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I'm going to buy a set of drag radials and need to get wheels/tires that will fit on both my '78 C3 and my '79 Camaro. I have offset trailing arms.
The following sizes fit on my '79 Z28:
15x8 4.5" BS with 275/50R15
15x10 5.5" BS with 295/50R15
I think the 15x10 5.5" BS wont fit at all on the C3, right? At least without a shortened spring? Will the 15x8 4.5" BS fit a C3 with offset arms?
Thanks
Simple look at you current C3 79 factory wheels 15x8 4" BS add 1/2" and you will see what it might hit ? Factory arms will hit the parking brake assembly.
a stock 1979 rim has -3mm offset , so a 15x8 has a BS of 4.4" the rim itself will measure approximately 9" (usually close to 9 1/16" ) wide across the outside of the rim.
Bfit
a stock 1979 rim has -3mm offset , so a 15x8 has a BS of 4.4" the rim itself will measure approximately 9" (usually close to 9 1/16" ) wide across the outside of the rim.
Bfit
This is not a 1979 YJ8 alum wheel which is -12mm offset. 4" backspace.
but if this info is correct for the steel wheel then measure the current wheel clearances to the suspension to see how much room you have .
I am running 15x9 Weld Draglites on my 80 vette and have been for two decades. The 295 50 15 street tires cleared fine running 4 1/4 inch effective back space with stock length spring. The wheels have 5 1/2 inch backset, but because of the brake caliper, and the fact the wheels were not available in custom back space, I ran 1 1/4 inch wheel adaptor to accomplish this.
If you select a wheel with a deep enough back space, then wheel adaptors or spacers will allow interchange between both your cars.
FWIW
The reason I switched to drag radials was traction. The street tires were worthless under heavy throttle, and so I now run 295 55 15 MT drag radial on the same wheels. I have since installed a shortened spring and thinner wheel adaptors, so now have an effective back set of 4 3/4 inches,....tires just barely stick out past the fender and they stick like glue.
I took this pic today showing how the tires just barely stick out past the fenders now.
Last edited by The Money Pit; May 30, 2019 at 05:17 PM.
Wheel backspacing question...
