20 INCH wheel question 93-96 FWB

[The_Hearsecutor]

Are any of you out there who are rollin' 20's doing it with 9" wide rims? Stock suspension or the SS setup? Ideal offset?

I'm wondering if I can use a 20X9 with the SS set-up and not run into any clearance issues....

Thanx!

[Barrister_07101]

Originally Posted by The_Hearsecutor

Are any of you out there who are rollin' 20's doing it with 9" wide rims? Stock suspension or the SS setup? Ideal offset?

I'm wondering if I can use a 20X9 with the SS set-up and not run into any clearance issues....

Thanx!

I'm looking myself at new rims. I can tell you this... anything wider than 8" inches will need a fender skirt modification. Beyond that, I would find the PLUS SIZES... but since were are all friend here... let me give you my list that I generated with a wheel calculator - its below and I only dealt with 20" and above or a PLUS SIZE 5 or more conversion. From what I can see ... moving from a 235/70/15 on a 15 x 7 rim to a 265/35/20 on a 20 x 9 rim (a very popular size) results in an increase of actual width of the combination from 9.3" to 11.2" (and that's with 5.4" of backspace versus the stock 4.4". Personally I think it may rub some components. With this combination ... you are not really affecting tire height 28" versus 27.9". If I were to go to 20" I would think about trying to get away with 20x8.5 rim with 245/55/20 tire (a size that is not that hard to find. It seems that you are only gaining a quarter inch or so in over width ... though height is nearly an inch up. Finally, make sure you have the correct back spacing AS WELL AS offset (a 10mm offset is what I would think about). I hope this helps.



Plus Size Tire Cominbations

+5: 20"

235/40-20 15mm -
235/45-20
235/50-20 33mm+
245/40-20
245/45-20 17mm+
245/50-20 43mm+
255/35-20 25mm -
255/40-20
255/45-20 27mm+
265/35-20 17mm -
265/40-20
265/45-20 35mm+
275/35-20 11mm -
275/40-20 17mm+
275/45-20 45mm+
285/35-20
285/40-20 25mm+

+6: 21''

235/35-21 14mm -
235/40-21 10mm+
235/45-21 34mm+
245/35-21
245/40-21 18mm+
245/45-21 42mm+
255/30-21 24mm -
255/35-21
255/40-21 26mm+
265/30-21 18mm -
265/35-21
265/40-21 34mm+
275/30-21 12mm -
275/35-21 14mm+
275/40-21 42mm+
285/30-21
285/35-21 22mm+
285/40-21 50mm+

+7: 22''

235/30-22 10mm -
235/35-22 12mm+
235/40-22 36mm+
245/30-22
245/35-22 20mm+
245/40-22 44mm+
255/25-22 24mm -
255/30-22
255/35-22 26mm+
265/25-22 20mm -
265/30-22
265/35-22 34mm+
275/25-22 14mm -
275/30-22 14mm+
275/35-22 40mm+
285/25-22 10mm -
285/30-22 20mm+
285/35-22 48mm+
[/size]

[RedGalant2k1]

I would recommend a 245/40-20 on a mid offset 20x8.5" wheel.

Don't get to concerned with backspacing, offset, width, it will take you months to make a simple decision to buy wheels.

Being in the industry I've never seen a 245/55-20 and even I would have no clue who makes a tire in that size. Thats even besides the fact that its much to large for your type of Cadillac.

Stay with a 245/40-20, with a mid offset 20x8.5" (or even 20x7.5" wheel).

[The_Hearsecutor]

Wow, thanks guys for the info. More detailed and comprehensive than expected.

I'd ordered a set of 20x8.5 (TIS 05's). Waited months (~9) for them to come off from being backordered due to extremely high demand. Probably due in part to advertising in RIDES and DUB magazines on the popular Chrysler 300's, Magnums and Chargers. Then it took me a few months to get the car down to the shop in ATL for installation. Turns out, the wrong bolt pattern was ordered (5x120). Now, the 5x127 has been discontinued. Sigh....

Next up on the choice list is the Arelli Geneva. The 20X8.5 has a center bore 3mm too small, but the 20x9 has the proper size bore (what the???). So, I'm hoping this works out tomorrow......

My last choice of wheel is one that is currently on back-order (I'm starting to see a pattern) but the release date is associated with doubt that it will be continued at all..... Sweet Jesus! Where's the mercy???

For me, a car this size can wear 20" comfortably, and yes, my tire choice is a 245/40 for proper height. Skirt modification is surely expected, thanks for the forewarning though. Biggest problem is, in my opinion, finding a wheel with a "full-face" look I'm shooting for. IMO, it just looks more classy than open spokes that exposes all the brake hardware. There just aren't many styles like this that are available with such specific fitment needs. I suppose I'm due this aggravation and misfortune since I was able to hook BOTH my slab Fleetwood Coupes with some old school CRAGAR STAR WIRES with unprecedented ease.

Anyways, I'm going tomorrow for test fitment on the 20X9's. If these don't work, I'm just about to the point of just selling the car and giving up.... oh no!

