hi,
I have a mariah wide body on a first gen body. Aeshetically the largest wheel that fits
stock seems to be a 16 inch rim with a standard look. I have seen a 17 inch set up
but it takes a special taste to appreciate, imho.
Recently I spent a lot of time at the local auto show and was amazed at the amount of super cars with 20 and 22 inch rims, that were 16 to 18 inch rims on their predecessors.

Has anyone cut out a fender on the first gen to try to fit at least an 18 in rim with a standard spacing around it?

This seems to be the minimum rim size for a multitude of modern up to date rims.
Why? Access to new rims and a way to bring the fb up to modern looks. I love old cars but one look at the modern super cars does leave one in awe at the updated look that has followed them into this day, from their beginnings with only minor body changes.

I am not worried about bolt pattern, wheel rim size fitment is my first first concern. We can add power and modern suspension to these cars, how about a modern rim?

Thanks, nothing hurt by wondering....

 

My personal opinion. The FB itself is farrrrrr to small of a car to fit those kinds of wheels under the fender without making it look like a matchbox, not to mention the fact that it would raise the ride height and likely ruin an already temperamental suspension setup making it look like a miniature donk. I love the look of older mustangs, camaros and such with new style wheels in larger sizes that compliment the original fenders and wheel wells but I could never see that happening on the FB.

 

I've seen pics of 19's on an FB. To put it simply it looked stupid. Way too big. Even 17's are pushing it if you don't tuck them with the ride height right. 17's for show, 15's or smaller for go.

 

17s look fine depending on which ones you get, and there are a good selection of 17" wheels. I certainly wouldn't go any bigger.

 

17's are pushing the limit with our cars. there are great selections of wheels in 15's and 16's. Personally I like 16's they got a good cross in the sizes of styles. For this car I got 15x8's in the front and 16x10's in the rear and will be using the mariah as well. I dont have pics as it is in storage and the parts in another state while I am 6000 miles from either.

 

thats an idea.
I have the gsl-se 4 x4.5 bolt pattern
The wider wheels have been a problem finding.
Will cutting the fiberglass fenders help the wheels to look better?
I have access to so many 18 in rims and tires it is sic.
My buddy runs a high end dismantling yard - ferrari, porsche, custom
Free tires and wheels, but barely any 17in rims left, let alone 16in rims.
The idea of free tires and changing rims at will is tantalizing....

Even the 17in with the mariah make it look like it is on stilts, a bit!!

 

the 15" wheels on a mariah look like poop imho. in order to make it pop you need 16-17 in the rear. the front 15-16 fill out fine. You won't need to cut into your mariah fenders to fit them. the problems lie elsewhere. there is just so much room in there and it will raise the height of the car and your suspension geometry will be jacked up. Unless you plan on running lowpro's with those 17's I would stay away. I have however seen a stock exterior FB (but tubbed) with 18's and it didn't look too bad. on the cheap this will be hard to do. you gotta look at offsets and spacers. backspacing is 4.5" all around and you need to accommodate that. 17's+ will also make it harder to get full turn ability as it will rub on the inside.

 

thanks for the reply
I agree - my car is a custom job - it came with 15 x 6 and was sad.
I drove an acura nsx with 19in and it rubbed horribly - not for me
the staggered wheel size is interesting.
I hear some guys run 8" wide tires all around on the mariah for racing and do well
with tire rotations and such.
It seems we need 7 or bigger on the front and 9 or bigger on back.
I could space/adapt the wheels to take new porsche rims and get an unlimited supply
of rims tee hee
Low profile tires seem to ease the transition by reducing the ride height.
maybe this is the key....
We put the re speed rack and pinion on it and racing beat suspension.
The re-speed big brake kit will change the lug pattern to five lug
and any investment in adapters/spacers that gets me a free supply of tires and wheels
pays for itself.
Breaking up a wheel acquisition to get 17 and 16 in a full set is still a pain as the styles
don't carry over but it could open up options.
more thought.

 

15's is the biggest I'd go, that's just me.

 

I run 15X9 front, 15X10 rear on my widebody. The 245/50/15 tires in the rear throw the speedo off 11-13%. Imho, 16" is the limit. Even then one needs to go with a very low profile to keep the speedo, C of g and ride height within reason.