Am I crazy for wanting 17's

[Big Miata]

Guys,

I see all these 19's put on GTS and I know to each their own but I think they look horrible. I like 18's but I am considering finding some period 17 or an earlier gts wheel cause I think they look way better on older cars. Cars from the 90's had more tire it wasn't until my generation (fast and furious) started putting dubs on everything that people became brainwashed into thinking if it aint huge it aint good.

Look at dem rims dey spinnin dey spinnin.

So Am I crazy that I would put older wheels on my car. I know that the tire selection is pretty horrible but the look is what the car needs in my opinion.

Josh

[ICPREY]

I think most will disagree with you. I like the look of a filled wheel well. To each their own...

[AbsolutHank]

Yeah, I think you're crazy

[Big Miata]

Old cars are supposed to look old. Putting big rims on old cars is what people did when I was in high school and college. I think modernizing a classic body style is a crime. I mean gen 3 or 4 np cause that car looks like it is from the 2000's when every car even accords come with 18's

[AbsolutHank]

Quit threatening us and put your 17s on already! :)

[Big Miata]

ahahahhahaha but WHICH ONES THAT IS WHY THIS THREAD WAS REALLY STARTED

[ViperGTS]

17! Car handles much better but the +19er crowd doesnt know better...:anonymous:

[Vprbite]

I think 17s are the way to go for the track (as I understand it, not a track rat here, just what I have heard) but I personally really like the look of the staggered 19s/18s on the GTS. I had the 10 spokes on my 2002 GTS and loved em. Check me if I'm wrong, but didnt the GTS come with 18s all around when it was released, as did the RT10s once 96 hit?

I am as anti fast and furious ricer kind of look as you can get but I don't mind the slightly bigger rims. Especially considering we can make them much lighter than we used to be able to. 15" wheels from the 60s were heavy enough, extrapolate them to 20s and they are total boat anchors. Though isn't the reason the wheels got bigger was to fit around the brakes? Then, some people just took the look too far.

Bottom line, I don't think the 17s would look bad at all, just a different look than most of us tend to go for. It will look kinda mean IMO, like a drag racer. If that's the look you want, go for it. It's not like it's a permanent alteration to the car so you can have as much fun as you want and always swap em back.

[City]

17! Car handles much better but the +19er crowd doesnt know better...:anonymous:

Yep! :t1236:

[VoodooRob]

Don't forget to rock the members only jacket and parachute pants with those 17" wheels. Kidding aside, I struggled with this a few years back and ended up putting Gen 3 wheels on my Gen 2 GTS. I am also eventually upgrading the brakes so it made sense for me.

[Sybil TF]

I couldn't make up my mind on wheels so I chromed the factory wheels and lowered it some more. Will probably get 18, 19 combo later.

[Bugman Jeff]

I like my 17's, and will stick with them. I briefly considered switching to 18s for the simple reason that tires are cheaper and there is a better selection to choose from. Also, I take offense at the notion that my '97 is an "old" car and a "classic." It's the newest car I own and calling it old implies that I'm not as young as I used to be either. I hate getting older...sigh...

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Guys,

I see all these 19's put on GTS and I know to each their own but I think they look horrible. I like 18's but I am considering finding some period 17 or an earlier gts wheel cause I think they look way better on older cars. Cars from the 90's had more tire it wasn't until my generation (fast and furious) started putting dubs on everything that people became brainwashed into thinking if it aint huge it aint good.

Look at dem rims dey spinnin dey spinnin.

So Am I crazy that I would put older wheels on my car. I know that the tire selection is pretty horrible but the look is what the car needs in my opinion. Josh

You're Not Crazy!

Think of it this way: Your tire sidewalls are an integral part of your suspension. Ask anyone who ditched RunCraps for PS2 or PSS. 100% different RIDE. The un-sprung, rotating mass is a design factor in the Coilover valving, spring rates, and even the power steering and braking assists.

Your Viper is a Track Athlete: A 'Trackthelete'.

