What Size Rims Do I Need For My 95 9c1?

Hi, I want to order a set of rims but want to make sure they will fit. I talked to someone that sells rims on ebay and they told me this is what I need to look for:

zero offset, 3" backspacing. Select a rim on the formula that the caprice was designed for. Total tire dimension should not exceed 28-29 inches and go from there.

What is backspacing?

I used a tire calculator and it said that 23" rims with 255/30/23 tires will be 29" in diameter, instead of 27.4" using the 225/70/15 tires I currently use. Will these fit with no scrubbing/noise/etc? Also, do I need to worry about how wide the tire is (part that actually touches the ground)? 23s show a 5% difference and 22s show a 1% difference. From what I see, i have more than enough room for 23s, but don't know if they will be too wide or something. Which should I go with? Here is the calculator I used http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

I have 225/75/15 on the stock rims of my Caprice, and the front actually does rub a little bit on the sway bar when the wheel is hard over. You can't hear it from inside the car, but there's a "clean spot" on the bar where you can tell the tire rubs. The try not to go too much wider than stock which in my case is 7 inches. Also since your Caprice is a 9C1, it will have the 5 x 5 inch bolt pattern.

What Pete said - there's not much clearance for oversized tires.

BTW, all '91-'96 cars have the 5 on 5 arrangement, not just the 9C1s.

I have 225/75/15 on the stock rims of my Caprice, and the front actually does rub a little bit on the sway bar when the wheel is hard over. You can't hear it from inside the car, but there's a "clean spot" on the bar where you can tell the tire rubs. The try not to go too much wider than stock which in my case is 7 inches. Also since your Caprice is a 9C1, it will have the 5 x 5 inch bolt pattern.

that may be your front end also pete. Mine used to do that when I turned the wheel all the way before I got my entire front end redone. Think the ball joints make it do that... I have the same marks where my tires used to rub Ok, the 225/70/15s I already have on there are a total of 27.4" in diameter. If I go with 22"s, the rims/tires will total 28"s in diameter. Will .6 of an inch make that much difference? 7" wide rims is stock for a caprice? I think 22s will fit just fine being only .6" in diameter bigger than my stock wheels as long as they dont exceed 7" in width? Am I right?

Also, alot of people say that you lose handling when you get big rims. Will I lose my handling by getting bigger rims and smaller tires? There are still basically the same size. The only way I can see a lose of handling is at high speeds due to the smaller tires.

I have all new ball joints, suspension and steering components.

Also, alot of people say that you lose handling when you get big rims. Will I lose my handling by getting bigger rims and smaller tires? There are still basically the same size. The only way I can see a lose of handling is at high speeds due to the smaller tires.

My buddy owns a 2000 Impala, and he puts on larger rims in the summer (less rubber). The larger rims give him a rougher ride, but better overall handling around corners.

I have all new ball joints, suspension and steering components.



My buddy owns a 2000 Impala, and he puts on larger rims in the summer (less rubber). The larger rims give him a rougher ride, but better overall handling around corners.

ok, so its good to have big rims in some ways and bad in ways too? That sounds about right. what size rims does he have on his impala?

the biggest i would ever go is 18 inches
the whole reason for larger rims is so you can use larger brakes
18" rims = 15" or larger brakes = better heat dissapation.

you will always gain steering feel with less sidewall area, but the ride will suffer, and the handling itself will not get any better.
the handling may actually get worse due to the extra unsprung weight that those wheels have.
if you are looking for more performance from your new wheels, get the lightest weight possible for your diameter of choice.
i would recommend 17" or 18".
anything over 18" is hard to find in light weight styles, and will surely make your car look rediculous and handle worse.


if it is the look you are after, then performance should be the last thing on your mind. you will loose it all.
if you try and drive fast, you will break something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8znD7-l5Tmo

would a set of mid 80s chevy 1/2 ton rally rims fit an 83 caprice?

