454ss vs Sport Wheels

[awright99]

Anybody know the definite answer to the 454ss/Sport wheel width debate? I know for a fact the sport wheels are 7in wide, I have a set.
I’ve heard guys say the 454ss wheels are 8in wide; I’ve also heard they are both 7in wide and people have been measuring them wrong (lip to lip instead of bead to bead).
I also know the 454 came with 275/60R15 BFGs OEM, kind of hard to believe they would stuff those on a 7in rim from the factory. Although, that may be the case since they were known to have premature center wear on the rear tires.

 

[someotherguy]

Time to time the argument comes up about 15x7 or 15x8 on those wheels. I'm about 99% certain they are 15x7 and that 15x8's were not offered. They're simply chromed versions of a painted wheel.

From the 1990 Chevrolet truck information kit, under the "Wheels and Tires" heading, bottom of the chart shows the 275/60/15 coming on a 15x7 wheel.

A few pages further down in that section there's "C/K/Sierra Optional Wheels" .... drum roll, please

You must be registered for see images attach

Looks like they're all 15x7. "Sport" package, 454SS, and ZQ8 "Sport suspension" package.

Richard

 

[awright99]

Time to time the argument comes up about 15x7 or 15x8 on those wheels. I'm about 99% certain they are 15x7 and that 15x8's were not offered. They're simply chromed versions of a painted wheel.

From the 1990 Chevrolet truck information kit, under the "Wheels and Tires" heading, bottom of the chart shows the 275/60/15 coming on a 15x7 wheel.

A few pages further down in that section there's "C/K/Sierra Optional Wheels" .... drum roll, please

You must be registered for see images attach

Looks like they're all 15x7. "Sport" package, 454SS, and ZQ8 "Sport suspension" package.

Richard

This is what I figured.
I just put 275/60 Cooper Cobras on my sport rims a couple days ago and they look just like they do on the 454, very happy with the results. They seem to handle quite well also, despite being well over most tire manufacturers “recommend size” for 15x7s. I believe they recommend 235mm as the max width to still be considered “safe”, LOL

Awesome to finally get an educated answer on this. Thank you for the time and effort you put in to finding this out.

Have a good one and keep on truckin’!

 

[fancyTBI]

Not sure where else to post this, but I did find that US Mags sells reproduction SS wheels in a variety of sizes. I wish I could get them with the 8 lug pattern.

OBS 2 Piece Forged

#html-body [data-pb-style=DINSIFS]{justify-content:flex-start;display:flex;flex-direction:column;background-position:left top;background-size:cover;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-attachment:scroll}The US454 OBS is a ...

www.us-mags.com

 

[89obsSB]

I have the OE SS wheels on my 97. I’ve never seen them oversized. Personally I think they look terrible oversized. But to each their own.

 

[fancyTBI]

I have the OE SS wheels on my 97. I’ve never seen them oversized. Personally I think they look terrible oversized. But to each their own.

Yes the ones on the truck I posted are a bit large for me. I’d take a set in 18”.

 

[89obsSB]

Yes the ones on the truck I posted are a bit large for me. I’d take a set in 18”.

I’d have to see the different sizes actually on a 400. Those on that truck looked at least 22” if not larger

 

[awright99]

I have the OE SS wheels on my 97. I’ve never seen them oversized. Personally I think they look terrible oversized. But to each their own.

I agree, not a fan of low-pros on these trucks. Old school, fat and meaty is the way to go. Unless you’re on Torq Thrust wheels, my only exception.

Although those wheels would be nice in a smaller diameter, if you ignore the price! xD

 

[someotherguy]

This is what I figured.
I just put 275/60 Cooper Cobras on my sport rims a couple days ago and they look just like they do on the 454, very happy with the results. They seem to handle quite well also, despite being well over most tire manufacturers “recommend size” for 15x7s. I believe they recommend 235mm as the max width to still be considered “safe”, LOL

Awesome to finally get an educated answer on this. Thank you for the time and effort you put in to finding this out.

Have a good one and keep on truckin’!

No worries.. it's a subject I've wondered about and it does come up so I just went digging through the GM Heritage Center stuff for the official info.

275/60's do look good on those wheels but yeah, they are a bit wide and bulge-y. That tire size is really perfect for an 8" wheel so it's a shame the original wheels weren't offered that way.

Richard

 

[someotherguy]

Not sure where else to post this, but I did find that US Mags sells reproduction SS wheels in a variety of sizes. I wish I could get them with the 8 lug pattern.

OBS 2 Piece Forged

#html-body [data-pb-style=DINSIFS]{justify-content:flex-start;display:flex;flex-direction:column;background-position:left top;background-size:cover;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-attachment:scroll}The US454 OBS is a ...

www.us-mags.com

Pretty cool! Not a repro but I'd say more like an "inspired by" .. only available in a range of sizes from 17" to 22", not the original 15", and not steel - those are 2 piece forged aluminum wheels. They're actually priced pretty fairly in terms of forged, for example a set of 4 20x9 are $1433, 22x9 are $1673. That's cheaper than the old Centerlines, which were around $2K a set for 22's.

Richard