Will these wheels fit?

[Potter12]

Hi guys. I've got a 1985 olds cutlass salon with the 15 x 7 rims and currently have 215/70-15 on the front and 255/60-15 on the rear. I believe the backspacing is 3.75" I was wanting to upgrade to some new rocket booster chrome 17 x 8 rims with a 4.5 backspacing. What I'm thinking is some 235/45-17 tires on front and possibly either 245/45-17 or 255/45-17 on the rears. Was wanting to know if anyone has done this combo and knows if it works. If anybody wants to lend some advise that would be great! Thanks in advance. Craig

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Hi guys. I've got a 1985 olds cutlass salon with the 15 x 7 rims and currently have 215/70-15 on the front and 255/60-15 on the rear. I believe the backspacing is 3.75" I was wanting to upgrade to some new rocket booster chrome 17 x 8 rims with a 4.5 backspacing. What I'm thinking is some 235/45-17 tires on front and possibly either 245/45-17 or 255/45-17 on the rears. Was wanting to know if anyone has done this combo and knows if it works. If anybody wants to lend some advise that would be great! Thanks in advance. Craig

According to this http://www.chevyasylum.com/tech/backspace.html and everything I've been reading (since I'm looking for wheels too) your sizes and backspacing should be fine. If your front suspension is worn you might have some slight rubbing on lock-to-lock turns or during compression. I don't know what kind of pricing you found for those wheels but there are several variants at good prices. Coys C5, Rev classic, Coys C57, Boss 338, Ridler wheels, Cragar Eliminator, etc. You can search any of them on ebay to get an idea. The Boss wheels are pretty cheap but you have to make sure you get the latest ones because the early versions had center cap issues with our dust caps.

 

[crash]

I have a very similar wheel (MB Wheels Old School) in 17x8 with 4.5" backspacing and 255/45/17 tires on all four corners. I have no rubbing issues at all, but many do have issues with wide tires up front. I LOVE the look, but I wish I went a little wider out back so they stick out a bit more.

 

[Randy_W]

These are 17x8 Boyd's Smoothie II's with zero offset on my former Grand Am, 275/40 rear, 245/45 front, no issues at all and the '80 Grand Am and Grand Prix SJ's were lower than any other G-Body by 1.5" rear and 1" front. :wink:

 

[joe_padavano]

The 255/45-17 tires are an inch SMALLER in diameter than the 255/60-15s that you have currently (26" vs. 27"). That's one of the problems with these larger diameter wheels - the available tires are much lower profile and thus smaller in diameter.

 

[Bruce Compton]

Randy,

How did they get those cars that much lower? The only way I can see is springs. If that is the case, can you give us some part numbers?

 

[Potter12]

Thanks everyone, this gives me a better idea of what I'm looking at.

 

[Randy_W]

I tried last year to get the numbers but most companies have no clue and just sell generic G-body units. I loved them because they handled like a go kart when teamed with the Pliacell shocks and T/A tires while maintaing a great ride. I want a set for my 442 but haven't found any.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

With a 17x8" rim I prefer the look of a 4" BS over the 4.5" in the rear. It pushes the wheel towards the fender more giving more frame clearance but still plenty of clearance at the fender lip.

However on the front, a 4" BS wheel will rub the wheel well lip of the inner fender with a 245/45R17 tire so the 4.5" BS up front would be much better.

This is what a set of 17x8", 4" BS wheels looked like on my '87 years ago. It had 245/45ZR17 tires up front and 255/45ZR17 tires out back.

 

[Potter12]

FE3X CLONE, thanks for the information and pictures. I do like how that looks and I actually like the rims too. Just curious what kind are they?