goes over the top of the strut knuckle. Here is Nosaints car with 19x9.5 in the rear.....on a stock body. Even at that width, he is right on the border of the wheel coming past the fender lip.
[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 02-01-2014).]
It all depends on how much work you want to put into in. Fog shortened his lower a-arms and modified the top of the strut to fit some 325 ET street tires under his car. They didn't tuck completely under, but it was close. He ended up popping his panels out to cover them:
I played around with a 10 1/2" wheel and got it tucked under the stock 88 notchie panels, but its 18" and I shortened the lateral links and relocated the top of the strut inboard 1". It was just a test fit as I wanted to get my LS4/F40 swap running and didn't want to spend the $$$ on the shorter axles that were needed for this mod to work. Eventually, I will get back to it. Rear frame rail clearance: Strut clearance: From the rear. This was before I moved the top of the struts in, so the wheel has some positive camber.
Sorry guys didn't mean it like stock stock. I would want to get that kit for the suspension and probably pop the fenders out an inch. And cause i am getting the c4 grandsport wheels that's why im going that wide..
The maximum you can go is 17x10 with the proper offset.....and that is with a widebody kit or IMSA. On a stock Fiero. the rear of the wheel lip will be about 1/4" away from the strut knuckle in the rear and the front of the wheel will stick out 3" past the fender. If you go to a 19" wheel with coilovers, you can go with a 19x9.5 in the rear and tuck the entire wheel into the fender well due to the fact that the 19" wheel goes over the top of the strut knuckle. Here is Nosaints car with 19x9.5 in the rear.....on a stock body. Even at that width, he is right on the border of the wheel coming past the fender lip.
9.5s will fit with 17's or larger on the 84-87 cars, but must be 18's or larger on the '88 cars... With the right offset, as you mentioned.
From my measurements, I'm pretty sure 9.5 will fit on an '88. However, before you throw money down for wheels, get a Percey's Wheel Right or similar measurement tool to measure for yourself.
[This message has been edited by Will (edited 02-04-2014).]
I hope you don't think that the wide wheels and tires are going to improve handling.
You are implying that wider wheels and tires will NOT improve handling. Please explain.
I was under the impression that going to wider rear tires would improve handling if you could get the front/rear tire widths to match up with the Fiero's front/rear weight distribution. Roughly 45%/55%.
Thanks, ~ Bob ~
------------------ "Its nice to be important. Its more important to be nice."
There are limits to increased tire width for handling improvement. If you go too wide, the handling in real world conditions will suffer.
Tell that to my Miata!
You would have to go pretty wide before you're going to stop seeing positive effects. My miata (2300lbs) is running 15x10" wheels with 275 tires, and believe it or not the fastest guys are running even wider! Sure, there will be a point where enough is enough, but a 10" or 11" wide lightweight wheel for Fiero will see handling improvements over a 7".
Sorry guys didn't mean it like stock stock. I would want to get that kit for the suspension and probably pop the fenders out an inch. And cause i am getting the c4 grandsport wheels that's why im going that wide..
245/40R18 on the rear. Rainy days scare me especially on curvy off ramps. Handling and traction is great, but the more tire surface area under the same weight the greater the chance of hydroplaning on a car already prone to wanting to swap ends on slippery wet roads.
Rain: As long as you don't hydroplane, if the car's balanced in the dry, it's balanced in the wet. Wide tires mean easier hydroplaning. So what? Weighing less than 3000# means easier hydroplaning. Don't drive summer tires in the winter.
Rough Pavement: Nothing handles well on rough pavement
Tire Wear: Alignment settings take care of this. If you're a grandma who never drives hard in the corners, why are you reading a thread on wide wheels and tires?
quote
Originally posted by Joseph Upson:
245/40R18 on the rear. Rainy days scare me especially on curvy off ramps. Handling and traction is great, but the more tire surface area under the same weight the greater the chance of hydroplaning on a car already prone to wanting to swap ends on slippery wet roads.
If you have a rear bar, get rid of it. I have 245's and the wet world is my playground, but it wasn't so when I had a rear bar.
"If your a grandma that doesn't drive hard in the corners............."
Now thats funny!
The funniest part was when you could've used the "quote" function and didn't- Will used the proper (you're) and then you incorrectly paraphrased (your) in a response.
I know you're a well-respected engine swapping, Fiero-working-on guy around my neck of the woods, but out of curiosity, do you have any background with NASA, SCCA ITx or Solo, or HPDE?
[This message has been edited by KurtAKX (edited 02-10-2014).]
