Ultra Wheels
If you're looking for something completely different for your Chevy, follow the lead of the sport truck crowd and check out the offerings from Ultra Wheels. Ultra specializes in unique, flashy designs like the Ballistic (Type 127). This distinctive five-spoke design is sure to garner attention when its brightly plated spokes shoot facets of light everywhere as you roll down the road. Ultra Wheels: 6300 Valley View Ave., Dept. SC, Buena Park, CA 90620; (888) 321-4456; www.ultrawheel.com.
Weld Wheels
Weld's forged Draglite and Pro Star wheels have been standards on the strip and street for years, but a lot of folks don't realize that Weld has a much wider variety of wheels available. For example, Weld's VR- and ZR- lines of billet wheels offer contemporary designs while retaining the strength of forged aluminum centers and heat treating. We used the VR-16 Split-Six design on our Silver Streak Camaro, but we also like the VR-24 Twister and ZR-140 EuroSpoke. Weld Wheel Industries: 933 Mulberry St., Dept. SC, Kansas City, MO 64101; (816) 421-8040; www.weldracing.com.
Wheel Vintiques
The good ol' Chevrolet rally wheel will never go out of style, but Wheel Vintiques has taken the liberty of making it available in 16- and 17-inch diameters so you can give your car a traditional look with modern low-profile rubber. Wheel Vintiques also offers a variety of other factory-style wheels (like the SS-style five spokes) as well as the California Smoothie, which is a unique, vintage-looking hot rod wheel available in 14- and 15-inch sizes. Wheel Vintiques: 5468 Lamona Ave., Dept. SC, Fresno, CA 93727; (559) 251-6957.
Tires
BFGoodrich
The BFGoodrich Radial T/A set the standard for street machine radials and spawned a long line of performance offspring. The current flagship ultra-high-performance version is the g-Force T/A KDW, which uses technology from BFG's Trans-Am racing tires. The silica-reinforced tread compound grips in wet or dry conditions, while sidewall inserts provide lateral firmness. In addition, BFG's "ETEC" system maximizes tread contact while providing a smooth ride. The g-Force is available in a variety of 17- and 18-inch sizes. And for the straight-line crowd, BFG still offers its popular street-legal Comp T/A Drag Radial. BFGoodrich: One Parkway South, Dept. SC, Greenville, SC 29602; (877) BFG-TIRE; www.bfgoodrichtires.com.
Coker Tire
Coker Tire is well known for its wide selection of tires for vintage classics and musclecars, and the Coker Classic redline radial continues the tradition. It combines the classic performance look of redline tires with the superior handling and driveability of radial construction. Redline radials are available in 14- and 15-inch sizes. And for you fat-tire fans, Coker now carries three tire designs in the Pro-Trac tire line, with cross-sectional widths ranging from 9.7- to 20.7-inches. Of course, Coker still carries a full line of vintage bias-ply tires, too. Coker Tire Company: 1317 Chestnut St., Dept. SC, Chattanooga, TN 37402; (800) 251-6336; www.coker.com.
Dunlop
Dunlop is one of many long-standing names in the tire industry, and the company is keeping up with current high-performance trends with the SP Sport 9000 radial. This tire's traction system features a silica-reinforced tread compound to enhance wet traction and braking grip, and internal Jointless Nylon Band overlays to provide even distribution of contact pressures and reduced growth at high speeds. All this, plus tread patterns designed to reduce noise, and a wide range of 15- to 20-inch sizes. Dunlop Tire: 200 Audubon Pkwy., Dept. SC, Amherst, NY 14228; (716) 639-5307; www.dunloptire.com.