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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
no you can not in a 15 inch size. the 68 came stock with 7 inch rims and the rim of the wheel on a stock 8x 3.75 backspace wheel almost hits the parking brake bracket on the outside of the trailing arm with less than an 1/8th inch gap. To get a deeper wheel on there you have cut that bracket off and put it on the top of the trailing arm. If you run a 17 or 18 inch wheel you can run a 4 inch deep wheel easily as the rim is located in a different space. the trailing arm is the same as other years as far as I know. The wider the tire the more likely the fat part of the tire will rub the arm or the spring and bolt, and but you dont have a fender flare like later years so stuffing a really wide tire under there is an issue as well. Measure well
no you can not in a 15 inch size. the 68 came stock with 7 inch rims and the rim of the wheel on a stock 8x 3.75 backspace wheel almost hits the parking brake bracket on the outside of the trailing arm with less than an 1/8th inch gap. To get a deeper wheel on there you have cut that bracket off and put it on the top of the trailing arm. If you run a 17 or 18 inch wheel you can run a 4 inch deep wheel easily as the rim is located in a different space. the trailing arm is the same as other years as far as I know. The wider the tire the more likely the fat part of the tire will rub the arm or the spring and bolt, and but you dont have a fender flare like later years so stuffing a really wide tire under there is an issue as well. Measure well
OK I've been wrestling with a wheel/tire combo for my 68 {stock trailing arms] for some time now. My hopes are to get 17" by 7"wide Ridler 695's (5 X 4 3/4) with 4" backspace on all four corners. Tires will be 235/55 R17 Nitto's.
Am I safe with that combination? Best I can figure it will be OK or at worse I'll need a 1/2" spacer. Feedback from the experts PLEASE!
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
If you live near a small wheel shop go in and have them either use one of those fancy wheel measuring jigs or just grab a display rim with those specs and see where the spring and trailing arm sit....also consider a 18x7, 17x8 and 18x8.
The 17 x 7 with 4.75 back will be close because its a 7 but you are correct with considering a spacer...
I refer less back space because i like the traditional deep dish look.
Personally i would go with less
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
I fogot to add that pushing a front tire out to far will cause fender rub, too far in you will hit the frame....stock 8 inch rims get tire to frame rub in the front
If you live near a small wheel shop go in and have them either use one of those fancy wheel measuring jigs or just grab a display rim with those specs and see where the spring and trailing arm sit....also consider a 18x7, 17x8 and 18x8.
The 17 x 7 with 4.75 back will be close because its a 7 but you are correct with considering a spacer...
I refer less back space because i like the traditional deep dish look.
Personally i would go with less
Unfortunately or in my opinion fortunately, I live in a town of about 900 people. Closest wheel shop is ~2 hour drive.
These are 15x8" wheels with 4.5" backspace. They fit my 79 with 255/60R15 tires, an option for later C3s, but certainly a YMMV for earlier ones.
Not an endorsement, but they did fit, mostly. They rubbed on turns, and the parking brake cable was REALLY close. I switched to proper 15x8" YJ8s with 4" backspace (and the same tires).
If you find you need to space them out, 1/2" is too short for an adapter. I wouldn't run a spacer without upgrading the studs, and make sure it is hub/wheel centric if you do. In fact, if you are buying new wheels, and not YJ8 or N90 wheels, consider jumping to 18". Anything less has very limited tire selection.
