Rear Wheel Width
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Rear Wheel Width
I know there's a million threads on this already, and the more I read, the more i get confused....
Anyone that has already done this with a similar setup, please chime in with a definite answer if possible:
1978 with offset trailing arms, NO rear sway bar, and a shortened (cut) rear fiberglass leaf spring;
What is the widest wheel I can get on there. I have no problem going to a 16" or 17" wheel if necessary. I do not want to go outside the fenders more than the stock setup and would rather put all the extra tire and wheel on the inside.
Is it possible to get a 9" or 9.5" wide wheel on there without sticking out past the fenders??? Has anyone actually gone wider in the wheels at the rear without sticking out past the fenders? If so, how wide can we go ?
Anyone that has already done this with a similar setup, please chime in with a definite answer if possible:
1978 with offset trailing arms, NO rear sway bar, and a shortened (cut) rear fiberglass leaf spring;
What is the widest wheel I can get on there. I have no problem going to a 16" or 17" wheel if necessary. I do not want to go outside the fenders more than the stock setup and would rather put all the extra tire and wheel on the inside.
Is it possible to get a 9" or 9.5" wide wheel on there without sticking out past the fenders??? Has anyone actually gone wider in the wheels at the rear without sticking out past the fenders? If so, how wide can we go ?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 297
Likes: 3
Rear wheel size
On my 1980 C-3, I have on the front and rear 17"x9" wheels with 5" backspacing. I have offset trailing arms and trimmed rear spring ends and also run a custom made rear sway bar. This setup fits and puts the outside of the rim at the original spot in regards to the fender lip. In other words, because of the 5" backspace, instead of the factory 4", the extra 1" of wheel width goes toward the inner. I think if I had a choice on the backspacing, 4.5" would be even better on a 9" wide wheel because of less tire bulge on the lower profile tire that I run. My tire size front and rear is 275-40-17. This tire has about 1/2" less sidewall bulge than the original tires that were 255-60-15. Hope this helps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Woodland California
These are SLP wheels and Kumo 245/45/17 tires They are 9 1/2 inches wide.
I need to get a picture where the front wheels are straight.
245/50/17's are 1/2 taller and perhaps that is the way I should of went, but I do like this setup.
Ralph
I need to get a picture where the front wheels are straight.
245/50/17's are 1/2 taller and perhaps that is the way I should of went, but I do like this setup.
Ralph
Last edited by Ralphbf; Jul 25, 2012 at 03:13 AM.
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Thanks for the help guys! I'm in "negotiations" with Tru-spoke to have some wheels built for me. But obviously, before I spend the small fortune it will cost, I want to make sure they fit with the most tire/wheel I can squueze in there on the inside. I'm gonna have them send me some demo wheels to test-fit in a few sizes before they build anything. I'm leaning toward the 17 x 9 with 5" backspace....with the right tire, I can put an additional 1" of rubber in contact with the road as compared to the stock 255/60/15 size.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
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From: Woodland California
Thanks for the help guys! I'm in "negotiations" with Tru-spoke to have some wheels built for me. But obviously, before I spend the small fortune it will cost, I want to make sure they fit with the most tire/wheel I can squueze in there on the inside. I'm gonna have them send me some demo wheels to test-fit in a few sizes before they build anything. I'm leaning toward the 17 x 9 with 5" backspace....with the right tire, I can put an additional 1" of rubber in contact with the road as compared to the stock 255/60/15 size.
Ralph
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Ralph,
I'm a little concerned about going larger than 15" diameter on the wheels as it is...the larger the diameter, the longer the spokes, and in my opinion, the more liklihood for structural integrity problems under load (snapping/bending) spokes. I'm running a motor with 585 ft./lbs. torque, so I need all the strength I can get and probably shouldn't be running spokes at all anyway. That being said, 15" wheels do not offer too many tire choices, and they only build these wheels with 8" or 10" width on 15" diameters. When you move up to 17" wheels, they build them with 8, 9, or 9.5" wheels which will offer more tire options at that 17" diameter.
I'm a little concerned about going larger than 15" diameter on the wheels as it is...the larger the diameter, the longer the spokes, and in my opinion, the more liklihood for structural integrity problems under load (snapping/bending) spokes. I'm running a motor with 585 ft./lbs. torque, so I need all the strength I can get and probably shouldn't be running spokes at all anyway. That being said, 15" wheels do not offer too many tire choices, and they only build these wheels with 8" or 10" width on 15" diameters. When you move up to 17" wheels, they build them with 8, 9, or 9.5" wheels which will offer more tire options at that 17" diameter.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Woodland California
Ralph,
I'm a little concerned about going larger than 15" diameter on the wheels as it is...the larger the diameter, the longer the spokes, and in my opinion, the more liklihood for structural integrity problems under load (snapping/bending) spokes. I'm running a motor with 585 ft./lbs. torque, so I need all the strength I can get and probably shouldn't be running spokes at all anyway. That being said, 15" wheels do not offer too many tire choices, and they only build these wheels with 8" or 10" width on 15" diameters. When you move up to 17" wheels, they build them with 8, 9, or 9.5" wheels which will offer more tire options at that 17" diameter.
I'm a little concerned about going larger than 15" diameter on the wheels as it is...the larger the diameter, the longer the spokes, and in my opinion, the more liklihood for structural integrity problems under load (snapping/bending) spokes. I'm running a motor with 585 ft./lbs. torque, so I need all the strength I can get and probably shouldn't be running spokes at all anyway. That being said, 15" wheels do not offer too many tire choices, and they only build these wheels with 8" or 10" width on 15" diameters. When you move up to 17" wheels, they build them with 8, 9, or 9.5" wheels which will offer more tire options at that 17" diameter.
You can not get real good 15" tires, okay the Avon's but that's about it.
The 18" wheels have more clearance around the disk brakes and Accesories.
Ralph
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: NYC NY
with Ralph. Strengh is not an issue. There are lots of street rods running around with 20" and larger Tru-spokes (many of them powder coated too
). I have to believe if strengh was an issue they would not be building them that big. If you tell them what you want and what car they are for I doubt they would build and market a wheel that was not up to the task. As far as the 18s go they do offer more clearence. There are several cars on this forum running 18x10s with 5.5" of backspace and I have seen as wide as a 285/40 work.
