The Camaro Club (UK)

I will be changing my wheels and tyres to some that fit better than my current ones which are 15x8.5 American Racing ones with I think a 3.75" backspace.

They are also fitted with the wrong sized tyres (205 front and 225 rear) but I dont think I can get much wider in there without running into clearance problems due to the bad offset. The fronts already stick out.



So what are you running that works and fits nicely. I am also hoping to drop the front and rear suspension a little as well (2" front, 1.5" back), so need enough clearance to do that...

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My '80 progress thread - hugger orange! Now with LQ9 power - forged pistons, LS2 rods, 236/242, .621/.612, flowed and milled 317 heads. MS3X

4L80e, 12 bolt, 4.11, Moroso brute strength posi, steel shafts.

Subframe connectors, g-braces, solid body bushes, carbon hood and front bumper, custom door cards, Autometer gauges.

On 2nd gens it depends so much on what the look and type of driving you intend to do. Lots of people are upgrading to 17" wheels now because of the lack of performance tyres available in 15", and it really does help sharpen up the handling. If you really want the white lettered classic look and are mostly just cruising or the odd strip action stick with the 15's.
The classic Torque Thrust style seems to really suit these cars and are available in most diameters, widths, offsets and colour or chrome options from various sources.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd gens shared similar backspace/offset so lots of options depending how wide you want...
In general I've noted that they seem to like about a zero offset if possible. It's possible to just squeeze 315 under the rear, but 295 seems the safe maximum, and the fronts will struggle with much more than 255 width.


(just spotted these on ebay... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PONTIAC-CHEVY ... 500wt_1108)

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“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

Year One markets a 17" reproduction of the Z/28 wheel in aluminum. Works well for fitting bigger brakes. If you shave the lip in the rear wheel well, you can stuff some 315's in there with the stock offest, no problem. That's what I'm doing on mine, so I won't have to tub it.

FYI,

Dana

Thanks for the feedback

The wheels that are fitted are very old American Racing wheels which look like Torque Thrusts

Cheap or readily available tyres is a consideration and I am not that fussed with the white lettering/classic look. Equally I dont want the boy racer look either.

17's would probably suit but I will have to have a look at tyre availability I think.

If I can run 225-235 at the front and 255-275 ish at the back I think that would suit.

So I would be looking for something like 17x8 with a 4.5" backspace?

_________________
My '80 progress thread - hugger orange! Now with LQ9 power - forged pistons, LS2 rods, 236/242, .621/.612, flowed and milled 317 heads. MS3X

4L80e, 12 bolt, 4.11, Moroso brute strength posi, steel shafts.

Subframe connectors, g-braces, solid body bushes, carbon hood and front bumper, custom door cards, Autometer gauges.

http://www.classiccamaroclubuk.com/phpB ... f=9&t=1826

see my notes in above thread re wheels and tyres for info!

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Kind Regards
TopCat
Secretary
Classic Camaro Club
Member of The Association of American Car Clubs UK
Email :tboles@strathnoon.co.uk Websites: http://www.classiccamaroclubuk.com and:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdhLJtR_ZY4

On my old 78 camaro, i was running a set of bart speedway rims, 8 x 15 front with 225 60 15, and 10 x 15 rear with 295 50 15.
(Although i did run air shock on the back to pump it up a bit)
Ican't remember what offset i was running, but i bought the rims from summit racing in the states. the rear tyres were exactly level with the arch lip

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I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE......



I'M JUST TOO DAMNED TIRED TO BOTHER CHASING YOU !

Thanks for the feedback. Double checked mine tonight and the rims are 15x8.5 with 3.5" backspace. It makes them sit a long way out and I think even with 255/60 tyres on the back I think it would be pretty close to rubbing the arch lip with my calibrated eyeball measuring.

Looks like I will have to save for some new rims and tyres. More expense

_________________
My '80 progress thread - hugger orange! Now with LQ9 power - forged pistons, LS2 rods, 236/242, .621/.612, flowed and milled 317 heads. MS3X

4L80e, 12 bolt, 4.11, Moroso brute strength posi, steel shafts.

Subframe connectors, g-braces, solid body bushes, carbon hood and front bumper, custom door cards, Autometer gauges.

On my 2nd gen it's

American Racing 15" all round

Front:
15/60/255 on a 8 / 8.5" rim
Backspace: 4" if i'm measuring it correctly

Back :
15/60/275 on a 10" rim
Backspace: 4 / 4.5" backspace if i am measuring it correctly.

seems all ok so far

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