New Year One 17" Rally II's
 

I stopped yesterday at YO to talk about them. Went in the back and checked out the 69 Firebird with them on it.
Nice rims, front fit is tight as expected. Reverse design so I left them a Template to check fitment of 13" and 14" brakes.

First shipment has come and gone, still a lot of back orders. Was told next Shipment maybe by February?

Ok guys, a lot of you have now gotten yours, time for some real feedback.

Anyone?

Oh really? Whats the going price?

Holy **** $900 bucks for all 4 wheels???!!! That might just be a done deal for me

Cool. Did they turn the wheels for you to check for rub? What do you estimate the front ride height was compared to stock?

ttt

Wow $900 for the set of 4 is an absolute steal! Might have to buy a set of these and sell my VWW v-40's... or just have both :)

http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/f...ain2.asp?cat=5

Only problem I see is fitting a 9" wide wheel in the front...

Actually I was mistaken... its 749.00

Even better!

Nah you were right the first time $900 is for the wheels, lug nuts, center caps.

http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/f...hid=518AM12109

Still a good price though!

wonder if these would fit on a 69 Grand Prix?

Yes.

does anyone has a set mounted on a 69-72 that can post a few pictures? tire sizes and any issues needed to resolve to make them work?

I will soon. I have the wheels and two 275/40/17's. I will mount those and put them on the front first to see if there are any issues. If there is a problem, I will put them on the back and put 245/45/17's on the front. I should have the fronts tested on Saturday. Oh and this is on a 72 LeMans.

Well there is no rubbing probs with 275/40/17 on the front of a 72 A-body. I have the old H-O Racing springs on the front. I think they are 1 inch lower than stock?

17" rally 2's
 

Good to know! Got any pics? Have a 70 GTO - very interested.

Here are some pics. My 15x8 275/50/15 tires are on the back. Not the greatest pics. I guess my only issue I have is that the insert color should be darker like my other wheels. I think I may may have to paint the insert darker. I like the contrast.

You are right, the centers would look better darker, the silver might actually look better a shade or two deeper as well... they blend in with the aluminum outer "ring".

I don't mind the 17" wheel, I actually like them alot, the issue I have is the short tires, both sizes you are going to run are almost an inch shorter than the stock 14" tires the car came with. 245/45/17's height ranges from 25.4" to 26.1"'s depending on manufacturer, while the 275/40/17's range from 25.1" to 25.8"'s tall. The factory G70=14's were just under 27" tall. The Coker Firestone Wide Oval comes in at 26.9" I wish we had more choices in tires... Filling the wheelwell with tire is what we are after... not filling the tire with wheel! JMO

Dosen't Year One have some pics of the new Rally II's on a 64-67 A body? I can't understand why they wouldn't?

Some other things to consider:

The 275/40/17 tire and 17x9 aluminum wheel combo weighed in at 57 lbs. My old 245/60/15 on 15x8 Wheel Vintiques steels were 49 lbs. So that is 8 lbs more at each corner. I was hoping for the same weight but the extra 8 lbs sort of surprised me.

Also the stock wheel studs seem to be a tad short with the thicker aluminum wheel.

rally 2's
 

Has anybody had these balanced? How well do they do over 70 mph?

I got up to 65MPH without any issues. But the tire guy said it may be difficult to balance due to the weights needing to be on the backside of the wheel and the fact that the center section is almost at the midpoint of the wheel.

Updated pic

That looks AWESOME! Mine are due in sometime in the next 1 - 4 weeks. Saw the pic and ordered the same night! Thanks for posting.

Did you end up with 275/40/17's all the way around?

Yes - 275/40/17 Nitto 555's at all 4 corners. I think that is the max size up front. If they sold 17x10's I would have put more rubber in the back.

I'm surprised this thread doesn't have more activity. These wheels must be getting a lot of guys excited.

I'm thinking about them for my '69. I've never liked the fact that the car rolls on 14" doughnuts.

I have a 67 Bird. I want them. I have been waiting for almost a year. YO has horrible customer service and sales from my experience. I just stay away normally. I called because I saw that 69 with them and I wondered how they did it. 255's or wheel well work, etc. The salesman said the 69 was 100 yards from him. I would have thought he could have walked over or just asked. But no I guess if they can't keep them on the shelves they aren't gonna work to answer Q's.

I think I'd pay 50.00 more just to not talk to them.