No, the bolt pattern is different. They will, however, fit one with 5-on-5 bolt circles.

ok, so its good to have big rims in some ways and bad in ways too? That sounds about right. what size rims does he have on his impala?
18"

BTW, Goose, I know it doesn't make sense, but around hard cornering (and I've tested it myself out of disbelief) with the larger rims (less rubber) it takes corners significant'y better than the stock wheels with more rubber. My guess would be that the less rubber doesn't allow as much side-to-side flexablility when turning hard and gives the illusion of better handling. But in situations where the stock wheels would squeal, the larger ones take it like a champ.

it has to do with the fact that the sidewalls arent "folding under" themselves.
with your normal 5" or so sidewalls, hard cornering tends to make the sidewalls deform to the point where they fold under themselves.
with less sidewall, there will be less folding under and more grip in that situation.

i guess its true that larger wheels do help performance, but there comes a point where the unsprung mass cancels out any gains in turning.

personally, i think that 17" wheels and 265 50 series tires look the best on 80s caprices.

the 92-96 cars came with 17s optional i think but i am not sure and could be completely wrong.

Making the sidewalls rigid will help in handling - up to a point. When there is no give in the tires, the wheels can 'hop' rather than follow the flow of the road - and as you might imagine, this is not conducive to high-performance cornering.

Plus, those large wheels impart mass - known as unsprung weight - onto the rotating wheels. This increases the flywheel effect of the wheels. It also imparts more of a gyroscopic effect (centripetal force) which is negative for cornering, as well. High-performance driving conditions are enhanced by removing as much unsprung weight as is practicable.

the biggest i would ever go is 18 inches
the whole reason for larger rims is so you can use larger brakes
18" rims = 15" or larger brakes = better heat dissapation.

you will always gain steering feel with less sidewall area, but the ride will suffer, and the handling itself will not get any better.
the handling may actually get worse due to the extra unsprung weight that those wheels have.
if you are looking for more performance from your new wheels, get the lightest weight possible for your diameter of choice.
i would recommend 17" or 18".
anything over 18" is hard to find in light weight styles, and will surely make your car look rediculous and handle worse.


if it is the look you are after, then performance should be the last thing on your mind. you will loose it all.
if you try and drive fast, you will break something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8znD7-l5Tmo

I know I will not be able to do 100 MPH with big rims. What is the largest size that the 5 star impala rims come in? Any possible way to get a chrome set? I just dont have to have 22s and I would like the performance over looks (does not look ridiculous with 22s by the way). Any nice set of chrome chevy rims would be nice.

This is just my :2cents: but personally, I like the look of aftermarket rims, but in a stock size.

Kind of off topic: back in February I bought myself a brand new ATV just as a birthday present to myself (worth every penny!)It's a Honda Foreman 500cc 4x4. Well, when looking at it in the showroom the stock rims on it were significantly larger than other, older models. I asked why, figuring something meant for off-road you'd want as much rubber as possible. They were larger for two reasons, 1) it's a bigger, heavier ATV especially with the on board ECM and electronic 4x4 weiging in at 700 lbs so the rims needed to accomodate bigger brakes and 2) the front drive system for the 4x4 makes the front hubs bigger so there needed to be room for that too. Personally I think ATVs , at least utility ATVs look better with more tire than rim, but in this instance I don't have much of a choice.

No, the bolt pattern is different. They will, however, fit one with 5-on-5 bolt circles.


aww damn... thanks silicon. i found a set with fresh powder coat, center caps, and trim rings with good tires for $80.00

This is just my :2cents: but personally, I like the look of aftermarket rims, but in a stock size.

Kind of off topic: back in February I bought myself a brand new ATV just as a birthday present to myself (worth every penny!)It's a Honda Foreman 500cc 4x4. Well, when looking at it in the showroom the stock rims on it were significantly larger than other, older models. I asked why, figuring something meant for off-road you'd want as much rubber as possible. They were larger for two reasons, 1) it's a bigger, heavier ATV especially with the on board ECM and electronic 4x4 weiging in at 700 lbs so the rims needed to accomodate bigger brakes and 2) the front drive system for the 4x4 makes the front hubs bigger so there needed to be room for that too. Personally I think ATVs , at least utility ATVs look better with more tire than rim, but in this instance I don't have much of a choice.

I think aftermarket look better too but I dont see the point of paying $700 for a set of chrome factory wheels when I can get 22s for a little extra. Almost anything would look better than my black rims with police caps... I will settle with a nice set of used 17" impala rims right now though. Does anyone know if they come in chrome or has anyone saw and nice factory chevy rims? I would like them to be at least 16". I dont mind going with chrome factory chevy wheels. That will make it look nice too.

aww damn... thanks silicon. i found a set with fresh powder coat, center caps, and trim rings with good tires for $80.00

and where did you find those?

