Dilemna on rims and tires-Opinions please

[Gottork]

well as you can see I have knock off GTA rims that are 15s. They are nice but not the GTA rims I have always wanted.

Should I take the plunge and get a full set of GTA rims?

I have seen them for all different prices as well from 250 for an ok set with tires to 600 for just rims.

I also see you almost can't find center caps with them either, I know they can be gotten on Ebay for about 50-75 bucks for a set of 4..

[Fbomb]

I would go and find a cheaper set and just restore them...I wouldn't pay $600 for a set of GTA rims.

[phoenix_rising]

You can buy them brand new with center caps and all. I will have to look up the company that is making them. Pretty reasonable prices too if I recall correctly. I beleive it was in GM high performance a few months ago as a feature item.

[Gottork]

would you say 25 a piece is a good price?

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

You need to be careful as they made a "front" and a "rear" offset for the GTA rims. The fronts are a true zero offset, while the rears are +16 mm offset (they ride closer to centerline of car...very noticable difference).

The rear offset wheels will NOT fit on the front hubs (rubbing on the wheel liner and possibly the caliper).

Rear offsets you can pick up for $50 apiece for a restorable wheel.

Front offsets can be had for $100 each for a restorable wheel.

Two years ago, I spent a winter acquiring four "front" offset wheels and paid $400 total for rebuilders.

I had each wheel media blasted, powdercoated gold, machined back the exposed aluminum surfaces (not polished), and powdercoated clear over the entire wheel...cost was $115 a wheel...so I've got $860 total invested.

If you can find a set that is "done" and "mint" for $600, you're doing pretty well...

Classic Industries sells repops of the factory painted wheels in both sizes for $200 each...

http://www.classicindustries.com/con...CategoryId=593

[ITSSLOW]

I have a set of GTA caps if you ever need to find a set. They are mint. You'd just have to have a very nice set of GTA rims for them to go with.

[Gottork]

You need to be careful as they made a "front" and a "rear" offset for the GTA rims. The fronts are a true zero offset, while the rears are +16 mm offset (they ride closer to centerline of car...very noticable difference).

The rear offset wheels will NOT fit on the front hubs (rubbing on the wheel liner).

Rear offsets you can pick up for $50 apiece for a restorable wheel.

Front offsets can be had for $100 each for a restorable wheel.

Two years ago, I spent a winter acquiring four "front" offset wheels and paid $400 total for rebuilders.

I had each wheel media blasted, powdercoated gold, machined back the exposed aluminum surfaces (not polished), and powdercoated clear over the entire wheel...cost was $115 a wheel...so I've got $860 total invested.

If you can find a set that is "done" and "mint" for $600, you're doing pretty well...

Classic Industries sells repops of the factory painted wheels in both sizes for $200 each...

http://www.classicindustries.com/con...CategoryId=593

Thanks Dayotona.. I was honestly waiting for you to chime in, since you just had yours done, and they turned out BEAUTIFULLY!!!

BUt I have a confession to make..I GOT A SET!!!!!!!! I am so freakin geeked. I NOW see why you all peruse Craigslist so much.

Here is the story..

My wife and brother have been scheming to find me a x-mas gift, so my bro has been slowly pumping me for info and sharing it with my wife so they have been scheming..sneaky SOBs..lol

SO I find out yesterday my 4.3 I got for my DD is being brought down by a friend, so I have to wait till he leaves, so all day my wife is being antsy and my bro keeps calling..
So when the engine is in the polebarn and all she tells me my brother needs me to call him back ASAP. So I do, he tells me he found a killer deal on tires up in GR for his truck but cannot get them and the guy who has them is leaving out of town Monday and will not be back till after the holidays, he needs tires VERY bad on his truck, so he asks me to go get them, as a bro I said no prob, so me and my family jump in the van and head there.
My wife takes care of teh calls to this person and they play it off without me expecting anything.

We get there and I meet the guy and hand him 200 bucks for the tires. But I look around and see now truck tires anywhere, so I asked the guy where are they? He says he has to get them out of a closet in the garage and needs my help moving some other stuff if I would, I am like SURE no prob..

The first thing he ove is a set of black mesh rims, I was like WOW are these GTA wheels.. He says no I got them by mistake they are 15 inchers..

Then under them is a set of gold GTA rims with black WS6 centers on very NICE hancook tires with nice tread. SO I stopped and did not say nothing.. the guy looks at me funny and says, you ok?

I look out to the van and then ask the guy do you wanna sell these??lmao if I only knew..

he looks right back without hesitation and says sorry they are already sold and waiting for pickup.. I sighed and was like ok..

Now mind you my wife is not a sociable person she is not rude just not a huge conversationalist . she gets out of the van and walks in the garage and says, do you need some help and hands me my pop. I said no we are almost ready to get in his attic and get the tires down, she looks me right in the face and says" I love you very much, Merry X-mas!" and hugs me.

I was kinda aloof for a moment then it hit me, I swung around to the guy and he is smiling and chuckling, he says" I know your brother from a longtime ago and these are yours" points to the rims.

I got real excited and then checked them out.. heres pics




heres the 15 inchers



They got all 8 for 200 bucks- thats not a type o
there are two fronts and two rears..

MERRY XMAS TO ME!!!!

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

^^^ SCORE!

Congrats man!

[Gottork]

THANX!! prob gonna put them on my car today..I AM SO FREAKIN GEEKED!!!!!!!!

To clarify something and why I mentioned craigslist is my brother met one of his very good friends who moved away by emailing a guy about a desk on craigslist and his friend ALWAYS has car stuff or something going on with cars all the time, so he asked him to keep an eye out for some rims for me and he had them..

[ITSSLOW]

Very cool Jess!

[Gottork]

thanks

[OIF1VET]

Cool story Jess. Congrats!

[phoenix_rising]

What a great story! Thats awesome. I am glad you and your wife figuring things out.

[Gottork]

well I hope to put the NEW tires and rim on my car and get a couple pics, curious though, did fbodies come with 15 inch wheels like the GTAs?

Where can I look and see? I am hoping to do what daytona did to his and have them redone will look awesome with my purple exterior and those done in black..

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

well I hope to put the NEW tires and rim on my car and get a couple pics, curious though, did fbodies come with 15 inch wheels like the GTAs?

Yep, they did...similar, not exact...two different versions depending on year...came on base Firebirds...here's one example...note the lack of a wheel lip compared to the 16s...they are getting pretty hard to find...

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...G7CKXUNKilve0J