The moment you take off a 44 lb 17" Wheel/tire as Team Viper designed, and hang an 80+ lb 20" meat on there, its like asking YOU to run a mini-marathon wearing............COMBAT BOOTS instead of Nikes. A more "lumbering" steering feel, harder on the rack, pump, and your shocks are overworked and valving overpowered. Stopping power (and 0-60' times) are worsened. BUT Hey, THEY LOOK COOL!!

Many people, including me, like the look of the tapered 17" OE 5-spokes of 1996-1998. Lowering the car with Eibachs and / or Spring caps fixes that wheel-well gap.

And if you are seeking tenths of a second, 17" sticky rubber will kick butt.

If you LIKE the larger wheels, consider LIGHTER wheels like OZ, Sidewinder, SidewinderII, and BBS

[daveg]

I have the original rims (96 GTS / 17's) still on my car because it came that way.
For me though, its all about keeping the car 100% stock.

[Indy]

Don't forget, the Viper Gen1 and 2 was designed with 17s in mind, so they are part of the overall shape and design. If you lower the Viper a bit, 17s will look just as good as 18's. Going back a few years to the early NSX: they came with a 15/16 staggered setup :) Handlingwise, the old NSX can still run circles around most exotics and they don't look too small since the car was designed with that setup...if you go overboard with huge wheels, you will just loose power and handling. Here in Vancouver, there are tons of cars with too much bling running 24s or bigger on small cars :) Looks silly, but to each their own.

[Bill Pemberton]

Not really nuts at all, but if you are planning on tracking the car, everyone years ago running Gen IIs did go to the 18s and were faster. Still better selection of big rubber with an 18, but would sure go that route over the 19 or 20s look and thougth process -- good luck.

[MtnBiker]

Look at the F1 wheels!

[DEADEYE]

I don't think you're crazy at all. I sometimes regret my decision to go with 19" 20" when I go to the track. The other 99% though, on the street when I'm just cruising, I'd take my set up all day. You can always have another set of wheels set aside. It's a false dichotomy really, unless you're limited to only one set for some reason.

It sound as if you really like the 17" look, which is cool. Aesthetics are subjective by nature.

[AZTVR]

Quit threatening us and put your 17s on already! :)


ahahahhahaha but WHICH ONES THAT IS WHY THIS THREAD WAS REALLY STARTED

So, as far as I know, Michelin PS2 are the only performance tires that are suitable for Viper front and rear, for summer performance type application. Perhaps someone knows of others ?

So, its an easy choice if you want to stay OEM 17" wheels.

[C.J]

If you go with 17s, get the forged ones.

Sybil, the chromed wheels look great! Who did the job and did you have the wheel barrels chromed too?

Bugman, older is better than the alternative. :)

[Sybil TF]

Cal-Chrome and yes I had the barrels chromed and polished. Extra $100. per wheel.Brake dust washes right off. Don't skimp on this if you ever get wheels chromed. So easy to clean wheels. Also, I have the later forged wheels that were swapped by the previous owner.

Currently having my CCW wheels chromed for my Challenger right now.

[C.J]

Cal-Chrome and yes I had the barrels chromed and polished. Extra $100. per wheel.Brake dust washes right off. Don't skimp on this if you ever get wheels chromed. So easy to clean wheels.

Thanks for the info!

[BlknBlu]

To each his own, stock does always look good to me, but I like big tires on stock wheels.

http://pics.imcdb.org/9293/vlcsnap627774.jpg

Bruce

[Thawk97]

I have the original rims (96 GTS / 17's) still on my car because it came that way.
For me though, its all about keeping the car 100% stock.

I'm on the same page! I'm actually restoring my '96 back to stock with 2 exceptions (mid'flow cats so the heat doesn't destroy the sills, and P/S pump & brakcet so it doesn't destroy the motor and/or burn to the ground).

[daveg]

I'm on the same page! I'm actually restoring my '96 back to stock with 2 exceptions (mid'flow cats so the heat doesn't destroy the sills, and P/S pump & brakcet so it doesn't destroy the motor and/or burn to the ground).I just tighten my cap up very good. I still have the factory power steering components on mine.. I check them out very good every now and again... May at some point replace them but I have not put much thought on when.. Good luck with your B/W!!!!

