I'm interested in running my car at the local SCCA events and am looking for some recommendations on a wheel tire combo that works. Specs: 73 Z 355, 5spd, 410 rear, subframe connectors, poly bushings throughout, @1.5-2" lower with eibach springs front/rear (1 leaf removed in rear), I currently have 15X7-225/60 front, 15X8-265/50 rear ralleys. stock steering box, looking for something that will improve handling, are 17" rims/tires worth it? It is an occasional street car so I'd like to avoid mondo $$ in a set of race only wheels/tires. Thanks-great site.

are you getting alot of understeer with your current setup? you can fit a 245 tire up front and get alot more traction there...
From what I've read, the 17" tires are worth it. Summit racing has 17"cragar SS wheels for a good price. Not sure if they are good/legal for autocross, but they sure look good.

What I'm planning on running right now is 245/50 16" up front, and 275/40 17" in the back. I forget the backspacing off hand, but I'm sure someone else will have those numbers
I think you can fit larger tires, but I'm not sure of the specs
Neat trick here is that both of those tires are almost the same height, so you can get a spare that will easily work for either front or rear without making the car feel funny (there are a few 14" sizes that have the same height would make a good spare tire)

ErikSOCAL, increasing your tire wheel and tire size is the single biggest improvement you can make to a car's handling. Everything else that you change will be to control those tires. A lot of people make the mistake of putting bigger rear tires on these cars than fronts. The problem is that camaros understeer a lot from the factory. A stock 2nd gen is very nose heavy and would not benefit from bigger rear tires. Obviously, your car is not stock with that 5 speed, really cool by the way. With the tranny swap I assume you have some engine mods also, this immediately puts you in CP or street mod, or E mod. A street car is no fun competing in CP and a camaro in E mod is dead meat. But street mod could be a lot of fun. With the right combo you could be beating up on the ricers.

A good tire combo for that is a 275/40/17 all the way around. You should be able to fit them with 5" backspace, though you should ask around to be sure. Lighten the car up as much as you can and stay legal.

Get yourself a rulebook before making any purchases so you know what you can and can't do. These cars need all the tire that you can afford to put on them. A lot of street prepared guys run 335/35/17 on 11" wide rims. But you don't want to spend that kind of cash right now. Just go out and have fun, keep a lookout for a good set of used wheels. You know, you could be a set of diamond racing steel wheels for real cheap and buy a set of used slicks and run CP. You could change wheels at the track. There are a lot of ways to go with this. Go to the races and compete a few times before you spend any money on the car at all. Then you'll know whether you like it enough to go crazy with the car like I did.

Good luck and have fun!

Thanks for the replies! Very informative and got me pointed in the right direction. True on the mods, I've lightened the nose up some with a fiberglass hood, aluminum intake/heads/radiator. I'm not too concerned about winning classes, just want to drive like a maniac legally...San Diego here I come! Thanks again.
oh, one last thing is there a web site or source for diamond wheels that I could check out?

[This message has been edited by ErikSOCAL (edited December 14, 2001).]

you're looking for about the same car as I am - best possible street handling. No rules classes, it's mano-a-mano on the street.
I'd suggest also relocating the battery to the trunk - summit has a $50 kit that has everything you need.

Might have to swing on by & visit ya http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/wink.gif

Check out the So Cal section of the board (at the bottom)....we're meeting up this Sat.

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Thanks for the posts everyone, looks like I'll have to wait on the rims for a few more, just narrowed down the source of a driveline vibration to possibly the scattershield....sounds fun to get it dialed in right...but once I do...