Saabs on Steelies

[cjhutch]

I wanted to know if anyone had pictures of their Saab on painted steelies instead of the just black color. Also what's the largest size that Saab steelies come in? I ask because I'm buying myself an E30 pretty soon for a nice fun car to toss around and a guy I know has one on 17" BMW steelies and it looks great. I went searching a little and noticed it's pretty popular with the VW crowd also and they look nice on some of the older models. I was thinking of grabbing myself a set for the 9-3 and having them powdercoated silver and wrap some slightly lower profile tires around them.

This car was his motivation. He has the same model, but his is Alpine white and he had the lips powdercoated white. It sounds strange and they are rarely ever clean, but it looks great when the car is all cleaned up.

[ACBarnett]

Originally Posted by cjhutch

I wanted to know if anyone had pictures of their Saab on painted steelies instead of the just black color. Also what's the largest size that Saab steelies come in? I ask because I'm buying myself an E30 pretty soon for a nice fun car to toss around and a guy I know has one on 17" BMW steelies and it looks great. I went searching a little and noticed it's pretty popular with the VW crowd also and they look nice on some of the older models. I was thinking of grabbing myself a set for the 9-3 and having them powdercoated silver and wrap some slightly lower profile tires around them.

This car was his motivation. He has the same model, but his is Alpine white and he had the lips powdercoated white. It sounds strange and they are rarely ever clean, but it looks great when the car is all cleaned up.

That is an extremely dirty thirty that you have there, me rike it arot

I keep my 9-5 on 16" steels painted silver during the winter, they look OK when all salted up but they're pretty sweet looking when they're clean. It's definitely a distinctive look, I just wish that they had a bit more dish to them.

[cjhutch]

That's not my car. That's sort of where my friend got the idea to put steelies on his. I will hopefully be going to pick mine up in a couple of weeks. Got a make a flight to Texas and we are going to drive it back. Mine is an 90 and it's red and already has some nice suspension goodies on it. I'm probably going to go with a set of vintage BBS wheels with mine and a nice drop. Maybe a second set of wheels also. BMW is where I started and I remember going to my first day of school in my dad's brand new 89 5 series. I learned how to drive a stick in a 87 318i and at 24 I've already had an E36 and E46 M3. I don't really like the newer models except for the 335i and quite honestly they are too expensive for my budget right now. So I'm going with an E30 that I know I will thoroughly enjoy.

[toxicavenger]

I use to run big steelies on my S4 and my Vw's. But for the Saab the biggest I have seen are 16 inches. I did contact diamondracingwheels.com who built my last ones but they didn't seem interested at all. I wanted some 17 inch steelies for the wagon!

[boon94]

hmm not my cup of tea. I'd prefer regular alloys painted black.

[ACBarnett]

Originally Posted by cjhutch

That's not my car. That's sort of where my friend got the idea to put steelies on his. I will hopefully be going to pick mine up in a couple of weeks. Got a make a flight to Texas and we are going to drive it back. Mine is an 90 and it's red and already has some nice suspension goodies on it. I'm probably going to go with a set of vintage BBS wheels with mine and a nice drop. Maybe a second set of wheels also. BMW is where I started and I remember going to my first day of school in my dad's brand new 89 5 series. I learned how to drive a stick in a 87 318i and at 24 I've already had an E36 and E46 M3. I don't really like the newer models except for the 335i and quite honestly they are too expensive for my budget right now. So I'm going with an E30 that I know I will thoroughly enjoy.

A couple other rims to consider are Kosei K1's which are dirt cheap and as light as anything short of superleggeras or TE37's (plus they look like 6-spoke hirsch wheels). My friend also had these Porsche rims (or something like them) on his 30 for a while

and they actually looked really nice, with just the right amount of poke for the car

Back to steels, I have a couple photos of some really well done Volvos on big steels and I'll try to dig them up.

[DanF.]

The wheels are grey, but its a horrible picture, and they are covered in salt/grime.

[DavidMorgan]

Originally Posted by DanF.

The wheels are grey, but its a horrible picture, and they are covered in salt/grime.

You are right .. it is a horrible photo
But for the next winter I intend to buy a set of Continental tyres and am hesitating as to which wheels I'll buy. I don't want to waste cash on super wheels that might hit the curb and only be there for 12 weeks. So, could be steel but if steel ... not for looks.

