[john31s]

Originally Posted by FinnGTO

I tried to fit 235/55/17 wheels for my 69 GTO with unpleasant results: they won't fit in the front (I can't turn the wheels more than maybe 20 degrees).

The rims are YearOne Rally II 17x8 with 4 1/2 backspacing. Y1 says that 245/45/17 should fit but I'd like to have a bit higher profile because of the look. It feels weird to have smaller tire diameter (25.7" vs. 26.4") while switching from 14" rims to 17" wheels.

Has anybody been luckier than I? Has someone been able to to fit larger than 245/45/17 front tire in a 69 GTO?

Another issue: there was discussion on the thread size with the Y1 17" Rally IIs. What is the final consensus: should I change the threads for longer ones or use the ET lugs? Or just go with the lug nuts that came with the Y1 wheel set?

Ok, The manufacture spec'd one size tire and you went taller... should anyone be surprised that they rub when you turn.

I don't know why everyone is obsessed with such a tall sidewall. If you go to the length of changing wheels and tires on a car, especially a modern set of wheels on an older car you will pretty much always have to lower it to get it to look right. I have these wheels and the tires I have are 25.94" tall. They looked goofy when the car was on its stock suspension and look fine since I lowered it a bit (read: fills out the wheel well).

/End rant.

As for possible solutions to your rubbing issue:
-Different tires on the front.
-Cut/pull/roll the front fenders and inner fenders to gain clearance.
-Live with the crappy turning radius.
-Somehow raise the front of the car to provide more room for the taller tires (stupid/dangerous).
-Return to stock wheels/tire.
-Different tires on the front.

I have 255/45/17s on 9" wide YO Rally IIs and they rubbed when I dropped the front on coils 3" to see how it looked. At my current ride height of about 1.5" drop I have no rubbing issues and I will go lower when I get time to roll the fenders. I am not trying to be a dick but you may need to move some metal/ get different tires to achieve the looks you want.

[mudslinger]

My son has 17x8 year one with 235/55 on the front of his 68 gto
When we first put them on they rubbed at the rear of the fender and only if turning and backing up at the same time
Funny thing is it stopped rubbing after we swapped out the factory disc brakes for
12.19" Wilwood dynalight disc
Have no idea why they stopped rubbing the Wilwoods actually set the wheel out about a 1/4" further which I thought might make them rub worse

His front end is lowered 2 to 3"

[FinnGTO]

Many thanks for the rant, comments and suggestions.

I am not particularly obsessed with a wide side wall. As regards the original sizes that were available in late 60s and early 70s I like more on the 15" wheels than 14". However, I am not a huge fan of the wide side wall profiles of the 70s. Thus I am lookig for a combination where the wheel is as tall as with the original 15" wheel (around 27") but with a lower tire profile. This means that with a 17" rim I prefer a 55 tire profile. But that's just my 2 (euro)cents.

To be precise, Year One states "Original fitment test done with 245/45-17 BF Goodrich G-Force T/A-KDW tires." I don't read it as "nothing larger than 245/45/17 won't fit". Sure, I took a risk that 235/55/17 won't fit and the risk realised.

I have a friend who has F70-15 wheels in his 69 GTO with no problems. That tire size is close to 215/70/15 which are 26.9" tall. Another friend has 225/70/15 tires (27.4" tall) in his 68 Cutlass without problems. The final trigger to choose 235/55/17 (27.2" tall) tire size was when I saw a 71 Cutlass wich had those (in front). Maybe that car has different rim width and/or backspace in front. Or maybe it is just that a front fender in a 68-69 GTO is somewhat tighter than in a Cutlass or a 70-72 GTO.

Anyway, I have the 17x8 wheels with a 4.5 backspace so I ordered the 245/45/17 tires and will sell the larger ones. Summer is soon gone and I want to drive my car with the new wheels on. I want to be able to use the 14" Rally IIs every now and then so I don't want to adjust the front height and definately don't want to make major modifications for the fenders. And I want to be able to drive the normal 75-80 mph speed on a motorway. My car has the original disc brakes and it is probably a bit lower in front than it was in 1969.

As regards the lug nuts and studs, are you running on original or longer studs? How about the lug nuts, are you using the Y1 nuts are for example the ones that PY sells (RPW22) for these wheels?

[tbarsch]

I too have these wheels in the staggered 17x8, 17x9. 17x8 was fitted with 245/45/17 for the front. 17x9 was fitted with 275/40/17 for the rear. Lowered the car 2". I could not be happier with look or fitment, all on a 67 Firebird.

I did buy the Gorilla ET lugs right here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00280A2ZI/
to get some additional threads engaged. I did not need to use longer studs.

[Captainofiron]

Originally Posted by tbarsch

I too have these wheels in the staggered 17x8, 17x9. 17x8 was fitted with 245/45/17 for the front. 17x9 was fitted with 275/40/17 for the rear. Lowered the car 2". I could not be happier with look or fitment, all on a 67 Firebird.

I did buy the Gorilla ET lugs right here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00280A2ZI/
to get some additional threads engaged. I did not need to use longer studs.

looks awesome

[mudslinger]

Finn GTO
Original studs,Y1 lug nuts.

