Corvette rim width

[aussievetteracer]

I am having steel wheels made for my C4 Vette here in Oz. I intend to run G/Y Eagle L/S tyres, 25.0 x 4.5 - 15. G/Y recommend using a rim width of 4.5" but my supplier does not do 1/2" sizes. Should I go for a 4" rim or 5" rim width using these tyres. Thanks in advance.
                                             Denis

[manta22]

Denis;

A 5" rim will increase the tire's lateral stiffness a bit-- I'd go with it.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[aussievetteracer]

Thanks Neil- I have great respect for your knowledge of motorsport in general, and LSR in particular. At a recent historic Race Meeting at Lakeside Circut (near Brisbane, Qld)  I saw (and even better, heard) a Maclaren which you may have come across in your travels- bright yellow, and still bearing the driver name of Sam Posey
.                                                                                                                  Regards, Denis

[Milwaukee Midget]

Hey, Denis -

Neil's right on that call, but there might be other options.

I take it you're looking for 15s?

Udo Horn wound up making his own wheels using VW Bug rims.  He cut out the centers and had new centers laser cut to fit.  If your guy isn't averse to that kind of work, it's an option.

I'd also suggest contacting a US manufacturer to source only the rim and having the centers built by your wheelwright.

10,000 years, 100 years at Bonneville, and we're still reinventing the damned wheel . . .

[Ron Gibson]

Just a thought I had. Are you sure 15's will fit over the Vetts brakes? Hate for you to spend a bunch of money and not fit.

Ron

[manta22]

Thanks Neil- I have great respect for your knowledge of motorsport in general, and LSR in particular. At a recent historic Race Meeting at Lakeside Circut (near Brisbane, Qld)  I saw (and even better, heard) a Maclaren which you may have come across in your travels- bright yellow, and still bearing the driver name of Sam Posey
.                                                                                                                  Regards, Denis

Ol' "Loquacious Sam" ... as he was once called when he was doing some TV commentating. Depending on the model of McLaren, we may have run against him in the old Can-Am Series. Best of luck with your 'vette!

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[Milwaukee Midget]

Thanks Neil- I have great respect for your knowledge of motorsport in general, and LSR in particular. At a recent historic Race Meeting at Lakeside Circut (near Brisbane, Qld)  I saw (and even better, heard) a Maclaren which you may have come across in your travels- bright yellow, and still bearing the driver name of Sam Posey
.                                                                                                                  Regards, Denis

Ol' "Loquacious Sam" ... as he was once called when he was doing some TV commentating. Depending on the model of McLaren, we may have run against him in the old Can-Am Series. Best of luck with your 'vette!

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

Oh, dear - side-tracked again.  The 1970 Trans-Am Challenger is the car I see in the back of my mind when I read his name.  Mopar pulled the rug out from under them mid season, but seeing that car and Swede Savage's Cuda on the grid . . .

10 years old, but those are the guys and the cars and the era that keep me stuck in production based racing.

[aussievetteracer]

Chris- this bloke imports dual pattern Ford/Chev centres from US and welds them to the required rim. He will then machine a centre ring to bring the wheel to the vette centre bore of 70.3 mm, and weld this ring to the wheel. He has supplied wheels to other salt racers here, and his reputation is good. His prices aren't bad either- about $325.00 US per wheel.

Ron- thanks for the reminder on brakes. Because I will run the vette in tarmac sprints (less the ballast!) I will use the Willwood 6pot ft/ 4 pot rear brakes  I already have. They will not fit with the meaty race rotors I normally use, but I will make new mounting brackets for the calipers, to bring them closer to the centre, and use small, thinner rotors, for the salt.

Chris- congratters on the Midgets salt run- I have followed the "engine endeavours" with great interest, and enjoyed watching your speeds gradually creep up, during the week.

                                                                                      Regards, Denis

[SPARKY]

the reason Goodyear wants the narrow rims is so tire centrif.  forces will not suck the tire off the wheel---I would go to what lengths you need to to get the correct rim width if you are hoping for vey much speed---Chuck at Taylor Made made me go with 6" wheels on the MT 26---boy were they a bitch to mount---Nate earned his money at $125. per tire

[robfrey]

15's will not fit over the stock brakes.
We converted over to Camaro brakes. It is a shame as the stock Vette brakes are pretty good. How about running 26.5 MT tires. 18" wheel will clear brakes just fine. I'm also betting they hook up better than the Goodyears.

[jl222]

I am having steel wheels made for my C4 Vette here in Oz. I intend to run G/Y Eagle L/S tyres, 25.0 x 4.5 - 15. G/Y recommend using a rim width of 4.5" but my supplier does not do 1/2" sizes. Should I go for a 4" rim or 5" rim width using these tyres. Thanks in advance.
                                             Denis

  We have always used 5'' rims on 24'' and 23'' G/Y Eagle tires, have gone 294mph avg with 318 indicated with no problems with 50 lbs. psi.

             JL222

[toclub]

We use 15" x 7" wide on our C-4  with camero brakes. Gone 274 with no problems. Contack Diamond Racing wheels. Welded 360 degrees and $50 each. Great wheels.

[toclub]

I need to correct my response. We use 15"x7" on the 28" rears and 5" on the 25" front.

[aussievetteracer]

I need to correct my response. We use 15"x7" on the 28" rears and 5" on the 25" front ]                                     
Can you advise the actual tyre dimensions that you used please?
                                                                                          Thanks, Denis

[toclub]

We use the goodyear 300's (27.8 " dia.) on the rear with 7" wide Diamond wheels. On the front we use the 25 " goodyear 300's. You can use the same wheels even if you use the standard goodyear front runners. We have gone over 250 with the standard frontrunners. I don't know how fast you plan to go but if it is around 200mph, stick with the standard frontrunners. $170 vs. $600. We use 60 psi in the frontrunners and 80 psi in the 300"s.