[cjhutch]

Originally Posted by ACBarnett

A couple other rims to consider are Kosei K1's which are dirt cheap and as light as anything short of superleggeras or TE37's (plus they look like 6-spoke hirsch wheels). My friend also had these Porsche rims (or something like them) on his 30 for a while

and they actually looked really nice, with just the right amount of poke for the car

Back to steels, I have a couple photos of some really well done Volvos on big steels and I'll try to dig them up.

Yeah, I guess I should have said those steelies required a 5 lug swap because the E30 has a 4x100 bolt pattern. Those Porsche wheels would require the same swap along with adapters. I don't have the money for 5 lug swap right now so I'm going to stick with the stock pattern for now. The worst part is I haven't taken delivery on the car yet and I've already purchased a new front lip, upgraded steering rack, two sets of wheels, and an exhaust. Luckily all these things came really cheap due to good ole craigslist.

[TooMany2cvs]

Where's Emmett?



16" Cit C5, IIRC.

[DavidMorgan]

Originally Posted by TooMany2cvs

Where's Emmett?


16" Cit C5, IIRC.

Sorry, are you saying that these Citroen wheels will fit my car?
From what I can read the C5 wheels have 4 bolts... I suppose that is OK for the 900 ..

[comtrang]

That BMW looks sick..

I'm actually looking for a set of steelies myself for my Saab, to mount some drag radials. I don't think I'd consider rolling around on them all the time, though (steelies, not drag radials) because I don't think the look quite matches my car's 'roundness'.

Anyway, I think Nick T told me before that you can get a set of steelies for HHR/Cobalt SS/Sky/Solstice for $75; those cars all run our 5x110 pattern. I could have misunderstood him but try it out. Give the dealer a call and see what they say.

[cjhutch]

I'm really trying to find some in the 17" range that will sit our cars. I've found 16", but I wouldn't be able to pull off the look I'm going for. I'm trying to find some info on the Saturn Sky or Pontiac Solstice. Those cars are RWD, so the only other thing to look for would be the correct offset.

Scratch the Sky/Solstice idea. They don't have spares.

[Dave 37]

Originally Posted by cjhutch

I wanted to know if anyone had pictures of their Saab on painted steelies instead of the just black color.

In the early 1980's until perhaps 1987, the base 900 in the US had steel wheels painted silver. The base 900 in the late 1980's had hubcaps and black steel wheels. Someone must have a photo. I have one in a box somewhere.

[Wulf]

Originally Posted by Dave 37

In the early 1980's until perhaps 1987, the base 900 in the US had steel wheels painted silver. The base 900 in the late 1980's had hubcaps and black steel wheels. Someone must have a photo. I have one in a box somewhere.

This is a brochure from 1980.
http://saabmedia.net/models/900/broc...1028-full.html

[SaabKen]

Not related to steelies, but thought I'd share this with those who don't know the TS site. Swade put this together recently, makes for a useful visual reference guide for OG9-3/NG9-3 and 9-5s:

http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2009/01/saab-wheels-a-wonderful-world.html

[TooMany2cvs]

Originally Posted by Dave 37

In the early 1980's until perhaps 1987, the base 900 in the US had steel wheels painted silver. The base 900 in the late 1980's had hubcaps and black steel wheels. Someone must have a photo. I have one in a box somewhere.

How about a brand spankin' 9-3 'vert - on steels & tupperware hubcaps. Fresh from Saab's Swedish website...

[SaabKen]

Originally Posted by TooMany2cvs

How about a brand spankin' 9-3 'vert - on steels & tupperware hubcaps. Fresh from Saab's Swedish website...

My eyes ....... my eyes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DavidMorgan]

Originally Posted by SaabKen

My eyes ....... my eyes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whatever, for my taste, this car is superbe. So what if the wheels are steel, it is probable that by weight they are stronger .. and a yellow convertible, I love it.

[SaabKen]

Originally Posted by DavidMorgan

Whatever, for my taste, this car is superbe. So what if the wheels are steel, it is probable that by weight they are stronger .. and a yellow convertible, I love it.

Not the steelies I don't like, but those plastic hubcaps.

I say "potato", you say "pomme de terre"