BTW- here's a shot of my project- taken a couple of months back, looks much different now as everything else has progressed rather well. Hoping to have everything wrapped up soon-then I'll be sure to post more pics!

Thanks again for all the info!

1995 Fleetwood - TRUE Triple Black - Brains Blown - 53k:

[RedGalant2k1]

Beautiful Caddy!

I'd also recommend utilizing Andy from Superbuytires.com who btw is a supporting vendor. If your wheels don't fit he can surely help you find a full faced, 5x5 wheel to fit your car.

[ocjmakaveli]

Some of the above isn't entirely accurate.......

Basics on a fleetwood are.........

5x127 pattern and anything upto 9.5 " wide fits without fender modification... Providing that you use a 0 to +10 offset nothing over +10 is recommended and I'd personally recommend a 0 offset.

I'm currently using a +20 offset on a 22" 9.5" wide rim with a 265/35/22 tire

The back is fine but I have slight rubbing on full turns in the front wheels.

Some guys even run a 10" wide rim but you'll need to mod the fender a bit...

Also get a stiffer rear sway bar to avoid rubbing on the frame its just a little extra insurance.

I can't imagine waiting for some rims 9 months and then getting a wrong set..............

Good luck and a little tip before changing to bigger rims replace your suspension. An all new suspension will make your car handle the small tires better you don't want your tires to absorb all of the road's bumps if your suspension is stock and 16 years old.

One last thing that I really have never seen mentioned.

I went through hell when i wanted to get my car aligned since our car has the rear fenderskirt they can't align our cars with the 20-"22" rims they have to use the stock rear wheels in order to do it properly so make sure you keep at least 2 stock wheels in storage.

[caddycruiser]

Those TIS 05's should look incredible, and I completely agree on the "full faced" look. That's why I've always liked the stock Brougham wheels so much, for for a very long time was looking to see what larger aftermarket wheel I could find that had a similar design to it.

Of course, I went with stock Impala SS wheels in the end, but that's worked out perfectly for me regardless. Had to modify the skirts quite a bit to get them to fit (basically just a lot of bending and reshaping the handle), largely because of my wide 275 tires, and it's still fairly tight, but I haven't had any real issues.

[pcm]

just don't go too wild and put 28" rims or something like that. some cars look ok but most are just tacky.I had 22" on my 90 brougham and that is about as big as I would go.cadillac's with 4x4 suspension and big rims just don't do it for me.

[Barrister_07101]

I'm with you with the full face look ... in fact I try to find wheels that look more like the stock FWB wheels then anything else. These are a few examples of what I've seen that has caught my eye.

[pcm]

I like the bottom one better. mht makes a good looking rim also its called linea

[pcm]

here is a pictureMHT Wheels Inc. : MHT

[The_Hearsecutor]

Well, THREE's a charm! After the 3rd trip to ATL and the 3rd set of wheels, they fit! Behold, the Arelli Geneva, 20x9, 15mm offset with BF Goodrich KDW's in 245/40 series riding on a fresh IMPALA SS suspension/Bilsteins/Hotchkis sways.

ABSOLUTELY no clearance issues in front @ full turns, and I was even able to drive home with my skirts on- there's still 3/4" clearance between the tire and latching levers.

Come to think of it, I believe I like this wheel a little better than the TIS 05...
Either way, the full-face design continues to exude full-size luxury much in the way of the factory wheel that many, including myself, as rather fond of.

BTW- At one point, there was ~1million dollar$ worth of machinery at the shop- comprised of only 6 cars-

*2x Bentley Flying Spurs (one of which belonged to comedian Ron White- so much for blue collar, huh?)

*2x AMG SL55s

*1 360 Modena

*1 Phantom

Eye candy, for sure. There's usually high dollar machinery there at any given point when I've been there.

Anyways, just wanted to thank everyone for your help and information. Otherwise, without such assurance, I would have assumed a 9 inch wide wheel would have clearance issues and spent the day writing a FOR SALE ad instead of making the trip. I hope this information is also of help to anyone looking to udgrade to 20's. The 245/40 is definitely the way to go.

Later tonite, I'll make my "formal", albeit late, introduction- and share with you more on my Fleetwood project as well as pics of my other Caddy's. In the meantime, enjoy!

Thanx!

[RedGalant2k1]

Looks Great!

[BCs71]

Looks incrdible!
I have nothing against 20s whatsoever, don't get me wrong....
But I think that style wheel would be absolutely T|T$ in 19".

A guy on the ISSF added full face AMGs from a Mercedes (I think?) in 19" and it was the perfect size IMO with the Fleetwood body shape.

Awesome looking tint by the way. Can't get away with that in my area, though... unless I was a celebrity like Ron White, LOL

[pcm]

that is a nice looking cad. the rims almost look bigger than 20". I think it would look great laid out on air ride. whats the next thing your going to do to it. I would like to have that body style for myself. maybe when my money is right I'll get one.