The "Dumbing Down of the USA" brought to you by Ghetto Values......smaller diameter wheels accelerate quicker and stop faster....you need to look no further than GoKarts and old F-1 cars (6 wheeler Tyrell) If you know the slightest elements of physics you constantly ask yourself what are these IDIOTS thinking....when looking at current performance wheels....someone really needs to come up with a solution besides "Cooper Cobra" and old "BFG T/A" crap tires for all the 60's/70's era muscle cars out there....maybe petitioning Coker Tires....I know Pirelli/Michelin have some offering for vintage Ferraris but many won't cross over to a Detroit era muscle car.

If NASCAR stock cars can race on 15" wheels.....there are brakes easily available that no Pro Touring car will be able to overwhelm....when you put stupidly large wheel/tire combination on a vehicle....you have to deal with the added forces of a larger diameter mass and upsize brake rotor diameters....its just IDIOCY! Leave big hoops to the ghetto cruisers and put common sense engineering back into performance vintage cars. Disclaimer...my wife's new AMG Benz has the optional 21" ghetto hoopties on it....didn't like the styling of the 20" wheels.....

We get so many different customers in the shop looking at running different style wheels. Some absolutely LOVE the old school 5 spoke 15" Crager look while some of the younger crowd is liking the bigger wheels. Right now its about an even split.. as far as handling goes I ALWAYS recommend a 17" or bigger wheel to run on ANY car.. but then again, on the cars that come in the shop just looking for straight line performance, usually the wheel size goes down. If I personally was picking, I would probably run a Black Weld V-Series wheel on everything I own.

Here's my idiot of an answer. I am not remotely interested in racing in the least bit. I'll never track my car...autocross, circle, straight-line or any other type of racing. Nothing wrong with the sport, I'm just not into to it. With that in mind, performance isn't an issue for me. So, for me just cruising around town, wanting to look good and having a nice car, I want my wheel wells filled up and I like the look of bigger wheels. Now, allow me to clarify my statement of "bigger wheels." I'm only talking 18" or 19"...nothing bigger than a 20" and I reserve a 20 for larger cars like later model Chevelle's, Nova's, etc. because they are larger cars. I'm not down with the donk look of 24's and 26's on cars that are lifted 4" just to fit a huge set of wheels. I know I'm pretty much a loner here, but everything's not for everyone and to each his own. I love to see other guys race, I'm just not a racer. I'm just a guy who wants a nice car to cruise around town in and have everyone offer to buy it from me just so I can say, "No!"

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Thanks for the input.

Those are very nice. I appreciate you taking the time to post a link, I am taking a lot of notes on this. I really want to get these out, I there will be some logistics to work out, I will keep everyone posted.

Please keep giving any thoughts you think would help guide things along.

I sincerely appreciate it,

Ty O'Neal

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Solid LT1:

I'm not saying it is impossible, but I have had zero progress with my attempts down this path. So I decided to try to solve the problem another way.

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From the beginning

As an enthusiast that decided to try to take the other "path," through my own efforts, try to attempt to fix an issue, and/or bring any new product to market, I have these 5 goals.

1) I hope this idea will work, and the effort I put into this venture will be successful, and solve the intended problems, or the lack of a product for this market.

2) I hope, that if the idea does indeed meet peoples expectations to give "US" (You and me) a livable way to get our cars to perform, and look "Correct", or at least gives "US" (You and me) a viable and acceptable way of dealing with the lack of sizes, types, and available Tires and Wheels in the market,

3) Further, that the market penetration can be as made smoothly and as quickly as possible. (I would like to have these on my car yesterday if I could, and if your like me, you want the same thing.)

4) Also, I hope the current "Market Suppliers" will either work with me, if they want to implement the idea(s), or not resist another US (USA) supplier that targets this niche of the aftermarket, that has until this moment not be filled. (assuming it does what it is designed to do, to a level as to satisfy the customer.

5) Lastly, I really don't want to get into any legal issues with any Market Suppliers that don't want to do what's best for the aftermarket, which is to bring the best possible innovations, and choices to the people that love building and customizing their cars. (or Dreams whatever the case maybe)

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Sounds like more of something that one would put in their business plan to a banker, but this discussion with everyone has really helped focus my thoughts, and ideas.

Thanks for reading all this extra stuff, but for those that have already entered the market successfully, I am just trying to find my way through things, and for those who are thinking about doing the something on your own, at least some of these thoughts will probably cross your minds as well sooner or later.

Take care and thanks again for writing.

Sincerely,

Ty O'Neal

I didn't say that it couldn't be done, I said it was a concern. If you want to put stock car brakes on your car, be my guest. I'd rather have upgraded brakes from a production vehicle so I'd have widely available replacements. There are short comings to every option. My current setup required me to stay with 12" front and rear so I can use my current 15" wheel/tire setup along with my 18" setup.

Ty I don't have any pictures to post but Steve's 68 is to me the perfect blend of wheel diameter and tire thickness. It's the look I've gone for with my car as well. We both happen to be running 18's since we're similar size cars. I'd venture a guess and say 18's are probably the most common wheel size for performance oriented aftermarket wheels. I'm not a fan of wheels over 18" on a classic unless it's on a bigger car like Marcus's Chevelle. I can see that sitting on 19s and 20s with nice tires and looking perfect. It's got much large wheel wells to fill though.

Good luck with whatever you've come up with. I look forward to the reveal.

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SSix660137:

Are you referring to "Bad Penny". If so, I have enjoyed watching that car for many years, and yes unless it had changed considerably it is fine both visually, and from a performance perspective.

If I have the wrong "Steve" in mind, if you wouldn't mind correcting me, I would appreciate it. I thoroughly enjoy seeing a well sorted, exceptional car Pro-Touring car.

Thanks for posting.

Ty O'Neal

Any thoughts on these other US Made Wheel manufacturers?

1) bbs-usa.com
2) americanracing.com

Thanks,

Ty O'Neal

It seems that some of the wheel manufacturers also sell these wheels, so it might be a moot questions, as if newer elements were wanted, the Custom Manufacturers could just be inspired by some of the other lines they carry and produce a wheel to meet the newer specifications alone with the desired look that is wanted.