Bill

[Old Blue 66]

Originally Posted by tbarsch

I too have these wheels in the staggered 17x8, 17x9. 17x8 was fitted with 245/45/17 for the front. 17x9 was fitted with 275/40/17 for the rear. Lowered the car 2". I could not be happier with look or fitment, all on a 67 Firebird.

I did buy the Gorilla ET lugs right here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00280A2ZI/
to get some additional threads engaged. I did not need to use longer studs.

They do look great. It always seems fitment of bigger wheels is easier on f body cars

[JC455]

On the 68/69 A body fenders, you'll notice the bottom rear part of the wheelwell actually points inward toward the tire, as opposed to dropping straight down. This is the area I always had rub issues with on my 68.
I've seen guys pie-cut a strip out of the fender and reweld it for more clearance.

[FinnGTO]

Now I've had the 245/45/17 tires for about a week and been driven maybe 350 miles with the car. Even this size is a close call in my car but they fit without rubbing.

The quality of the wheels is good: they are straight and I can drive on a motorway without problems. However, I needed to buy the PY lug nuts as I didn't feel comfortable with the lug nuts that came with the Y1 wheel kit.

Many thanks for the comments.

[Jc68fbody]

Just wanted to add some pics I just add 17' year one rally ii's 8's front 9's rear 245 45 and 275 40's http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1413759120

[ml3126]

Hers a pic of mine the same size.

[quicksilver97ta]

Pics look awesome guys, thanks for posting. Glad the 8's are now working out. Definitely on my wish list!

[69 RA GTO]

Guys, Bringing this thread back to the top to see if there are any new cars that now have 17" YO rally wheels.

I am looking to put them on my 69 and am thinking the 17x8 wheels. I am kind of old school and would like to have a 50 or 55 series tires to show some sidewall as well as get some ride out of the tire.

After doing a lot of reading all over the different forms on the internet it appears the front is the problem for the 68-69 GTO's due to the lower fenders pointing inwards. What I have found is that people can run 245/45/17 on the front with both the 17x8 and 17x9 year one wheels with no problem.

Guys ARE rubbing with 235/50/17 and 235/55/17 tires with 17x8 wheels on 68/69 GTO's

Has anyone had any luck with 50 or 55 series tires with 17" rally's on a 68/69 GTO?
Can people confirm that 245/45/17 tires DO NOT rub in the front?
Let me know your thoughts and what does/does not work

Thanks, and pictures are a plus LOL

[nytrainer]

Thought I posted pics on this thread. Anyway running the YO Rally 2's (17x9's) with Nitto 555's. (Tried both Red and Black lucite centers)
No rubbing at all.
Rears are 255/50ZR17 height 27.09" width 10.43.
Fronts are 245/45ZR17 height 25.67" width 9.57

[fyrffytr1]

Originally Posted by Nicks67GTO

Someone has to have pics of these wheels on a 66-67 A-body by now right?

I know I have posted these pics elsewhere on the forums but here they are again. 17x8 with Goodyear Eagle 235/50R17 tires all around. I had a slight rub on the fronts but remedied that by loosening the bottom fender bolts and pulling the back part of the fender out. There was also a bump out on the driver's side that fender liner that a hammer made quick work of. I still get a rub if I take a hard, sharp turn but that's all.
The rears were a different story. The 67 rearend is 1" wider and that caused a problem with the 4.5" backspace on the wheels. When I let the car down off the jack the fender rubbed the tires at the top of the wheel well. I did two things to remedy that. First,(I can hear the moans and groans from the purists already!) I ground the inner lip of the top of the wheel well even with the stainless trim. Then, using coil spring spacers I raised the rear of the car up about 1.25"s. This gave me plenty of clearance so I didn't have to change the rear end out for a narrower one.
Here are a few pics. The two profile pics are old and new wheels and tires.

[MikeDinWP]

69 RA GTO... what did you decide for 17" wheels and tires sizes?

[1bad65]

I'm considering the US Mag Bandits for my 69 GTO only because the YO Rally's don't come in 18's. The Bandits look really nice and if you install PMD center caps on them they look even better. I'm thinking of getting 18x8's for the front and 18x9's for the rear, I just need to research tire size for optimal performance. Currently I run 15x10 (5.5 bs) in the rear with 28x12.50 MT ET Street Tires and 15x6's up front with 26x6.50 MT's. Any feedback on tire size would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

[MikeDinWP]

@1bad65... I haven't chosen yet... I not sure if the tire size change would make the car "restomod" looking. It's very original, but with under hood improvement that only a knowledgeable Pontiac fan would notice... nothing over the top. And I have 14" Rally I's currently, so I think these Y1 wheels would make the car really pop... but its truly subjective to the observer. My car would never win "points" on originally... too many improvements if your look for them. I was just thinking the Y1's would pull away the curtain too much. I do like them and I would like a good driving car which these wheels should greatly out-preform any 15" combo that I might consider. Still pondering....

[1bad65]

I hear you. My GTO is far from stock and since I don't get to the track as often as I used to, I'm looking to make it more of a resto-mod. I may even consider installing an overdrive transmission.