[Big Miata]

Wowza lotsa info. Ty. Yes My fav look is the 96-98 gts wheel I like how it concaves more. Yes old school to me cause Im only 29. The more tire makes it look more like a Daytona. And I have the 18's I would have to buy the older wheels. Which is why im debating. As far as track car yes I will track it. Im not pulling the heads or anything maybe roller rockers. Also Im leaving the stock gearing. I don't intend on putting hoosiers on this car. I want a classic that I can enjoy on the track. If I really like it Ill buy a gen iv in like 5 years after ive saved enough for another car. the gen iv is a better track tool out of the box. I bought the dream car and don't want to kill her.

I just think that while the stock 18 wheels look good they are not my cup of tea to large for the body style. Meh

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

If you want a VERY nice set of 1998 forged, polished wheels {Almost Perfect} and almost local to you, gimmee a buzz.
I can even ship you the "worst" one (Its a 9.8) and you can decide beforehand. JonB 360.837.3937


Wowza lotsa info. Ty. Yes My fav look is the 96-98 gts wheel I like how it concaves more. Yes old school to me cause Im only 29. The more tire makes it look more like a Daytona. And I have the 18's I would have to buy the older wheels. Which is why im debating. As far as track car yes I will track it. Im not pulling the heads or anything maybe roller rockers. Also Im leaving the stock gearing. I don't intend on putting hoosiers on this car. I want a classic that I can enjoy on the track. If I really like it Ill buy a gen iv in like 5 years after ive saved enough for another car. the gen iv is a better track tool out of the box. I bought the dream car and don't want to kill her.

I just think that while the stock 18 wheels look good they are not my cup of tea to large for the body style. Meh

[RTTTTed]

I have the lightest wheels I've ever weighed. Forgeline VR1s CNC machined one piece wheels. 18 x 11 fronts and 18 x 14 rears I think. I bought some 19" wheels (CCW forged wheels 5spoke) to match the HRE 5 spoke 18" wheels that came on my TT GTS. The 18" wheels and tires are 26" tall (outside diameter) whereas the 19" wheels I bought are 27.6" tall which gives me a different final drive ratio for 1/4 to 1/2 mile racing with 18s and the 19s add nearly 10% top speed for Mile and longer races. Taller tires also have more traction with a longer footprint. The 19" CCW are one piece and a bit lighter than the 18" HRE wheels.

For drag racing I have a set of 16" CCW 3 piece wheels (skinny and wrinkle walls) made for drag racing. The tall sidewall allows more flex and more of the tire to lay on the pavement for traction. 28" x 14" x 16" are the rears. I also bought a set of 17" CCW road racing wheels. They have Hoosier racing tires on them as well.

When I ran my TT GTS in the Mojave Mile I used stock 18" x 13" wheels with 28" x 14" Hoosier R6 tires for a top speed of 215mph. The HRE 18s with BFG KDW2s allowed a top speed of 196mph at 6,100rpm JonB sold me the BFGs at a price I couldn't pass up. My TT GTS has a .75 OD in 6th gear.

The 16 and 17" wheels fit over the Gen 1 and 2 13" brakes, but I'm not sure if the 17" will fit over the ABS brakes of the 2001/2002. The 14" Gen 3/4 brakes do not fit under the 18" wheels unless you use spacers I think. 16 and 17" wheels don't fit over the 14" brakes.

If you decide on 17" wheels, I prefer forged as compared to the 96 and some 97 cast wheels. Many were found to develop cracks under hard useage. Not so with forged wheels.

[Sybil TF]

Look at these babies chromed....

[Darth Menace]

Don't chrome the factory ones. Chrome pits and any scuff/damage can't be polished out like the polished rims can. Just my humble opinion

[Sybil TF]

Don't chrome the factory ones. Chrome pits and any scuff/damage can't be polished out like the polished rims can. Just my humble opinion
Well, I talked to some that have had it for over 10 years and no problem. I think if this was a daily driver in salt etc then probably but I like it so much I sent my 20 inch CCW's from my Challenger for chroming.