C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Backspacing issues?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 6, 2011 | 07:44 PM
  #1  
dmeesq's Avatar
dmeesq
Thread Starter
Drifting
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 169
From: Westampton New Jersey
Default Backspacing issues?

I am looking at 18" rims, 9" wide with a 5.25" backspace for the rear. Is there any issues with this size? Tires will probably be 285/45/18

My main concern is there any issue with the 5.25" backspacing?


Fronts im looking at 245/45/18 8" wide 4.5 backspacing

Foose Legend

Reply
Old Jan 6, 2011 | 08:35 PM
  #2  
LB66383's Avatar
LB66383
Drifting
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 28
From: Long Beach CA
Default

I'm no expert on wheel selection, but that sounds like a lot of backspacing. i'd guess you'd have problems with the trailing arms unless you have offset TAs. Then there's the parking brake cable, and maybe interference with the frame itself. I'd find a shop that would do some measuring and maybe even trial fit a wheel/tire before committing.

I'm sure some C3 experts will comment.
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2011 | 08:51 PM
  #3  
Rebelrob's Avatar
Rebelrob
Drifting
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 14
From: Dallas-Fort Worth TX
Default

dmeesq, I responded to yer ? under the general thread.
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2011 | 01:05 AM
  #4  
Ben Lurkin's Avatar
Ben Lurkin
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,557
Likes: 9
From: Oquirrh Mountains
St. Jude Donor '09
Default

I just bought a set of TT2's for mine. 17 x 8" up front and 17 x 9-1/2" w/5" back space on the rears. On my '72, this size will fit very nicely on the rear. I have a VB&P dual mount rear spring (not shortened) and sway bar and the rim clears them by about 1/2". I will have to relocate the parking brake cable to the top of my trailing arm, but I was anticipating that. I'm planning on 285/40 tires on the rear and 255/45 on the front. This setup is just about as large a tire as I can go and still have it tucked in the fender well.

I have 265/50-15's on the car now.

Here's a cell phone pic of the rim on the rear:

[/QUOTE]
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2011 | 09:13 AM
  #5  
blckslvr79's Avatar
blckslvr79
Drifting
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Schererville IN
Default

Originally Posted by Ben Lurkin
I just bought a set of TT2's for mine. 17 x 8" up front and 17 x 9-1/2" w/5" back space on the rears. On my '72, this size will fit very nicely on the rear. I have a VB&P dual mount rear spring (not shortened) and sway bar and the rim clears them by about 1/2". I will have to relocate the parking brake cable to the top of my trailing arm, but I was anticipating that. I'm planning on 285/40 tires on the rear and 255/45 on the front. This setup is just about as large a tire as I can go and still have it tucked in the fender well.

I have 265/50-15's on the car now.

Here's a cell phone pic of the rim on the rear:

[/QUOTE]

Your half inch clearance may disappear with the mounting of your tires. Sidewalls will stick out 1/2"-1".
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2011 | 10:21 AM
  #6  
Rebelrob's Avatar
Rebelrob
Drifting
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 14
From: Dallas-Fort Worth TX
Default

Ben, its not quite accurate to check clearance with the car on a jackstand and the suspension not compressed. The space/clearance might actually increase a tad once you put it back on the ground and roll the IRS out. You should not have any problems though.
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2011 | 07:45 AM
  #7  
blackbeauty74's Avatar
blackbeauty74
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: greenville sc
Default

I bought those same foose legends about 3 weels ago. My car is in the body shop. I took one of the wheels to the shop yesterday to do a test fit. It seems like the are going to fit but the ebrake bracket will need to be moved to the top of the trailing arm. I cant say much on the swaybar because mines has already been removed. I dont have tires mounted either.
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2011 | 11:39 AM
  #8  
Ben Lurkin's Avatar
Ben Lurkin
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,557
Likes: 9
From: Oquirrh Mountains
St. Jude Donor '09
Default

Your half inch clearance may disappear with the mounting of your tires. Sidewalls will stick out 1/2"-1".[/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by Rebelrob
Ben, its not quite accurate to check clearance with the car on a jackstand and the suspension not compressed. The space/clearance might actually increase a tad once you put it back on the ground and roll the IRS out. You should not have any problems though.
Yes, you are both right & I realize that (I owned 1/2 a Goodyear franchise for four years). Having said that, I did take careful measurements prior to ordering these. The 285/40-17's I'm planning on should just fit.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Backspacing issues?

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:46 AM.

story-0
10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: 10 Corvettes to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:31:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

Slideshow: Corvette and Porsche 911, how two icons conquered the last 25 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:18:33


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-4
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-7
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE