[critter]

The seat belt bulges are already hammered down and I rolled the rear fender lips while I was fixing the quarter panels (doing paint and body as we speak). Good tip on the fender bolts. I never considered that. The car is lowered using Pro-Touring F-body components. I ran 18 inch Coddington Smoothie II wheels with the same size rubber and had no issues but the that was an 8 inch wheel up front, 10 inch in the back. And I'm sure offsets are different between the manufacturers.

Ideally I'd like to run 275 rubber on all four corners but I'm worried it won't work with stock suspension up front. Anybody doing this?

[HWYSTR455]

To go to a 275 up front, you definitely need aftermarket upper control arms.

If you roll the rear lips, you can go to 315s with the right offset, but it's close. Biggest issue I've seen is the strap that holds the leaf stack together makes contact with the rubber as it 'squirms' around turns, if not the lip too. 295/305 you can make happen, but that will limit your tire selection, depending on the size you run on the front (like, you won't be able to do a matched set, brand)

I don't have optimum offsets front/rear, and am running 285/35/18 rear, 265s front. The best thing to do is drop back a size, run them for a while, take notes, and slowly step up sizes. Every car is slightly different, so it's a trial and error thing.

Don't forget that there's less space on the passenger side, unless you have a custom rear. (they are not centered from the factory). So always take measurements on that side first.

I did do a custom rear, it's centered, and slightly narrowed, my flange to flange is 60 7/8". Here's a pic of my notes/order from the last 9" I did for the 'bird, it's a good reference. Only thing to note is that there is no comment regarding the perches, which I believe I ordered single leaf ones, and eliminated the rubber isolators.

Stand off may be different depending on rear brake setup. (the rotor/drum also forces the wheel outboard and should be taken into account for measurements)

Once I get back on this project, I will do my best to squeeze 315s under it. Without tubbing. Certain I can do 275s, if not 295s up front. (mine is slightly lowered too)

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[HWYSTR455]

Another thing to keep in mind, while I'm at it, is that the tread width is usually narrower than the sidewall width. And that varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. So when you measure, you also should take into account the sidewall.

Here's an example of tire sizing, on a Conti Extreme. Note how the sidewall is more than an inch wider than the tread.

You can shuffle down the list, see the sizes, and compare the tread/sidewall widths, and target the optimum/largest size you can squeeze.

A good way to get a baseline is to get a size that you know fits, mock up the front with no spring or tie rod connected, and make the tire/wheel travel through it's range and different clockings. Make notes. You then know how much more you have to work with. Then go back to the charts and pick one.

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[70455HOVert]

Another pic of my 18x8's on the Goat during Power Tour

[Jerry H.]

FWIW here is a US Mag Trans AM wheel. 18x8 with 5" backspace on 67 GTO convertible w/ Detroit Speed suspension and Wildwood brakes. Slight modification required to attach the PMD center caps. Michlein Diamonback Classic redlines. The owner just drove this car cross country to the GTOAA Convention in Seattle.

[Captainofiron]

Originally Posted by Jerry H.

FWIW here is a US Mag Trans AM wheel. 18x8 with 5" backspace on 67 GTO convertible w/ Detroit Speed suspension and Wildwood brakes. Slight modification required to attach the PMD center caps. Michlein Diamonback Classic redlines. The owner just drove this car cross country to the GTOAA Convention in Seattle.

THAT LOOKS SICK!

I didnt know that they made low profile redlines

[Jerry H.]

Originally Posted by Captainofiron

THAT LOOKS SICK!

I didnt know that they made low profile redlines

Diamondback will make you redlines in most any tire you want. Just time and $$$.

[Captainofiron]

Originally Posted by Jerry H.

Diamondback will make you redlines in most any tire you want. Just time and $$$.

haha 2 things I barely have any of at all

[1966Lemans]

Those Trans Am wheels are pretty expensive compared to the Bandits, right?

[Jerry H.]

Originally Posted by 1966Lemans

Those Trans Am wheels are pretty expensive compared to the Bandits, right?

