17" Steel Wheels

[WindsorShatzkin]

So, I'm looking to do some upgrades to my '50 in the (hopefully) not-too-distant future.

I want to upgrade to 17" steel wheels, but I'm having trouble deciding. I've seen some steel 17's on other trucks, but some have a regular 15" center inside of a stepped 17" rim, which I think looks terrible.

Wheel Vintiques makes a 17" steel smoothie, but I've never been able to find pics of those, other than their stock photography, where it is impossible to tell what size the wheel really is. I've seen their billet smoothies, but those are $$$$$, and don't have good backspacing. If their steelies look like those, that's what I'll go with.

Does anyone have 17" steel wheels on their truck? If you do, could you put some pics up?

[roger55]

I just bought a set of 16" Wheel Vintiques Smoothies for my '57. I would imagine that the 17" looks pretty much the same.

[WindsorShatzkin]

Those look awesome! Do you mind if I ask what the width and backspacing is on those?
I hope if I get the 17's, the extra inch is added to the wheel centers, not the rim. From the looks of the 16's, it seems as though they added the inch to the centers.

[roger55]

Originally Posted by WindsorShatzkin

Those look awesome! Do you mind if I ask what the width and backspacing is on those?

I got them from Summit with free shipping. Since I have a side-mount spare, I bought 5 wheels and 5 hub caps.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/wvi-12-670604

They are 16"X7" with 4" BS.

To my delight, there are loads of choices of tires in 235-70R-16 which is the size I want.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...70&diameter=16

[_Ogre]

i have the 15'' wheel vintiques, steel wheels and same caps as roger55 on my 58
looks like they resize the center to each size, but a call/email to wheel vintiques would be quick confirmation.
i bought the beauty rings too, never installed them.

[WindsorShatzkin]

Thanks for the info/pics guys!
Ogre, your truck looks good!

[Luther Grimace]

I just bought some 17 x 9 Wheel Vintiques 62 Series wheels which is pretty much the same as the smoothie wheel. I bought them to put on my 1965 Chevelle but I thought it might help you to see some 17" steelies.






I can say that they are HEAVY!! The 17 x 9 wheels that I have weigh 39 lbs. One thing to think about to is that most of the tire options for 17s are short or really tall. It going a truck might not be that bad.

[Luther Grimace]

Also here is a video and article of David Freiburger's 1966 Buick. It has 17x9 and 17x8 smoothie wheels like you were originally asking about.

Barn Find '66 Buick Hits the Autocross! - HOT ROD...

http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicl...n/viewall.html

[WindsorShatzkin]

I really like the stock look that the series 62 offers, but sadly, they don't make it in the 6x5.5 lug pattern.

[roger55]

Originally Posted by Luther Grimace

I can say that they are HEAVY!! The 17 x 9 wheels that I have weigh 39 lbs. One thing to think about to is that most of the tire options for 17s are short or really tall. It going a truck might not be that bad.

Yeah, I thought my 16 x 7 were pretty heavy but yours must seem like a ton.

Good point about the tires. For mine, the 235/70-16 gives me a tire height really close to stock which is the look I was going for.

I would have gone for 15" but I wanted the extra insurance they would clear my front discs. The other benefit is the selection of LT tires there are for the 16"s.

[roger55]

Originally Posted by WindsorShatzkin

I really like the stock look that the series 62 offers, but sadly, they don't make it in the 6x5.5 lug pattern.

Yup. I would have gone for those in a 16 x 7 if they had of.

I checked with Wheelsmith and they don't have that style in the 6 bolt pattern either.

[Luther Grimace]

Don't feel bad about them not being available in 6 lug pattern. I am having problems with the hubcap not fitting. I am going to have to grind down the nubs some. I hate grinding on brand new wheels when the 10-1/8" external cap is supposed to fit. That is the reason I bought them. I am going to have to send them back or narrow my rear end because I got the back spacing off about half an inch.

I really like the look of your 16 x 7s.

[WindsorShatzkin]

I was thinking I would buy the 17" smoothies, and stencil out and paint the "windows" to give them the series 62 look.