been up all night screen shopping. graemlins/boring.gif

since i've decided to go for some cheaper, mainstream wheels for the next 2 or 3 years. i've boiled it down to the following two choices;

option 1:
american racing TT-II:
17x8x4 front and 17x9.5x4.5
OR
17x8x4.5 front and 17x9.5x5.5 rear
COST= $1200 approx. +/- $100

option 2:
cragar SS:
the best F/R combination of 17x8x3.5, 17x8x4.5, 17x9x4.5, 17x9x5.5.
COST= $800 approx. +/- 50

i am inclined to go with the cragar. the cost is driving me here, since i will buy nicer ones later. and since i like both wheels about the same it doesnt matter lookwise.

any comments?
if you like option 2, (i dont mind going 9" all round!!-- easier to rotate tires!)please recommend a combo?
would these pretty much guarantee a fit on my 69?

thanks again and please forgive me for dragging this issue on.

Try this website fastlanespeed&rodshop. I got the 17X8 TT for $830 including lugnuts and chrome valvestems. They carry american racing and centerline and sell at $50 over cost....Nice guy to.

charliec
can't seem to find this website. what is the exact web address?

cheers
steve

Charliec,
help us out here, what is the website? smile.gif

www.? (http://www.?)

www.fastlanespeedandrodshop.com (http://www.fastlanespeedandrodshop.com)

thats a great deal! i assume that is for a set. can you split sizes?

i am now thinking of going with 17x9s (cragar) all around. this gives a good range of sizes, 245s to 275s.

the question is, what backspacing for front and rears? 4.5 or 5.5?

17x9's with 4.5 backspacing won't work so don't even consider those. 5 or 5.25 is the way to go.
Always err on the liberal side when it comes to backspacing. If you don't have enough,it's very hard to compensate. If you have a little too much,you can always compensate with thin disc brake spacers or something appropriate.

hey clint, thanks for all your input.

when looking it up in the summit website, the cragars come pretty much in the 4.5 and 5.5. not wanting to pay extra for a custom B/Sing, i would like to stick to what is available off the shelf so to speak.

for a wheel that is only 9" wide. with a 4.5" b/s wouldnt that leave 4.5" on the outside. whats the difference?

what do you think about 17x9x5.5 all around?

what advantage, if any, if i use 17x8x4.5 fronts (i just think it would stretch it if i want to put 255s on the front)?

thats why i like the 9s all around, better flexibility in tire sizes.

thanks again.

A 9" rim is actually 10" from outer rim to outer rim. A 17x9 rim with 4.5" backspacing will leave 5.5" of rim & tire to the outside. On second thought,this combo will probably work but the wheel will not be centered in the wheelwell. The latter isn't a major issue unless the body isn't square on the frame. 17x9.5 wheels with 5.5 backspacing should work on both ends although front swaybar clearance might get a little snug.
As for tires,a 245 through 285 will probably work ok on a 17x9 rim. On a 17x9.5 rim,I might bump up the front to a 255.
Hope I haven't confused you but if the extra cost for custom backspacing isn't a huge amount,it would be money well spent.

decision is made. 17x9x5.5 all around.

thanks guys, great site.

how would this work...

17x8x4.5" front w/ a 255/40 tire

17x9x5.5" rear w/ 285/40 tire

i thought about that for a while. but many people have told me that it would be a bad idea to run a 255 on an 8" wheel. they recommend at least 8.5" the 9"s give me alot more flexibility in tire sizes.

the reason i preffer an "off the shelf" size rather than custom, is because back home i will have to ship them if i damage one. custom stuff is very risky when you ship it half way around the world, you never know its right until you get it. and if it is wrong, it is a b*tch to send it back and exchange it (it also takes too long!).

i think clint is right. i will err on high side with the backspaing, hence 17x9x5.5 all around. it should work without problems. if worse comes to worse, i will use a small spacer for final corrections.

thanks guys.

Just thought I'd add this info in to this thread.....Cragar is an aluminum and steel wheel. If you're after more strength, especially with todays larger rims and disc rotors, you may want to look into the forged version which is available from Weld Wheel. They are available in a lot of sizes up to 18". Of course the price is going to be more - about 300 each - but your getting much more strength with the forged alloy. Cragar SS via Weld Wheel (http://www.weldracing.com/CragarSS.html)

I've had Cragar SS's on my 70 Chevelle since 84 (16 x 8 with Goodyear 255 50 16 all around) and love them, they have a great look, until I went to larger rotors and tires in 2000. Cragar started manufacturing rims with the clearance needed to fit over large rotors - the only concern I had was their overall strength which is why I am going to try the Weld Wheel Cragar SS. I have a set on order through Summit, still waiting for them to be delivered.

Sam