I think aftermarket look better too but I dont see the point of paying $700 for a set of chrome factory wheels when I can get 22s for a little extra.

Ah the American way... bigger is better. People say "why spend money on rims that are stock size?" Because it looks good. When buying aftermarket rims the whole point is to make the car they're going on look good, whether they're 14" rims or 24" rims the point is cosmetic, not neccesarily size. Granted most people when purchasing aftermarket rims go bigger, but thats because of the mindset people have that if you're buying rims, you might as well go as big as you can go and in turn sometimes makes the car look like a freak show sitting up insanely high on 26's. Sorry if I came off kind of strong, but again... my :2cents:.

Ah the American way... bigger is better. People say "why spend money on rims that are stock size?" Because it looks good. When buying aftermarket rims the whole point is to make the car they're going on look good, whether they're 14" rims or 24" rims the point is cosmetic, not neccesarily size. Granted most people when purchasing aftermarket rims go bigger, but thats because of the mindset people have that if you're buying rims, you might as well go as big as you can go and in turn sometimes makes the car look like a freak show sitting up insanely high on 26's. Sorry if I came off kind of strong, but again... my :2cents:.

lol, i definitely dont want 26s, I just want 22s... 26s would look awful and i want something I can drive on the highway short distances if I had to. There is no way to fit 26s on there without suspension work. I dont want to do any suspension work. I am sticking with 22s since they will only be a total of 28 inches (stock is 27.4 inches)

I think aftermarket look better too but I dont see the point of paying $700 for a set of chrome factory wheels when I can get 22s for a little extra. Almost anything would look better than my black rims with police caps... I will settle with a nice set of used 17" impala rims right now though. Does anyone know if they come in chrome or has anyone saw and nice factory chevy rims? I would like them to be at least 16". I dont mind going with chrome factory chevy wheels. That will make it look nice too.



HAHA thats funny i WANT that police look... i have a set of 60s camaro rally wheels but no center caps or trim rings.

and where did you find those?

They are sitting (chained to a pole) across the street from the VFW in West Townsend Ma. Dont get me wrong the tires arent new but will get past the Mass inspection with no problem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8znD7-l5Tmo Jack ass probably didnt even upgrade his weak stock rear end to a better one whic is why that happend.

The caprice at the end seemed to to a nice burn out no problem.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=j-yA7YtHrpI

Jack ass probably didnt even upgrade his weak stock rear end to a better one whic is why that happend.

The caprice at the end seemed to to a nice burn out no problem.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=j-yA7YtHrpI

seems like I have saw that chevy everywhere

ok, cancel the rims. I just got my car out of the shop because it wouldn't start even after I got the starter changed (broke in half) and it still wouldn't start (suspect = flexplate). It turned out there there were about 3 reasons my car wouldn't start. I needed a flexplate, fuel pump, fuel sending unit, cap/rotor kit, plus i got the tranny serviced. Lets just say that all of that work costed more than I paid for the car!!! The fuel sending unit was $450, the pump was $150 since I went back with the originals. I figured the fuel pump went bad, that is why I asked in one of my other posts if a bad flexplate would make the car stall and putter like it wasnt getting any gas.

I thought my car was running great before the work but it is running very strong now! before, I could feel the tranny shift just a little, but now, if i have on the radio, i wouldn't even know it was shifting at all. = ) I am definitely not doing anything fancy to it anytime soon... now I'm thinking, clean paint job and and nice set of impala rims haha.

Why does that sound suspicious to me?
Car runs fine. Car then doesn't start. Suddenly car needs over four things to start again costing more than the car's worth. It's too bad you couldn't have gotten a few opinions from other mechanics first.

i agree...

i agree...

well, I did suspect that the fuel pump went out, didnt suspect that a wire was burnt on the sending unit too... Also, I knew there was another problem besides the starter due to the noise it made. Not worried about the money, at least I know I have a good car that will last me at least 10 years. I dont know what he did, but she sure drives great now! Its like I get more response from the pedal or something:grinyes:

Well, as long as you're satisfied, thats all that matters.