New wheels for my GTO

[Westphal]

I completed the latest upgrade to my 2005 Pontiac GTO on Saturday, a process that started several months ago. Last October, I saw a pair of GTO 18" wheels for sale on a GTO forum and bought them, then found another pair on FB Marketplace and drove about an hour to buy that pair. Then I sent 1 pair out to be widened 1" and test-fit them in the front since I knew that's where there isn't much room for a wider wheel and tire without changing the front struts to coilovers.
Knowing that, I installed coilovers in November that gave me 16mm or 5/8" more clearance between the tire and coilover. After taking measurements with the now 9" wide wheels, I knew the wider wheels/tires would fit with a spacer. At the rear of the car, there's plenty of room, and many GTO owners have installed wider wheels/tires there.
After I got the 2nd pair of wheels widened, I had them powder-coated and clear-coated for a beautiful and long-lasting finish, along with having new tires mounted. I also ordered wheel spacers that would position the front tires perfectly. I picked up the wheels a couple weeks ago and the spacers arrived on Friday, so I bolted up my new wheels and front spacers yesterday.
So, I've gone from aftermarket 18X8" wheels with 245/40 tires to 18X9" GTO wheels with 275/35 tires. I've checked tire clearance with the steering full lock left to right and it's good.

Old wheels that were on the car when I bought it.

New wider wheels/tires

Old tires top, new tires bottom

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[blkshadow]

That looks great man! I always liked the look of the stock 18’s, and when widened, even better.

I had a 2006 Spice Red Metallic manual GTO - heavily modded. I should have kept that car…it’s the one that got away .

 

[Tripower]

Nice "blunder from down under" as our latest forum buddy stated on another thread. Obviously he never drove one as I find most people with negative views of the GTO haven't. Usually, any one who has driven one really likes them. I think the new age goats are just now finally getting the credit they deserve as I find as the years pass, more and more people are interested in them and generally like them.

275s on the front?? Very nicely done! I loved the look of my 18s, but was always bummed at the 8" width, and opted to go after market and staggered for more tire on the rear.

 

[robvas]

Nice color, those cars were great. I had a 04 GTO and a 08 G8, the tire and suspension on those things always bugged me. Too hard to get a big wheel/tire in there and the suspension was so soft from the factory.

 

[Westphal]

Nice color, those cars were great. I had a 04 GTO and a 08 G8, the tire and suspension on those things always bugged me. Too hard to get a big wheel/tire in there and the suspension was so soft from the factory.

Thanks! The coilovers really transformed the suspension, as I had the original struts up front and shocks in back, only replacing the rear springs right after I bought it because of spring sag. I've replaced just about every other bushing, front control arms, end links, 1-piece driveshaft, LS3 heads (milled down) and intake, and JBA shorty headers, catted mid-pipes, and exhaust.

 

[Tripower]

Nice color, those cars were great. I had a 04 GTO and a 08 G8, the tire and suspension on those things always bugged me. Too hard to get a big wheel/tire in there and the suspension was so soft from the factory.

Funny as I mirrored you +1 year on both models - I have an 05 GTO and had a 09 G8 GT.

 

[Westphal]

Funny as I mirrored you +1 year on both models - I have an 05 GTO and had a 09 G8 GT.

I just realized that you're tripower on the LS1GTO forum!

 

[Tripower]

I just realized that you're tripower on the LS1GTO forum!

One and the same! Your handle was easy to connect when I first saw one of your posts here mentioning a GTO as I recalled seeing you on the GTO forum. Small world, and we both have excellent taste in vehicles...

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