Hi Everybody,

I know there are a ton of wheel & tire posts on the site, but I haven't been able to find an answer for my specific situation.

I have a 69 with stock 15x8 rims. I'm running BFG 255 60 r15 on the rear and 235 60 r15 on the front with no clearance issues.

So I went to the AR website and searched for rims based upon the year, make & model of my car...and filtered for 15 x 8...and the search yielded VN5155863 as the size that would work (http://www.americanracing.com/wheels/VN105/VN5151/techsheet?diameter=15&width=8&backspacin g=4.5&bolt_pattern=5x120.70&year=1969&ma ke=Chevrolet&model=Corvette).

However, based upon the back spacing (4.25") and offset (0mm), I'm not sure that the rims will work with my car and tires without having clearance issues or needing the use of spacers or adapters which I don't want to have to use.

I don't like the 17" rims and prefer the old school look of the 15" wheels (15x8 if possible, rather than 15x7).

So, here is the question for any of you early C3 owners that have AR TT IIs...what size wheel (size, width, back spacing, offset) and tire size are you running with no clearance issues and without use of spacers and/or adapters?
Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions.
Al

 

Al,

Hopefully some more experienced guys will chime in, but Ive recently been researching almost the same topic. What I've essentially settled on is the American Racing Torque Thrust D....apparently the D is for "Disc Brake" and is the only Torque Thrust style 15" wheel that will clear the fat calipers on the C3. Im leaning towards the 15x8.5 with 3.75 inch backspacing and running 235/60/15s in front and 255/60/15s in the rear. Ive found a couple of people running similar set ups. This is the thread I started a few weeks ago....hopefully its somewhat helpful. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html

Good Luck!

 

Thank you, FlyNavy...appreciate the feedback and suggestion. Didn't realize that about the "D" significance for disc brakes.

 

neither did I....someone else pointed it out in my original thread

 

There's no D version of TTII's. They have a different casting than TTD's, that should work. Many people run the TTII's in all sorts of sizes, somebody will chime in. It's one of the more common wheels to see on C3's these days.

My dad runs 15x10 TTII's on his '70, but I can't remember if it needs any spacer at all, and you didn't ask about 10's so it really is kind of irrelevant anyway. Enough guys run them in smaller widths that should be able to answer with full confidence. A quick search at Summit shows 15x8's with backspacings of 4.0" and 3.875" available.

In your original post you said you searched 4.5" backspace, stock is 4.0" so the 4.5" BS wheels will tuck in an additional 0.5" in the fenders, and you loose 1" of track width.

 

You want the custom offset two piece wheels.

Mine are 18x8 using a 255/45-18 tire. Fits just like the stock wheels when ordered with a 4.5" backspace.

http://www.wheelsforless.com/America...m_Hot_Rod.html

 

Hi Everyone,

Firstly, thanks to everyone who took the time to respond with recommendations...very much appreciated.

Ok...well, I finally got the straight skinny on the exact part number that I'm looking for and wanted to share the details with other members on the board whom it may help.

Many thanks to a wheel specialist (Billy) at a company called All Custom Wheels.

For an AR Torq Thrust II 15 x 8 wheel for a 1969 Corvette, the specific (and correct) part number is VN5155861. Here are the specifics:

Size: 15x8
Bolt Pattern: 5x4.75
Offset: -18mm
Backspace: 3.79"
Hub Bore: 83.06mm

This particular wheel will not have any clearance issues with the suspension or e-brake braket on a 69 Corvette.

I'm currently running on 255 60 r15s in the back and 235 60 r15s in the front with stock ralley rims and was assured that I won't run into any clearance issues with these particular wheels (VN5155861).

I hope this information helps those of you who have been looking for 15" AR TT IIs for your shark.

Regards,

Al

 

You sure got that correct. That's a 1/4" more outward then stock.
On a 235 tire you should be OK but with a 255 I bet you would rub on the fender at close to full lock.