Wheel Well Scraping Tires!!!! Help!

[GMUBird95]

I bought a 95 Firebird that cmae with 17" x 9" Eagle Alloys. Problem is, the sides of the wheel well scrape against the tires and are taking chunks out of them. Right now I don't have much money to pay for expensive really nice rims, but I was looking for something decent and am looking for suggestions on those and some websites that sell them. I also wanted to know the dimensions of the stock 3800 wheels and any website that sells them too. And could someone tell me how big the width of the rim or wheel can be to fit the car would help too. Thanks for the help.

[ June 24, 2003: Message edited by: Loochy88 ]</p>

[Loochy88]

first off, its more tire size than the wheels. there is no reason that you would have to get rid of 17X9 inch rims. You must have some hella wide tires on there. How wide are they? Just get some new tires.... Also, is your car lowered? that oculd be it.

second, how did you get 17X9's from eagle alloys. I know that both the 185's and the 077's are 17X8. What kinda eagle rims do you have? Might want to check eaglewheels.com on that one.

Third... moving to suspension.

[Slow-N-ugly]

Sounds like a back spacing problem more than wheel size or tire.

The wheel may have been made for a chevy truck.

[FirebirdGT]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Slow-N-ugly:
Sounds like a back spacing problem more than wheel size or tire. <hr></blockquote>


Exactly. 17x9 is a factory stock size.

[AlienInv8r]

I have 18x9.5 wheels on my car and I'm lowered, you shouldnt be rubbing. My car doesnt have anything rubbing anywhere. I'd agree with everyone else in that maybe you got the wrong size backspacing or something. Maybe take it in to a tire shop and ask them to take a peak at it to ensure if they fit the car properly or not. Just a thought.
Also, I believe TACreations and Speed Automotive both sell the stock rims at around $500 a set for the wheels only. Sometimes on eBay you can find sets that include the tires for even cheaper than that too. I'm probably gonna grab a set in a few months when I start hitting the track a bit and throw some drags on em.

[Dominic]

Just for information:

With a little hammering in the rear and precise relocation of the axle using an adjustable PHR, and some front 7/16" spacers, +50mm offset 17x11 wheels with 315/35R17s will fit on all 4's rub free.

17x9 is not "wide" for your car, but if theyre the wrong offset they will rub like crazy.

[GMUBird95]

Thanks for the help, I emailed Eagle Alloys and they said I would need new wheels cuz of the offset. Looks like I gotta find some new wheels, but nothing I can do now. Oh well. Thanks again.

[GMUBird95]

Oh, one other question, what offset would I need to fit 17 inch wheels on my 95 Firebird 3800. I don't want to have to go through this ordeal again if I get the wrong size wheels. Thanks.

[javifp]

I run 265/50/16 and on the rear I had the same probblem, wheel well scraping the outer tire. I ordered V8 take off springs from SLP and now all that is history. They say that 98+ V6 have the same spring in the rear as the V8 cars well I guess I lucked out cause I end with a night and day diffrence all the way around.

[FirebirdGT]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by javifp:
They say that 98+ V6 have the same spring in the rear as the V8 cars.<hr></blockquote>

They do have the same springs.

[javifp]

My car had 245/50/16 and when I went over a bump fast the tires rub and the suspension would bottom out. so I changed the shocks but the problem was still there, I called SLP and ordered the V8 coils. now I run 265/50/16 and no rubing thanks to the higher rate of springs. I had nothing to loose in trying and it worked well. My front did not go up much but my rear did, and it took the cadilac feel away when I drive now it is more sensitive to my steering wheel.