What are the biggest wheels and tires I can fit on my [fill in the blank]?

Image by Ben Meissner

Most of this information came from an article by David Freiburger in Car Craft Magazine. (March 2000)
Permission to use is pending.
Mr. Freiburger lists as his sources Weld Racing, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires and BF Goodrich.
Although these values have been tested, not every wheel/tire combo will work on every car. I suggest that you buy the March 2000 Car Craft magazine and read the article carefully. Then if you're on the ragged edge of clearance, do some test fitting before buying expensive wheels and tires that may not fit. Common sense is your best friend.


A Body vehicles (Chevelle, El Camino)
Year Wheel Diameter Max Wheel Size Backspacing Tire info
64-67 All 8 inch wheel width 4.5 inch Section Width:245, Aspect Ratio: 15=60, 16=50, 17=40, 18=35
68-72 15" 15x8 4.5 inch 255/60
. 16" 16x8 4.5 inch 255/50
. 17" 17x9.5 (front) 5.5 inch 275/40
. 17" 17x11 (rear) 5.5 inch 315/35
. 18" 18x9.5 (front) 5.5 inch 275/40
. 18" 18x11 (rear) 5.5 inch 315/35
73-77 No Info Yet N/A N/A N/A
78-87 All 8 inch wheel width 4.5 inch Aspect ratio of 50 or less, 245 front 255 rear

F Body vehicles (Camaro, Firebird)
Year Wheel Diameter Max Wheel Size Backspacing Tire info
67-69 15" 15x8 4.5 inch Aspect ratio of 50 or less, 245 front 255 rear
. 16" 16x8 4.5 inch Aspect ratio of 50 or less, 245 front 255 rear
. 17" 17x9 5.5 inch Aspect ratio of 40 or less, 245 front 255 rear
. 18" 18x9 5.5 inch Aspect ratio of 35 or less, 255 front 275 rear
70-81 15" 15x8 (front) 4.5 inch Aspect ratio of 55 or less, 255 front
. 15" 15x10 (rear) 5.5 inch Aspect ratio of 55 or less, 285 rear
. 16" 16x8 (front) 4.5 inch Aspect ratio of 50 or less, 255 front
. 16" 16x10 (rear) 5.5 inch Aspect ratio of 50 or less, 285 rear
. 17" 17x9.5 (front) 6 inch Aspect ratio of 40 or less, 275 front (really tight)
. 17" 17x10 (rear Camaro) 6 inch Aspect ratio of 40 or less, 295-315 rear (really tight)
. 17" 17x11 (rear Firebird) 6 inch Aspect ratio of 40 or less, 295-315 rear (really tight)
. 18" 18x9.5 (front) 6 inch Aspect ratio of 30 or less, 275 front (really tight)
. 18" 18x10 (rear Camaro) 6 inch Aspect ratio of 30 or less, 295-315 rear (really tight)
. 18" 18x11 (rear Firebird) 6 inch Aspect ratio of 30 or less, 295-315 rear (really tight)
82-92 15" 15x8 4.5 inch Aspect ratio of 55 or less, section width 255
. 16" 16x8 (front) 4.5 inch Aspect ratio of 55 or less, section width 255
. 16" 16x8 (rear) 5.125 inch Aspect ratio of 55 or less, section width 255
. 17" 17x9 (front and rear) 5.5 inch Aspect ratio of 40 or less, section width 255 front, 275 rear
. 18" 18x9.5 (front) 5.5 inch Aspect ratio of 35 or less, section width 275
. 18" 18x10 (rear) 6 inch Aspect ratio of 35 or less, section width 275-295


G Body vehicles (Monte Carlo, Cutlass, Regal, Malibu, El Camino)
Year Wheel Diameter Max Wheel Size Backspacing Tire info
70-72 15" 15x8 4.5 inch 255/60
. 16" 16x8 4.5 inch 255/50
. 17" 17x9.5 (front) 5.5 inch 275/40
. 17" 17x11 (rear) 5.5 inch 315/35
. 18" 18x9.5 (front) 5.5 inch 275/40
. 18" 18x11 (rear) 5.5 inch 315/35
73-77 No Info Yet N/A N/A N/A
78-87 All 8 inch wheel width 4.5 inch Aspect ratio of 50 or less, 245 front 255 rear

X Body vehicles (Nova, Omega, Ventura, Apollo)
This information came from Bruce Johnson's Tire Fitment Page
He has a lot of examples of what different sized wheels look like on Novas.

Year Wheel Diameter Max Wheel Size Backspacing Tire info
62-67 14" 14x5.5 (front) 4.5 inch (unconfirmed) 185/70
. 14" 14x7 (rear) 4.5 inch (unconfirmed) 235/60
. 15" 15x5 (front) 3.5 inch 185/65
. 15" 15x7 (rear) 4.5 inch 235/60
68-74 14 14x7 (front) 3.5 195/70
. 14 14x8 (rear) 4.5 inch 245/60
. 15 15x7 (front) 3.5 235/60
. 15 15x8 (rear) 4.5 inch 275/60
75-79 15 15x7 (front) 4.5 235/60
. 15 15x8 (rear) 4.5 255/60

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