Mismatched wheels side-to-side

Question for the masses. What negative effects would you get with a car if the wheels were mismatched side to side. They're the same diameter, width, and offset, but have a different style, so will have a different weight, and weight distribution.

Reason I ask: Got an 87 Firebird for the challenge. Got a line on cheap or free 16" R-compounds. At the junkyard, there is an 89 Trans Am that has been hit on the drivers side. Both driver side 16X8 inch wheels are damaged, but the passenger side ones appear to be good. I passed on them since the front and rear wheels have a different offset. However, a few days ago, I got a deal on 1 front and 1 rear IROC-Z wheel ($25 for the both of them, junkyard wheels will cost about that each). Third gens seem to be getting rarer in yards around here, and fourth gen wheels require budget busting spacers to fit properly.

Looking at it from an engineering perspective, I'd assume a very slight pull to one side or the other, due to the different forces from the weights. However, being as the car is going to weigh in around 3000 lbs, I'd also assume its not going to be overly significant, since we're talking about a mismatch of a few pounds at most, even if it is rotating mass.

Thoughts?

Why not swap them so the difference is front to rear instead of side to side?

Because there are Front IROC/Firebird wheels and Rear IROC/Firebird wheels.

If you weigh the OE 16x8 F body wheels they will be less than a pound difference, and you will be okay with that. Put the lighter ones on the driver side.

m4ff3w wrote: Why not swap them so the difference is front to rear instead of side to side?

+1!

I used to create my 1/24 scale models with the optioned wheels on one side and stockers on another (I guess I wanted it all at a young age) Very ghetto, but effective.

For the Challenge Concours, side to side (matched on one side, judges may not notice with enough distraction, read: you wear a fishnet tanktop.) For the autoX competition, but on the driving competitions match fronts and backs for peace of mind.

Or find another set of matched wheels and trade out the $ in your budget.

Eric G

why not paint it a different color on each side too?

I never said I had good ideas...

Mis-matched wheels don't have too negative a consequence in my opinion. Drifters do that a LOT, mis-matching similar sized wheels as well as running larger wheels upfront with smaller wheels out back. An example is a 240sx running Mustang wheels up front and OEM wheels out back during an event.

Never hurt my cars and I've done it with both my Bullitt and my S14.

Yeah, as John Brown mentioned, the offset is different front to rear on IROC/Trans Am wheels, so IROC front Trans Am rear isn't an option.

Will probably go and get the wheels this weekend, assuming they are still there. As always, will keep searching for an even better deal, though.

Okay, I kind of like the idea of painting the car different colors on each side. If it wasn't going to be a regular driver afterwards, maybe I'd do that. If nothing else, when at the junkyard getting the wheels, maybe I'll pry a Camaro emblem off to put on whichever side has the IROC wheels

I would also put IROC badging/trim/lights on one side and firebird accessories on the other. Go big or go home!

yep, I would do it. Give that car the Harvey Dent treatment.

For the concourse, you need to get a "I Beleive in Harvey Dent" political bumper sticker!

m4ff3w wrote: Why not swap them so the difference is front to rear instead of side to side?

As long as you can push switches and let the Alpine play...

Have a look at World of Outlaw sprint cars. They run slightly wider rubber on the RH side.

I've done it on the street with no noticeable effects. I couldn't decide which wheels I wanted to run, so I just did both. 86 CRX w/ Honda optional on one side, and 85 Si on the other.

i forget where you're at in ohio but the west side cleveland pull a part has a 90ish formula with 4 matching unbent factory16x8's on it. i wish they were GTA wheels because i'd have bought them.

If you're going to run mismatched wheels, at the very least I'd expect you to put IROC sheet metal on one side and Trans Am on the other. Concourse should go well !

motomoron wrote: Have a look at World of Outlaw sprint cars. They run slightly wider rubber on the RH side.

don't they also run taller tyres on the RH side and with the locked axle, oversteer is just a stab of the gaspedal away

patgizz, thanks for the info, unfortunately, I'm in the far corner.

Of course, its kind of moot, now. Went to the junkyard today, in search of wheels, trans coolers the challenge car and the hot rod project, and just to see whats laying around. It was way crowded for a mid-30's Saturday. No wheelbarrows were available, only a really heavy four wheel cart. The Trans Am still had the wheels, and only one lug holding each one on. That should have been a sign. Grabbed my 4-way lug wrench, and tried all four sockets. None work. Looked closer, and noted they're some sort of security lug. Dug through the glass coated interior of the junker, but couldn't find the key socket.

So, time to wander around, and look for some trans coolers. Grabbed one off an explorer, and another off a 92 Land Cruiser (I highly recommend one of these. Its big, and has lots of removavble bracket pieces that make it look like it'll be easy to adjust.) Also, overheard some people talking, and realized why it was crowded. 25% off for the weekend. Suddenly, more determined to get those wheels. Go back to Trans Am, look at it, and try again with the lug wrench, and a set of vise grips. No go.

Dispirited, wander along the edge og the GM section, and see a 91 Camaro RS with one rear and one front wheel. Figured they'd be 15", but got closer, and saw they were also 16". Its the newer style Z28 wheels, but they're five spokes, so after some repainting, they'll look somewhat similar. Should've been a sign when there were only the two of them. One security lug holding each wheel on. E36 M3.

Then I got a brilliant idea, lug nuts are softer than impact sockets. Got a 13/16" socket, and my 3lb hammer out, and suddenly, it fit a lot better Battery powered impact did the job, and after beating on the socket with the lug nut reattached to the car to remove it, repeated the trick with the rear wheel.

Long story short, I'll still have mismatched wheels, but not as bad as they could have been. Plus, for 14.99 - 3.75 discount + $5 core charge, each wheel only cost 16.24.

Unless I get a better deal, or get a good deal on a set of GTA wheels, I'm set :) And way under the $300 I'd budgeted for wheels and r-compound tires. More budget for stuff like nitrous or a limited slip diff

Please rallycross this mullet-mobile after (or before) the challenge.

I heartily approve of mis-matched wheels, preferably painted different colors. It's not like anyone can see both sides of the car simultaneously.

cghstang wrote: Please rallycross this mullet-mobile after (or before) the challenge. I heartily approve of mis-matched wheels, preferably painted different colors. It's not like anyone can see both sides of the car simultaneously.

I just might after the challenge is over. Will just have to get some replacement springs to raise it back to stock height. Too bad it'd be in M2, if it was SR, you could bring the crown vic wagon out to compete against it

If nothing else, I'll try to use it to get to rallycross events, and run the rental.

Oh yeah, its interesting you mention the word mullet, Chris. One of my early theme ideas (since discarded) was to paint it up like a 60's drag car, and letter the side; "Mullet Chariot"

eastsidemav wrote: They're the same diameter, width, and offset, but have a different style, so will have a different weight, and weight distribution.

That hardly counts as mismatched. I doubt you'd be able to detect the difference.