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I have been running 15x9 Weld Draglites for years with 295 tires, and they fit fine, no rubbing at all. They do pinch the tire a slight bit, so I started looking at maybe replacing the wheel with something wider. The Welds had a flat mounting pad, so I was forced to run a 1 1/4 inch wheel adaptor to clear the caliper, and with the 5 1/2 inch backset of the Welds it worked well.
The plan will be to eliminate the adaptor and get wheels that actually fit over the brakes, and hopefully not rub anything. I called Centerline, and they told me I could get any offset I want in the wheel I'm interested in.
My thinking is that 4 1/2 inches backset is about the max I can go, and with a 10 wide rim will put my 295 just outside the fender lip by maybe 1/4 inch. The only problem I have, and why I posted,...I don't have the actual wheel to try, and once the tire is mounted.....I own it. From what I understand, when you mount a tire on a wider rim, the section width grows.....this added to the deeper offset may end up being too much tire too far in, causing tire contact with undesirable things.
So,...If you are running 15 x 10 rims on the rear, what offset worked for you, and what tire size are you running? No flares, no cutting of frame, just a bolt on.
I'm thinking of using some 10s with 5.5 backspace. I have a 1/2" spacer outboard to clear the calipers. Using 15 " Weld Prostars. I'm thinking that will work with the Global West control arms in my situation. I'm hanging out to see what responses you get MoneyPit.
I thought 5.5 inch backspace worked on these cars as long as trailing arm is right. For 10 inch wheels and a 295 tire, you definitely need to maximize backspace.
Tonight I crawled under the car and rechecked a few key areas...Not looking good for 10 inch wide rims. Inboard I have approximately 1/2 inch clearance between the end of the spring, the frame rail near the T arm pivot, and gooseneck frame area about twelve o'clock on the tire. I also rechecked the fender lip to the current nine inch wheel lip, and I have approximately 1/4 inch with the nine inch Welds. Means if I go out to a 10 inch wheel, it'll stick out like a high school kids jacked up Nova, and if I took a chance, the best I could bring it inboard would be maybe 1/4 inch,...and that's pushing it.
Right now the 295 55 15 drag radials sidewall sticks out maybe 1/2 inch, and the tread is all under the fender. Looks like that is the limit to me.
If I can get rims made with 4 3/4 inch backset, in theory the wheel centerline would be exactly the same as what I now have, but the inner rim bead would be hitting my spring end.......and considering the tire section width would increase about 1/2 inch,....1/4 inch each side,...that's too close for comfort.
I shortenend my spring 1" to use a 4-1/2" back space. I believe this would get me the ability to use a 5" back space. I would have to cut the excess length of th spring bolts. They would be pretty close @ 5" back space. Emergency brake cable brackets have been removed too
I am running VB&P offset T arms now, and the 360 lbs composite spring.
If I order the wheels I'm thinking about, it'll be Feb before I see them, and so I really need to figure out weather they'll fit, and what I might need to get done to make them fit.
Can the spring be shortened easily, or do I need to order one made shorter? I do plan to keep the rear sway bar too,....and right now it's got about 1/2 inch clearance to the tire.
Check my math. Right now the 9 inch Welds are 5 1/2 backset, but I have 1 1/4 inch wheel adaptors. To me, that is a 4 1/4 inch effective backset, and it does clear everything fine. If I get 15x10 rims with 4 1/2 inch backset, and eliminate the wheel adaptor,..my new backset will be 1/4 inch closer to suspension/frame than it is now. The outer rim bead will be 3/4 inch further out than my 9 inch rim is now. Last night I measured the fender lip to rim bead to be 1/4 inch, where the rim is inside the lip....with the new rim, I'm thinking it'll be 1/2 inch outside the fender. If my thinking is right,..that moves the whole tire only 1/4 inch out further than it is now.
Too tired to check your math! I also have the VB&P composite spring. I cut just 1 end off, dressed the cut edge smooth, coated the spring end and newly drilled hole with fiberglass resin Then I reinstalled the metal "plate" end cap and re-centered the spring. I want to say I cut approx. 1-1/4" off the length.Almost to longer to describe than it to perform the work.
Originally Posted by The Money Pit
I am running VB&P offset T arms now, and the 360 lbs composite spring.
If I order the wheels I'm thinking about, it'll be Feb before I see them, and so I really need to figure out weather they'll fit, and what I might need to get done to make them fit.
Can the spring be shortened easily, or do I need to order one made shorter? I do plan to keep the rear sway bar too,....and right now it's got about 1/2 inch clearance to the tire.
Check my math. Right now the 9 inch Welds are 5 1/2 backset, but I have 1 1/4 inch wheel adaptors. To me, that is a 4 1/4 inch effective backset, and it does clear everything fine. If I get 15x10 rims with 4 1/2 inch backset, and eliminate the wheel adaptor,..my new backset will be 1/4 inch closer to suspension/frame than it is now. The outer rim bead will be 3/4 inch further out than my 9 inch rim is now. Last night I measured the fender lip to rim bead to be 1/4 inch, where the rim is inside the lip....with the new rim, I'm thinking it'll be 1/2 inch outside the fender. If my thinking is right,..that moves the whole tire only 1/4 inch out further than it is now.
I have Cut my VB&P Springs before. The first thing I do is to Cut the Corner off the ends. By what You are describing this is probably all You will need to do.
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Do you want to stay with 15" wheels ? We are in 2016 now
Seriously if you are going to spend some coin go with 17-19 in. wheels. I have 18's on the back and 17's on the front and you can get ultra high performance tires with this combo.
15in. performance rims and tires have gone by the wayside, you should consider the bigger rims lots of choice in rims and tire.
BTW I like your new paint job, nothing is better than Dark Red Claret in my books
Yes the 15 inch wheels are staying. And after a great deal or research, rechecking my measurements, and pure frustration,....the 15 inchers are staying. At 9 inches wide the rim bead is actually 1/4 inch outside the fender and with the 295 55 15 drag radial, the sidewall is 1 1/4 inch out.
Theses tires stick like Gorilla glue, and the traction is the reason I got them. With regular street tires I was overpowering the tire in second , after the shift. I thought it was a dangerous situation, and so went with R2 compound drag radials. Problem solved.
In researching my options, and seeing all the 18 inch rims hovering around 9 or 9 1/2 inches, I decided the cost verses the tread width gain was not worth it. plus the fact I personally don't like the big wheel rubber band tire look......Just my opinion.
Thank's Wayne. I have always liked the dark claret color, and thought my frost beige with the doeskin interior was kind of bland. It pops now, and I am glad I did it. BTW I did end up getting the AFR 210 Eliminators heads.....still sitting on the bench for now. Got the honey do list happening right now.
Last edited by The Money Pit; Nov 5, 2016 at 08:59 PM.
Big back tires...What offset do you run?
