Student's budget rolling stock...

[SRD Art]

Hey all,

Working on a project plan list for my 79 Cutlass G-body wagon build that I'm working on in my Street Rod program classes. (see build thread link in my sig) I want to run a 315-35-17 out back, looks like I need a 17x11 minimum wheel. I found a couple different companies that have a set of ZR1 style wheels in a 17x9.5 F and 17x11 R for a great price of $450-$650 for all four, but once I lay down the cash for the 2.5" adapters I'll be adding another $400+ to that price. I'm also a little leery of running that wide of an adapter because I intend to drive the car a lot and beat it hard on the local SCCA autocross circuit.

Unfortunately I'm working on a student's budget and feel like I'm banging my head against a wall when it comes to rolling stock pricing. I can swing between $1000 and $1500 complete for wheels and tires. Closest I've found is Discount Tire Direct with an MB Old School and Nitto NT555s for around $1100 shipped, but I'm limited to 9.5" wide and 275 or 285-40 out back.

I'm really hoping I can make the impressive width of the 315 fatties work out. My internet connection stinks so it takes me forever to search through large online wheel websites/catalogs, anybody have any suggestions of wheels they may have seen while shopping around? Personal thoughts or links to other posts in the forum that cover this is cool.

I should probably mention the style wheel I'm after- the colors for the car are burnt orange, satin black, with brushed aluminum accents. I was thinking along the lines of a black wheel with a brushed/raw finished lip. In class I can paint anything so most any wheel will work, but I'm not as much interested in the common full polished wheels unless the price is right, and probably not interested in chrome at all.

Thanks tons for any help!

[uscg02ws6]

Billet specialty street lites, tt2s , forgestar, bogart....those are what i would start looking at they seem to be the entry level forged wheels, and come in close to that price and have lots of back spaceing options

[SRD Art]

I'm thinking those are out of my range. The most I can afford is $1500 for wheels and tires. Thanks tho'.

[badmatt]

boss 338's? there clean and cheap! or a set of coys. or save your money and go get some Rushforths!

[DriverzInc]

17x11s are going to be hard to get and stay in your budget.

Looking at TT2's they make a 17x11 that is off the shelf with a 7.75" BS, in a 5x4.75, and a 7" bs in a 5x4.50 so yeah you'll be into pretty big adapters, like I think your finding out.

Do you know about what backspace you are going to need? If so, we can built you a 5x4.50 to 5x4.75 billet adapter, so you can run the 7" BS 17x11s and your adapters may not be any longer than 1.5" which is common for billet adapters. Our billet adapters are 75 bucks each by the way, with 1/2 or 12x1.5mm studs.

If you went this route, you could save some money by going with Sumitomo tires, 315/35/17s, which are cheaper than the Nittos.

We have the Sumi's for $138ea. in that size. They also have a matching front, in a 275/40/17 for $117ea.

With a set of TT2's you come in pretty close to your budget.
Let me know if we can help out at all.