According to the owner of the car, yes. mid 4 figures for 5 wheels and tires.

[Will]

Originally Posted by critter

The seat belt bulges are already hammered down and I rolled the rear fender lips while I was fixing the quarter panels (doing paint and body as we speak). Good tip on the fender bolts. I never considered that. The car is lowered using Pro-Touring F-body components. I ran 18 inch Coddington Smoothie II wheels with the same size rubber and had no issues but the that was an 8 inch wheel up front, 10 inch in the back. And I'm sure offsets are different between the manufacturers.

Ideally I'd like to run 275 rubber on all four corners but I'm worried it won't work with stock suspension up front. Anybody doing this?

Critter - I have 285/40-17s on the front of my '73 'bird and they fit fine other than that they will rub the swaybar when you crank the steering over to full lock, which is no big deal 'cause you only ever do that at low speeds like when parking and the sway bar is round and smooth. They're slightly too wide for the 9" rim though. 275s should fit fine. My biggest problem with the Bandit wheels is I feel they need another 1/4" to 3/8" backspacing. Oh, and they really should offer them in 9.5" width!

As has been mentioned - tire sizes are inconsistent from manufacturer to manufacturer also. I've noticed the Continental tires I've used on my cars tend to be considerably narrower overall (and especially the tread) vs. other brands.

[matth66]

[rjpaige3]

Just finished putting some 18x9 Bandits on my Catalina, with 255/50R18 redlines from Diamondback. I painted the rims in the traditional pattern with Eastwood rally wheel aerosols, and mounted the PMD lucite centers directly into the US Mags center caps.

[77sjgp]

Looks great, have you considered lowering the front at all? I wonder if it uses the same spindles as the common B and F bodies?

[rjpaige3]

Originally Posted by 77sjgp

Looks great, have you considered lowering the front at all? I wonder if it uses the same spindles as the common B and F bodies?

Yeah, I think a 2" or 3" drop up front, 1" out back. Spindle-wise, it IS a B-body. I had to convert from 5x5 to 5x4.75, did that with restudded 1LE rotors up front. In the rear, I took a late Caprice 9C1 disc brake rear and put in custom axles and redrilled the rotors.

[Zyman]

Originally Posted by rjpaige3

Just finished putting some 18x9 Bandits on my Catalina, with 255/50R18 redlines from Diamondback. I painted the rims in the traditional pattern with Eastwood rally wheel aerosols, and mounted the PMD lucite centers directly into the US Mags center caps.

Looks great, I imagine the ride is greatly improved. On the PMD centers, did you have to grind them down to fit the US Mags center cap. The fit to the center cap looks perfect. If you had to work them, please provide details.

[rjpaige3]

The center caps, I tell you, I managed to impress myself with how they came out. Okay, no mods to the lucite, the secret is in turning the caps themselves. I had a machinist lathe out the recessed logo center and open a hole just the right size for the emblems to seat in. Then I got some 2" ABS cleanout caps from the plumbing aisle at the hardware store. Cut off the wrench square, file/sand the top mostly flush. Place the emblem in the metal cap, press in the plastic cap top-first in behind it, and done! The press fit is tight enough that you can hand seat the caps in the wheel bore without having to worry about contacting the lucite, just soap up the rubber o-ring a little. Also, ignore the setscrews, I was going to drill and tap two holes in each cap to anchor the plastic, but it feels unnecessary.

[rcread]

I had posted some pictures of my Bandits before, but here are some updated shots of my '72 LeMans after an install of RideTech coilovers with new control arms up from and in back. This seems to be about as low as I can go with the unmaintained roads in Seattle.

[HWYSTR455]

VERY NICE. Post car too.

.

[Tuske427]

Originally Posted by Josue

Love these wheels, but it's disappointing not seeing more 1st gen Firebirds with them! I need someone to pave the way for me!! haha

I have the forged ones on my '67. I paid extra for the brushed finish. 18x12 in the rear, 18x9 in the front.