Help! I'm having a hard time choosing between the "16" rims and "17" rims for my Fiero. I'm looking for a tire and rim that will look good on the car, but I do not want too much rim and very little tire. Which rim sizes are the most popular to add to the Fiero to improve the look of the car?

just a few things to think about before choosing. Handling will be better with larger rim/ lower profile tire. Ride will be better with smaller rim / taller tire. for my best compromise I have 16"X8" all around with 60 series tires. Pretty cushy ride (for a Fiero), decent cornering. If you want to just make great burnouts, smallest diam rim (14") and lowest profile tires. But then you run the risk of 'rice' guys liking you.

Since you live in Georgia and it dosnt snow that much..i would go 17's. Heck here in Chicago its bad enough with my 16's, i dont need bigger ski's!

I was suprised with the ride with my 17"s and low pros. The ride really isn't bad, not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Now that I've installed poly's it rides much more like a go-cart, but it's still tolerable, I've been driving it all summer.

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T-T-F-N, Ta Ta For Now!
Tigger's Fiero Page

had 17s.. got 18s. fighting with 19s.. losing new pics to come soon! i loveed the 17ss.. rode killer on Ga 400 120+mph and down state route 60 through dahlonaga(sp) they would whine but never broke loose.

where in Atlanta are you?

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www.engineered.net

So does anyone have any suggestions on wheels? I'm looking for 17x9 in the back and 17x8 in front. Probably 45mm offset all the way around, unless I need a different offset for the front, since mine is an 88. I don't want them to stick out. I'm planning on going with 255/40-17s on the back and 235/40-17s on the front.

I'm also wanting to keep the wheels as close to stock weight as possible (or lighter). I know that may not be possible, but I don't want to put overly heavy wheels on my car.

So, any suggestions?

they ONLY way to stay ever remotly close to stock whell weight it to get a forged wheel, 3 piece or real "mag" wheel. all the cast 17s will weigh in about 18-24lbs...
http://www.mackinindustries.com - Volk Racing
http://www.racinghart.com - racing hart 3 piece

anything made by Dymag

or a set of Panasport wheels... available at www.paulspruell.com

[This message has been edited by 1FST2M6 (edited 08-20-2001).]

You may want to consider adjustable coilovers for the rear if you haven't already for clearance to the 9" wides. Also remember the Fiero doesn't have power steering, an 8" wide is going to be a lot of tire to turn.

I went with 7-1/2" wides all around so that I could rotate them front to back. Kind of a compromise for width, ease of steer, and get the most life out of the tires for everyday driving.

Not trying to stop you from 8"s and 9" wides, just some things to consider.

[This message has been edited by Tigger (edited 08-20-2001).]

I went from 15 to 17x7" wheels and 215/45/17 tyres, and the ride actually *improved* along with giving me a whole new car!!

Trav, I love 'em though I'm feeling the same itch as you, I'm going to put some 18-inchers on my other car! (that might start to sacrifice ride quaility, we'll see)

But the 17s are a dream, they're just Sooooooo smooth, and I can drive through anything corner wise. I accelerate from 80 when I leave the freeway on an offramp, love them!!

I would not go any larger than 17x7 in front, though 17x9 in rear would be perfect. You will need an extreme rear offset, 50mm or more would not be too small! in front 17x7 45mm offset would be perfect for the 88.

17x9 will require rear coilovers (might as well do the front too!)

It's all totally worth it, the fiero was made for 17"+ wheels/tyres!

(if you live where roads *totally* suck you might reconsider, I mean totally suck as in you want to put 33" 4x4 tyres on your fiero :P) I live in rural northern CA, and the 17s 215/45series are great!!

Best!
Ben.

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: just a few things to think about before choosing. Handling will be better with larger rim/ lower profile tire. Ride will be better with smaller rim / taller tire. for my best compromise I have 16"X8" all around with 60 series tires. Pretty cushy ride (for a Fiero), decent cornering. If you want to just make great burnouts, smallest diam rim (14") and lowest profile tires. But then you run the risk of 'rice' guys liking you.

[This message has been edited by artherd (edited 08-20-2001).]

This summer I put on a nice set of 16's. I bought 16X7 Sport Edition Valores. Also 225/50ZR16 Kumho Escta Supras tires on the rear and 205/55ZR16 front. This gives me a really firm ride, not to bumpy. Handeling is incredable with this set up. I was somewhat on a budget, it seems like it wound have cost like another 400 at least to get 17's. Everything total was 820$ shiped to my door from tirerack. I also bought my snow tires from them . My snows are obviously are crap tires but are good for winter and fun to abuse :P.
Ill attach a few pictures, I think the 16s really look nice myself...

i'll get a pic of the wheel.. AFTER the machine shop F&%KED (friend ) it all up!

