I have a 17 inch Sport Max rim on the front. I want to put a bigger rim on the back to fill up the wheel well better.
What size rim should I try? I think I can get the same desigen i have in 17 up front.
I was thinking maybe a 19x8. I know I will not get great tire wear but I want it to look its best.
I installed fender flares on the front and back fenders. The front 17 inch wheel looks great. On the back it needs a wider taller wheel to fill out the wheel well.

Anyone ever do this? I would say that the answer is no but if anyone can give me their opinion on the size of bigger rim and tire selection for the rear I am all ears. : )

Why not just get a larger 17" tire? It would be awkward to explain on a FWD car but the wheel well would be filled up.

wheels don't fill up wheel gaps the over diameter of a tire does... if you go with you bigger rim you need a smaller tire to make up for it and in the end everything is the same as when you started excpt your car looks stupid and your out a bunch of money.

There is no reason to have to go with a smaller tire on a bigger rim. I have a 215x45x17 tire on the front.

I like the idea of going to a 225x45x17 in the back. I could even rotate them that way even though it would look strange for a few thousand miles from time to time. I like your thinking John to stay with the same rims.

I may give this a try. Yes, I hate to waste money but at least I will still have a full set of 17 inch wheels instead of a miss match totally.
Hey you guys are good!

ok you made it sound liek you wanted to run like 17's up front and 18's in the rear... when you go bigger in rim size you need a smaller tire (side wall wise, not width of tread)


If you want to go with 225/45/17's for it they will fit just fine, its an extremely common size for J's, but why not just do it all the way around they will fit no problem.


Now if I understand this right this time your trying to make the wheel wider not taller so it comes out more to bring the wheel closer to the edge of the flare? If thats the case your best route is spending a few bucks and geting wheel spacers and some longer lug studs (depending on how much you space them out)

I am going to look into the spacers and possibly the 225x45 all around. Sure have to do some adjustments when you put fender flares on a car. Looks like it is coming together finally. Good advice!

I don't like the whole thing with spacers, but I run 225's on a 17x8 with no problems.

i have no clue what your trying to say. what does running a 225/45 tire have anything to do with spacers? are you trying to bring the wheel out board farther so it sits like the front wheels? i know js look like the rear wheels are sunk into the car.

cavalier's are supposed to have a 225 tire on a 17 inch rim plain and simple... lowered or not, fender flares or not. I'm not saying you HAVE to have a 225, BUT a 225 is the proper size so when you switch rims your speedometer reads properly and you don't look like a fool with too much wheel gap (although as i myself know there will be wheel gap obviously just no more than stock)... i reccomend 225's all the way around for j's as i was told by my rim only specialist.

paul eccles wrote:cavalier's are supposed to have a 225 tire on a 17 inch rim plain and simple... lowered or not, fender flares or not. I'm not saying you HAVE to have a 225, BUT a 225 is the proper size so when you switch rims your speedometer reads properly and you don't look like a fool with too much wheel gap (although as i myself know there will be wheel gap obviously just no more than stock)... i reccomend 225's all the way around for j's as i was told by my rim only specialist.

it all depends on what the person is looking for. 225/45/17 is the most typical for our cars in 17s. you can also run a 215/45/17 or a 235/40/17 and be fine.

Lots of choices Plus it is what the owner likes.
I have to say I will know what is right of me pretty soon!

hopefully because i dont think anyone in this thread has any idea on what your talking about.

ok. I have a friend with a 99 cavalier that has 18's in the rear and 17's in the front. the drop he has and the staggered lip rims he has makes the car look sweet. i dont have any pics of the car. but it all depends on what style rim and what kind of drop you have on the car. even on a FWD it looks cool




Vegas Starz C.C. aka Rollin Solo

StrippedCav98 (Now Quotable) wrote:hopefully because i dont think anyone in this thread has any idea on what your talking about.

I do... I mean I only install rims and tires all day long.

BTW never go to a Discount Tire. Your car will not leave with spacers period. Our company doesn't allow spacers at all.

should of just bought rims with a different offset in the rear.

TRD Cav Fire wrote:

StrippedCav98 (Now Quotable) wrote:hopefully because i dont think anyone in this thread has any idea on what your talking about.

I do... I mean I only install rims and tires all day long.

well i know alot about rims and tires too but i cant follow what he is saying i dont know if he is talking about staggering wheel sizes, different tire sizes for the rears or bumping out the rear wheels so they sit farther out.