Widest wheel with offset trailing arms?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,050
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From: Fairport NY
Widest wheel with offset trailing arms?
What is the the widest 17" rear wheel & tire combination that I can put on my vette with offset trailing arms and keeping the tires within the fenders? Also, what wheel offset will work? info with pics would help. Thanks, Rod
Last edited by Red73; Aug 17, 2004 at 02:32 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Allen TX
I'm running 285/40-17s with 9.5" wide wheels and 4.75" BS w/ my offset TAs. 5" would have been very close to the frame and the VBP 'glass spring. Some guys run this with no problems. I'm glad I did it the way I did, though. 
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Rod - 5 inch BS is the most, with OS TA's You also have to have Smart Struts or the equivolent so you have minimal camber changes with the verticle travel of your tires.
The older pictures from Wyoming on my CF home page are 285/40/17s although. I was using 6.5 bs with two inch adapters 4.5 bs equiv
The tire diameter is googd for filling the wheel well. I even kept my sets of 1/2 tread Goodyear Eagle F1 Steel Z-rated
The older pictures from Wyoming on my CF home page are 285/40/17s although. I was using 6.5 bs with two inch adapters 4.5 bs equiv
The tire diameter is googd for filling the wheel well. I even kept my sets of 1/2 tread Goodyear Eagle F1 Steel Z-rated
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,050
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From: Fairport NY
George, I'm running smart struts. I'm concerned with hitting the spring, does it need to be shorter or cut back with 4.5" or 5" backspacing? Does the sway bar need to be removed? Rod
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Rod. I never had a problem and I have steel springs. Measure your distance to your present side wall & rim. I'll measure mine later and post my space with EQ. 4.5 and 315/35 tires. They do have a side wall bulge that brings them inboard. 
I never bought OF T.Arms long ago because when they arrived and I had my car on the rack at a shop I couldn't see what I was really gaining. So I sent them back and bought the HD trailing arms with new spindles........
I never bought OF T.Arms long ago because when they arrived and I had my car on the rack at a shop I couldn't see what I was really gaining. So I sent them back and bought the HD trailing arms with new spindles........
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I just went out and looked I have an inch or so. Because Centerline rims are not that tall off the bead of the tire and the spring actually goes inside the rim at the 4 O'clock position.
Got to run I'm Late for a 5:00 pm meeting already!
Got to run I'm Late for a 5:00 pm meeting already!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I ran 5 inch back spacing with offset trailing arms and yes I cut the spring shorter. It came so close with that backspacing that I was afraid side wall flex would cut the tire.
STEEL SPRINGS ARE EASY TO SHORTEN.
I also ran/run 305's with 5 inch backspacing and it clears the frame fine.
This is a shot of 305 tires with 5 inch offset rims but the lower strut rod is disconnected from the center and is handing down supporting the tire and rim, It is pushed out at the top
STEEL SPRINGS ARE EASY TO SHORTEN.
I also ran/run 305's with 5 inch backspacing and it clears the frame fine.
This is a shot of 305 tires with 5 inch offset rims but the lower strut rod is disconnected from the center and is handing down supporting the tire and rim, It is pushed out at the top
Last edited by norvalwilhelm; Aug 17, 2004 at 08:44 PM.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,050
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From: Fairport NY
Anyone know how this guy was able to fit 315/35 17s? What size wheel and what back spacing did he use? Did he modify his suspension to accommodate his wheel tire combination?
http://www.vetteweb.com/features/vet_0311_badness/
http://www.vetteweb.com/features/vet_0311_badness/
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Rod, I think that this says it all
quote from the article link you posted.
The suspension was kept stock; staying with the F41 suspension components seemed like the right thing to do, but Kurt did mount the rear suspension using offset trailing arms. With the increased backspacing this combination had to offer, Sikora was able to keep the 315/35R17s Kumhos wrapped around 17-inch Billet Specilities Streamline wheels tucked neatly in the fenderwells. But all this would be for naught if the frame tied itself into a knot thanks to all that torque. To keep this from happening, Kurt boxed in and encapsulated the side rails from the door to the rear wheel.
I have seen IRS Vettes that have been tubbed. The limitation for stuffing big tires under a vette is the wheel well frame rails. This Kurt guy boxed in his own frame rails towards the car center line.
Norval has 15 inch wheels 17 or larger diameter the spring rides inside of the wheel.
quote from the article link you posted.
The suspension was kept stock; staying with the F41 suspension components seemed like the right thing to do, but Kurt did mount the rear suspension using offset trailing arms. With the increased backspacing this combination had to offer, Sikora was able to keep the 315/35R17s Kumhos wrapped around 17-inch Billet Specilities Streamline wheels tucked neatly in the fenderwells. But all this would be for naught if the frame tied itself into a knot thanks to all that torque. To keep this from happening, Kurt boxed in and encapsulated the side rails from the door to the rear wheel.
I have seen IRS Vettes that have been tubbed. The limitation for stuffing big tires under a vette is the wheel well frame rails. This Kurt guy boxed in his own frame rails towards the car center line.
Norval has 15 inch wheels 17 or larger diameter the spring rides inside of the wheel.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Where it says from the door. That includes the trailing arm front pivot point. So he could have even moved them inboard and inch or two each.
IMO - Don't waste your money on 17's The price of 18's isn't that much more.
IMO - Don't waste your money on 17's The price of 18's isn't that much more.