I'm out of the custom crap for a while.. i keep getting SCREWED. settling for 18s.. pics soon to come...

stupid thing

the new ones are... Giovanna Mito 18x7.5r, 17x7f Yokohama Parada 215-45f, 225-40r. they are lighter than the 17s i had and actually fit with out modification from a machinist that swears he knows what he's doing...

soon to come 19x8x24 table.

Doh!

Semms hard (on the surface) to fsck up a wheel... (no anodizing puns, honest! :P)

The Mitos look pretty slick, can't wait to see 'em on your car! (and lighter than the 17s? Yay!!!)

A buddy of mine is going to get me a set of Boxster S wheels (the 10spoke) turns out they're perfect sizes and offsets. just in 113mm bolt pattern. Ok, time to do the rear pontiac 6000 spindle upgrade! (mmm, machine shop getting more of my $

quote Originally posted by 1FST2M6: i'll get a pic of the wheel.. AFTER the machine shop F&%KED (friend ) it all up! I'm out of the custom crap for a while.. i keep getting SCREWED. settling for 18s.. pics soon to come... stupid thing the new ones are... Giovanna Mito 18x7.5r, 17x7f Yokohama Parada 215-45f, 225-40r. they are lighter than the 17s i had and actually fit with out modification from a machinist that swears he knows what he's doing... soon to come 19x8x24 table.

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Ben Cannon
88 Formula, T-top Metalic Red
88 Formula, Silver
87 Coupe, Metalic Red
"Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives"
-Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"

[This message has been edited by artherd (edited 08-21-2001).]

I'm running 17x7.5 .40 offset ALT AT-148 wheels on my 88 GT. To give the right look down the side of the car I am running 215/45/17 front and 245/45/17 rear Falken Ziex ZE-502 directionals. The height and width difference effectively masks the wider 88 front track. Both front and rear fenderwells are equally filled. I have no clearance problems. Pre 88's might be close on the inner strut. I purchased the whole package from Victoria Tire out of California.
Great prices, saved on sales tax, delivered mounted and balanced. I just bolted them on and went for a ride! Check out their web site at www.victoriatire.com .

Hope this helps,

Rick
yellow 88 GT 5-speed
El Paso, Tx

quote Originally posted by artherd: I would not go any larger than 17x7 in front, though 17x9 in rear would be perfect. You will need an extreme rear offset, 50mm or more would not be too small! in front 17x7 45mm offset would be perfect for the 88. 17x9 will require rear coilovers (might as well do the front too!)

Well, I took my wheel/tire specs from the West Coast Fiero FAQ page as the widest wheel/tire combo that will fit. To quote their website at: http://www.cwestco.com/FAQ/FAQ.html

quote We have experienced the maximum wheel and tire on the front of a Fiero as 17 x 8 with a 45mm offset. This car has 235x40x17 tires. This wheel just touches the lower A-arm in maximum turning and the tire just misses the top of inner fender well at maximum up-wheel travel. This combination keeps the tire inside the front wheel well. On the rear, we have experienced 17 x 9 with a 45mm offset. This car has 255x40x17 tires. This diameter of the wheel is needed to clear the upright on the rear suspension. 16 inch wheels will not clear at 9 inches in width. This combination will keep the tires inside the rear wheel well.

I could see going with slighty smaller on the front to ease steering, but the back sounds about right, and it's almost the exact height as the stock tires.

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"God made us brothers. Prozac made us friends." :D

speaking about only 88 cars as that's what I know...

My 17x7x40mm with 215/45/17 fronts are hard enough to turn. Not overly so, but with the proper toe-out, they can get grabby. I like it now, I wouldn't want to go higher I think...

Depending on offset, wheel brand, and tyre brand, 17x9 and 255 section tyres might or might not fit in the rear of an 88 withought coilovers. I recomend them to insure a safe, non-contact situation.

quote Originally posted by Formula88: I could see going with slighty smaller on the front to ease steering, but the back sounds about right, and it's almost the exact height as the stock tires.

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Ben Cannon
88 Formula, T-top Metalic Red
88 Formula, Silver
87 Coupe, Metalic Red
"Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives"
-Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"