295 tires
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 839
Likes: 0
From: Lewiston, Maine
Forum member Gordonm has 5.5" of backspacing with the stock rear trailing arms. This is what he wrote to me when I asked him about his setup:
"That should work. It is tight on the rear wheel but I have no rubbing at all. The clearance with the rim is about 1/2 inch but since that will not flex there will be no problem. Running a 275 40 18 rear tire there is not much sidewall flex. You running a 315 35 size tire will not have to worry about tire flex either. That will look really good with all that rubber back there
"
He relocated the parking brake bracket to make it work. Stock wheels run 4" of backspacing, and usually the factory gives 1" clearance, so 5" of backspacing will work fine.
The reason why I am ecstatic to hear that 5.5" of backspacing will fit with the stock trailing arms is because I want to buy 11" wide wheels. Since stock wheels are 8" wide with zero offset, I want to keep the rear wheels (and thus the weight of the car) aligned exactly as the factory had intended, but add 1.5" on both the outside and inside of the wheels.
"That should work. It is tight on the rear wheel but I have no rubbing at all. The clearance with the rim is about 1/2 inch but since that will not flex there will be no problem. Running a 275 40 18 rear tire there is not much sidewall flex. You running a 315 35 size tire will not have to worry about tire flex either. That will look really good with all that rubber back there
"He relocated the parking brake bracket to make it work. Stock wheels run 4" of backspacing, and usually the factory gives 1" clearance, so 5" of backspacing will work fine.
The reason why I am ecstatic to hear that 5.5" of backspacing will fit with the stock trailing arms is because I want to buy 11" wide wheels. Since stock wheels are 8" wide with zero offset, I want to keep the rear wheels (and thus the weight of the car) aligned exactly as the factory had intended, but add 1.5" on both the outside and inside of the wheels.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Originally Posted by chevymans 77
295/18X10.5 back, 275/17X9.5 front stock T/A with parking brake bracket moved to top of T/A
More pics in "My corvette photos"
Neal
More pics in "My corvette photos"
Neal
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Originally Posted by chevymans 77
Yep had to move it to the top, It would have cleared a 19" wheels. My brackets were on the outside of the T/A.
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: wharton tx
Originally Posted by 81cali
All your pics are wayyyy cool, i believe that's the way to go with a corvette.......meaty rears.
i am about to take my 383 stroker and tunnel ram out of my s10 and put it in my 4spd vette,my rims are 15x8 1/2 with 4" bspace and 15x3 1/2 runners in front
here are some pics
Last edited by garay77n84; Aug 20, 2006 at 11:26 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 10
From: Big Pine Key FL
275/50VR15's on the front with 15x8x3
325/50VR15's on the back with 15x11x4 & Stock Trailing arms, Ebrake cables moved to the top and a Guldstrand shorter rear spring and longer spring bolts...
325/50VR15's on the back with 15x11x4 & Stock Trailing arms, Ebrake cables moved to the top and a Guldstrand shorter rear spring and longer spring bolts...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
I guess the bottom line is:
1) 295-50-15s fit the stock 8" wide rims but need to be spaced out 1" to clear trailing arm and spring (for safety)
2) 325-50-50-15 (or 295-50-15) also fit a 8.5" or 10" rim but it will stick out past the fender and you'll have to 'adjust' the body (fender) to cover the meat.....
3) wider is better
1) 295-50-15s fit the stock 8" wide rims but need to be spaced out 1" to clear trailing arm and spring (for safety)
2) 325-50-50-15 (or 295-50-15) also fit a 8.5" or 10" rim but it will stick out past the fender and you'll have to 'adjust' the body (fender) to cover the meat.....
3) wider is better
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: High Desert California
I came across a set of centerline convo rims on ebay, they're 15/9 with 3 3/4 (I think) backspace. My worry is, that they might stick out the fender which I definitely don't want........ Maybe I'll just stick with my stock rims and slap a pair of 295s.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: High Desert California
Thanks 69, I've had it for 6 years and acquired it from an old lady whose husband passed away. 1972 XR7 convertible with only 30,000 original miles.........can't beat that. To add more, she gave it to me for $1K.