Maybe a sponsor will buy a bunch and gives us some customer service.

Anyway if anyone is in ATL and can look at them for us that would be awesome.

I'm building a 70 formula and have 14" baer aluminum hat rotors with 06 ZO6 (i've sold these and am planning on using the 2013 ann vet which are the same but diff color) 6 piston calipers.
Just wondering if the brakes will fit in these wheels? I was planning on running aftermarket wheels but these look to nice not to run them. I may even have the rears widened to 10-11 inches.

maybe a better balance solution
 

I'm liking these wheels as well and may want to choose to use these whenever i can complete my project65. I may use Dyna beads as they've impressed me in both the use in truck tires and on my bike.

balance
 

I'd like to know if these new wheels are hub centric or lug centric or both. The concern comes from the Vintage Wheel Rally II's which require a really old tech bubble balance because the lugs are not centered with the hub and you can not do a modern spin balance on them.
I'd also like a solid answer about the tire size fit up front on a first gen.

Anyone looked at a 235/55/R17 tire? That is around 27.2" tall. Some manufacturers also make a 235/50/R17 which is 26.3" tall. Really like the wheels, just need something around a 26.5 - 27" tire on an a-body. Just my opinion.

Totally agree on the height issue Doug! The problem I have with a 235 width tire on these 9" rims is the tires are narrower than the rims. Which I think looks horrible, not to mention doesn't actually work very well... I wish these rims were available in an 8" width.

There just is not a 17" tire that works with these rims on an a-body in my opinion. The 275 40 17 is only 25.5" tall. I personnally like to keep the tires close to factory height... Filling the wheel wells should be the objective, not making the tire disappear.

:confused:Oops, thought the wheels were 17x8. Damn that would be nice...

255/50/R17 is 27.1" diameter.

Time for a fitment gauge. 255 on a 9" wheel on an a-body...might be tight.

I'm thinking that would look pretty good. Post if it fits! Otherwise I'll probably be waiting for some 17x8's...

Are we talking about 17x8 on the front too? I would think the front end would have to be modified to fit a wheel that wide.

I did a test fit with some Boyd Coddington 17X8's on my car and there was no way it wasnt gonna do some serious rubbing.

Ive got 275/60/15s on an 8" wheel and ive got plenty of room on both sides. If i had a 9" wheel wirh one more inch of back space it would be perfect

Have the wheels and tires are on the way
 

I recently received the wheels and performed a trial fit using the bare rim. The car is a '68 Firebird with stock width rear axle, original subframe, suspension components, drum brakes, and has been lowered about 2" all around.

Rears fit well with approximately 1 1/4" space between closest point of wheel housing and rim lip. The lip of the rim sits within the wheel housing by approx. 3/4" in from the qtr. panel lip.

Front fitment is an issue on my car. There are two major issues and one potential cosmetic issue. I won't know for sure until the wheel/tires are mounted but it appears the maximum front tire diameter that can be used without rubbing the fender with the wheel turned is approx. 25" - 25 1/4". Also, the replacement steering knuckles (attached to tie rod) are two different heights (one is about an 1/8" taller than the other) and the driver side sits closer to the rim than the passenger side. This results in a rub of the wheel lip with the knuckle on the driver side. As far as cosmetic issues, the 5" backspace and 9" width has the wheel rim sitting approx. 3/8" in from the fender lip.

To rectify some of the issues, for now I removed metal from the steering knuckle that was rubbing and will create a 1/4" spacer to move the knuckle attachment points away from the wheels. The tire size/mfg for the front is 235/45 Nitto 555 and 255/45 Nitto 55 rear. I too am concerned the front tire width may be a little small but we'll see. Also, I hear they may be coming out with an 8" rim in the future. I think the perfect combo for the front would be 4.5" back-space and 8" width. I will post pictures after everything is mounted.

I have done alot of reading in the last year and it appears most people are successful on the front with 255/40/17 on a 8". That size is right at 25.2" on most tires. I think a 245/40/17(24.47") up front and a 275/40/17 on the rear would put you in the best place to be successful and still have some nice rubber. No doubt 2" drop or maybe more would be necessary to have nice look with not too much wheel well. If you could get some different sizes I'd try that. I think yours are just too tall.

