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Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 12:02 am
by DanteGTZ
Before I spill the beans on what I'm trying to fit, I'd like some input... The specs on the wheel are very different than an OEM Lbody wheel. The wheels in question are 18x9 +25mm offset -- CRAZY, right? I know, but it seems that the wheels that appeal to me aren't available in 17s, at least not in a 5x100 pattern. Same with the width - 9" is as narrow as they get. Yet another challenge in owning a Beretta, I suppose.

Alright, back to it---- This 9" wide wheel is obviously way wider than I'd really want. I'm just exploring options. I can say with reasonable confidence that the wheel will, in fact, fit. With the radical offset the downside is that the wheel will stick out over 1.5" further than the OEM wheel which will look a bit silly... and that's not even addressing any rubbing issues. The rear is of concern as well, but aside from a rubbing issue when loading the car down, they should work without sticking out much past the wheel wheels, if at all.

So the real issue is the front. Has anyone successfully found a way to narrow the front suspension maybe 1/2" or so? Does the >99 Grand Am or the Jbody use the same spindle as the Beretta as far as the overall suspension/hub width is concerned? I'm hoping maybe something will give me a slightly more narrow offset at the hub to suck the wheel into the wheel well a bit. I realize, of course that the tie rod ends become an issue as well but I'm trying to take baby steps. Not only are the mystery wheels going to be crazy to fit but they're not exactly cheap, either. Just trying to do some preliminary homework.

Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 7:50 am
by heavywoody
The N-body/F-body brake setup I had on my car sucked the wheels in about 1/2" closer to the strut (which is why I had to run spacers on the front so my tires wouldn't rub the spring perch).

If you make coilovers for the front, you'll be able to gain even more clearance since you won't be using the factory spring perch or spring diameter.

18x9 +25 is a crazy aggressive wheel. Should be interesting if you go through with it. You will definitely be sticking out past the fenders; compared to my 17's (which are pretty flush with the fender up front, tucked in just a little in back), you will stick out 23mm more and have 3mm less clearance on the inside (which I don't think the inside will pose much of a problem, that's only 1/8").

Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:00 am
by 3X00-Modified
Hella flush yo?

Narrowing the suspension is going to open a crazy can of worms if you physically have to move the bearing location due to the need for custom length axle shafts after that... Might want to look into the N-body stuff but now your looking at a different bolt pattern...

Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:13 am
by woody90gtz
I never should have shown you those...haha

And actually there was a guy at Optima saying that brand was junk. He has seen some of the Subaru guys shatter them on pot holes! Just an FYI. I am going to steer clear of them...you may be better off doing the same.

Sorry bro!

Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:15 am
by woody90gtz
Oh and as another intesting option... Weldcraft will widen and narrow wheels. Expensive though...and not really an option for those wheels because you'd have to take width out of the front to add offset.

http://www.weldcraftwheels.com/

Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:37 am
by Asylum
So what is "Plan B"?

Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:09 am
by 1988GTU
woody90gtz wrote:Oh and as another intesting option... Weldcraft will widen and narrow wheels. Expensive though...and not really an option for those wheels because you'd have to take width out of the front to add offset.

http://www.weldcraftwheels.com/
go with this... saves you a lot of everything in the end result.

Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:34 am
by heavywoody
Weldcraft will only help if you have fitment issues on the inner edge of the wheel; it won't help with the wheel sticking out past the fenders.

Eric, did you show him some Rota's? lol

That one STi at the track with the Orange wheels destroyed one in Turn 4 Sunday after we left.

Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:38 am
by 3X00-Modified
Rota ftw?

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Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 1:01 pm
by 1988GTU
http://www.stocktonwheel.com/

http://www.wheelsamerica.com/Index.php

http://www.fixrim.com/index.php

Those businesses might be able to do or point you in the direction of who does the work you may be able to obtain.

If the wheels can be shortened, then refinished to like new looks, it might be a solid option?

How about using hub centric wheel adapters with the 17" wheels to bring it back to 5x100? Are the 17's available in an array of offset choices?

Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 5:32 pm
by woody90gtz
Nope, Cosmis. That STi guy is actually who told me about them shattering. I was looking at them for my Camaro because they have a badass drag race vibe. 18x9 & 18x10 with a workable offset for me to tuck them under the fender. But junk is junk regardless.

I thought I had posted them in my Camaro thread here but I guess that was just Nasty & P-T.

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Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:47 pm
by DanteGTZ
Yup, those are the exact wheels...... sooooooooo pretty! I know they will physically "fit" - and yes, I realize they will probably rub without some fender lip modification. However, what I'm after is avoiding the goofy look of the front wheels sticking out too far past the front fenders. Damnit, I wish this wheel was 8" wide, not 9". It just sucks that all of the modern wheels available are either too large in diameter or too aggressively offset to fit properly.

I'm still eager to see/explore if it is possible to get these to sit a little closer in the wheel well.

Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:12 pm
by Asylum
Nice wheels but certainly not in keeping with the look of our cars.

You get 1 out of 10 here on that choice.

They will NEVER look like they "belong" on your car.

Time to re-load and look some more.

Just my .02

:beer:

Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:15 pm
by DanteGTZ
Figure as much... i think theyd look phenomenal on our cars if they can be made to fit within the fenders.

[edit] You mean to tell me you see no similarities here between those two wheels? C'mon man... Look at those empty triangles between the spokes. Aside from the dish and some modern touches, I think they share some nice similarities.

Re: Anyone have ideas on fitting wide wheels????

Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 3:11 am
by Cliff8928
Why not just get a set of factory Audi wheels that bolt right on?
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For what it's worth, the front wheels on my GT are 17x8.5 and effectively +22mm offset (wheel is +60 with a 38mm spacer)