another wheel and tire question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Rockford IL
another wheel and tire question
I have a 72 corvette with off set trailing arms. I'm looking to get a set of 15x10 torque thrust II's. Question is on the back spacing. I have fiberglass spring on the back that I have lowered with the extra long spring bolts to keep the car level. The tires on it now are 26" diameter. I'm looking to put some 28" tall tires on the TT II's so I would have to raise the spring to get the car up for the 28" tires. Would that be enough to clear the rims if I went with a 5" or 5.25" backspacing ? Any help would be appreciated!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: another wheel and tire question (sventy2)
Even with offset trailing arms I feel 5 inch backspacing is too much. If the trailing arms don't hit the frame does. You can start with 5 inch offset and a few wheel spacers 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch and 3 inch 1/2 studs and custom fit the wheels to the frame. It varies side to side. I had 5 inch backspacing and had to use a few wheel spacers plus work the frame a little just above the trailing arm mounting point.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
Re: another wheel and tire question (norvalwilhelm)
Every wheel manufacture makes the wheels a bit differently it seems. The Weld Draglites on my 80 have a flat mounting surface and because of that I needed to order 15x9's with 5 1/2" backspace,then use 1 1/4" wheel adaptors to mount them for a near perfect fit with the P295 50's on the rear. The back space measurement in the catalogs doesn't take into concideration the Vettes caliper. Good luck shopping for rims! :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: another wheel and tire question (The Money Pit)
My centerlines Auto drags have 5 inch backspacing but I built my own axles last winter and extened the wheel's out an extra 1/2 inch per side or like running 4.5 inches backspacing with a stock setup and mine are dished for caliper clearance. My tires are pushed all the way in to the frame rails.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Rockford IL
Re: another wheel and tire question (norvalwilhelm)
How wide are your Auto Drag wheels ? So it sounds like 4.5" back spacing is the way to go. I think I'm leaning more towards the Weld Pro Stars 15x10 with 4.5" back spacing. Do you think this will be too wide for the stock wheel wells ? They are not flared out and I dont want them sticking out too farfrom the body of the car.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,080
Likes: 565
From: Allen TX
Re: another wheel and tire question (sventy2)
I just ordered some new wheels today, and based on all the info I got from this helpful forum :D, and elsewhere here's what I got.
9.5" wide in the rear with 4.75" BS. I've seen 4.75" BS on cars and this does not have interference with the frame (but they weren't running a 305mm wide tire like Norval, either). I am going to offset trailing arms, and will probably have to remove my rear sway bar as well.
Tires will be 285/40-17s. As narrow as the sidewalls are on these the section width is not going to be nearly as much as Norval's 305s, so I believe I am going to be safe with 4.75" BS.
On a 10" wheel if you don't run at least this much BS, then you will be sticking out some. I know Money Pit has some 9" wide wheels on his and his effective BS (given the wheels BS + an adapter he is using) is ~4.5-4.75".
A 10" wide wheel really needs more BS to tuck up under there at all.
However, if you get a wheel/tire combo like Norval's then I think it will look cool. :)
[Modified by WA 2 FST, 6:32 PM 12/5/2002]
9.5" wide in the rear with 4.75" BS. I've seen 4.75" BS on cars and this does not have interference with the frame (but they weren't running a 305mm wide tire like Norval, either). I am going to offset trailing arms, and will probably have to remove my rear sway bar as well.
Tires will be 285/40-17s. As narrow as the sidewalls are on these the section width is not going to be nearly as much as Norval's 305s, so I believe I am going to be safe with 4.75" BS.
On a 10" wheel if you don't run at least this much BS, then you will be sticking out some. I know Money Pit has some 9" wide wheels on his and his effective BS (given the wheels BS + an adapter he is using) is ~4.5-4.75".
A 10" wide wheel really needs more BS to tuck up under there at all.
However, if you get a wheel/tire combo like Norval's then I think it will look cool. :)
[Modified by WA 2 FST, 6:32 PM 12/5/2002]
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: another wheel and tire question (sventy2)
My Auto Drags are 8.5 inch wide with effective 4.5 inches backspacing but clear the calipers fine. My wheel well is full with the 305 tires but I did have 315's on for a while and they also fit although the inner frame rail just above the trailing arm mounting point dd get scuffed.
10 inch rims would push the tire even more outside the body.
This is another shot of the 305's but the upper and lower struts are disconnected and so is the 1/2 shafts so the camber is out at the top more then normal. I have a 6 link.
10 inch rims would push the tire even more outside the body.
This is another shot of the 305's but the upper and lower struts are disconnected and so is the 1/2 shafts so the camber is out at the top more then normal. I have a 6 link.
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