Thanks for posting! Regarding the front, you mounted the wheel and set it down on some blocks or something to check this out? Sometime could you lift the car to about stock ride height and check it? Also, when you mention the maximum tire size of approx 25 ¼” before rubbing the fender, are you referring to the lower, outer, rear corner when turned about 30 degrees? Thanks

The rears were checked at ride height.

I only had bricks so I didn't want to rest the wheels on them. So for the front I jacked the car up on the lower control arms. It put the front about 2" above ride height and the 25.25" was estimated from there. Yes, the closest point is the lower, outside, back corner (closest to the door).

This site has been a great help to me so I want to give back when I can. For this project I got a little antsy so I went ahead and bought the tires. They should be on this Sunday and I'll post pics.

Car and wheels look fantastic dude! What tire size and wheel back space do you have up front now? I’m running BFG 215/65/15’s (26” tall) on a 15 x 6 which I believe has a 4” bs. It’s really close, more so on the drivers side. I actually had to add some neg camber which took away a little castor (added 1 fat shim at the front of the A-arm) and grind down the bolt head some for insurance. I think the alignment shop used factory specs as I actually had some positive camber, now it’s closer to zero. I also have some “skinny’s” to run up front when I go to the track (and for a different look). Don’t have the tire size handy but I know they are taller and skinnier yet they have more clearance then the BFG’s. Just something to consider.
About the steering knuckle, I’ve got nothing other than it must be from a different car. Usually anyway, those knuckles are not wear items, not replaced unless damaged in an accident or something.

25" tall tires look rediculous and get laughed at...
Not being mean, just stating the truth.

Thanks quicksilver. Before changing the wheels, the front tires shown are BFG Comp T/A 225/60/R15 (approximately 25.5 inch tall). The rim size is 7" wide and 3 5/8" back space (it's an odd # but accurate). The car is lowered 2" all around.

I received the tires and will be headed to the shop this weekend. I'm not sure how good the fronts will look. If Year One does come out with an 8" wide and 4.5" backspace I'll probably go that route in the front.

FirebirdMI thanks for your work and time on this. I know we all are going to get alot of it. I really hope it works for you. I have been rediculously patient. I am getting the bug again. I dont want to spend 4k on wheels and tires if I think I can get a Rally II look to work.

Heres my current stance and look:
http://transams.net/MariosCollection...rd_400.html#16

Heres the stance I and look I want. I would much rather have a Rally II wheel do it than aftermarket wheels.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...p/DSC_0125.jpg

Year One, please make an 8" wide, 4.5" back space
 

Mounted the tires/wheels and I've attached pictures (I have more but only attached those that would be the most help). Car has been lowered 2" all around.

As I feared, the fronts have a little low rider look to them. If I had a choice I would want the front to be an 8" wide rim with a 4.5" back space. I think the exisiting tire would be perfect for that rim size and the sidewall would be square as opposed to tilted in. They do not hit the fender (about .25 clearance) when the wheel is turned.

The rears are nice and will not rub on the quarters if I bottom out the suspension. I could fit a 275/40 out back but the tire would most likely be flush with the quarter panel lip (see pic) and would rub if the suspension bottomed out. Also, in a hard turn at speed the inside sidewall would most likely rub the stock wheel wells.

I will need to clearance the steering knuckle on the driver's side before I take her out to account for flex and suspension movement.

I also took pictures of the front fitted with the rears for reference. Hope this helps others make choices for their wheel/tire combo.

previous post continued
 

More pictures

Those are absolutely beautiful on that car. Nice work. Thanks for the documentation as well. I have to admit that while Im searching for a wheel/tire combo right now, Ive learned a thing or two based on your posts.

Dude that looks great. Much better than I thought. I don't see anything low rider at all but then I'm Hispanic. I really like what happened to the car.

So are you going to keep them? Send them back?

Forget the pics I saw what I needed.

I think I might make it work on mine with 275/40/17 on the back and 255/40/17 on the front.

Man I like that car a lot now.

I brought myself to call YO this morning and actually got someone on the phone that was very helpful and aware of the rims and the 69 bird.
He said they mounted 255/40/17 on the 9's and they fit fine. He said they got a pair of 8's in and they mounted them on 245/45/17's and thats whats on it now. So clearly the 8's are in production because 2 are currently on the 69. He said the part has been ordered from the oversees manufacturer and they could be in the next month or 2. The part # for the 8's is PRW178GUN. He said the 8's would be 4.5" backspace. He told me the 67-68 would be a very tight fit with 9's but would work if it wasnt lowered.