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17" & 18" Wheels

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Old 12-11-2018, 12:43 PM
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davidbii
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Default 17" & 18" Wheels

I know this has been hashed out many times on the board, and I've been researching it like crazy, but I can't find a definitive answer...

I've got a stock suspension 1973 Big Block Car. I'm looking at Team 3 LTIII wheels 18x8 (or 17x8) with 4" backspacing (245/45ZR/18 or equivalent 17") for the front and 18x10 with 5.5" (285/40ZR/18). Has anybody done this exact wheel combination? I'm looking to see what exact specs you ordered so I can do the same...Let me know what you got
Old 12-11-2018, 01:21 PM
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OldCarBum
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I've got a stock suspension 1973 Big Block Car and I purchased a set of Team 3 LTIII wheels 17x8 with 4" backspacing for all four corners.
I don't have tires mounted or have them on the car yet, but here are a couple of photos I took when I fit checked the wheels.



Rear Fender

Front Fender

Last edited by OldCarBum; 12-11-2018 at 01:23 PM.
Old 12-11-2018, 01:33 PM
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davidbii
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I saw this:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1593021626

Front 17x8'' (backspace 4''), rear 18x9.5'' (backspace 5.25''). Tires front 245/45 R17, rear 265/45 R18.

Those look way sweet!
Old 12-11-2018, 01:40 PM
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davidbii
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Looks like a 285 40 R 18 is identical in size to the 255 60r 15s that I am running now...so that's good...the 265s above are nearly the same...just .4" taller...

For the front a 255/50ZR17 is the same size...

Last edited by davidbii; 12-11-2018 at 01:44 PM.
Old 12-11-2018, 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by davidbii
I saw this:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1593021626

Front 17x8'' (backspace 4''), rear 18x9.5'' (backspace 5.25''). Tires front 245/45 R17, rear 265/45 R18.

Those look way sweet!
Tire and wheel sizes alone won't tell you what if any suspension mods were done or if the owner had to add wheel spacers to help with clearance issues.
I'll be running 2"offset trailing arms and could easily go to a 10" wide wheel with 5" backspacing, but without the offset trailing arms there would be clearance issues.
Do plenty of research before you purchase wheels you see in a thread without knowing all the details and what it took to make those specific wheels fit.
Old 12-11-2018, 02:27 PM
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davidbii
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Yeah, that's the process...I see that @Dustup7T2 put 18x9.5 with 5.5" Backspacing rubbed inside a bit on the rears, so I am wondering if I did 5.25" or even 5" may be better for the 18x10 or 18x9.5's
Old 12-11-2018, 04:04 PM
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jpattt24
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18x9.5 4-3/4 back spacing. no mods at all.

Last edited by jpattt24; 12-11-2018 at 04:06 PM.
Old 12-11-2018, 04:05 PM
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Originally Posted by jpattt24
18x9.5 9-3/4 back spacing. no mods at all.
Clarify that backspacing...
Old 12-11-2018, 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by davidbii
Clarify that backspacing...
4 3/4 I fixed post. thanks
Old 12-11-2018, 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by jpattt24
4 3/4 I fixed post. thanks
Thanks! What size tire, and how far do they stick out of the fenders on the rear?
Old 12-11-2018, 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted by davidbii
Thanks! What size tire, and how far do they stick out of the fenders on the rear?
front 17x8 4" back space.. tire 245-45-17...rear is 18x9.5 4 3/4 back space. tire is 275-40-18 they fit good all around no scrubing no mods at all. I had to custom order the rear rims. front rims are off the shelf. rear tire don't really stick out. not at top of fender lip anyways. just right I think.

Last edited by jpattt24; 12-11-2018 at 04:23 PM.
Old 12-11-2018, 05:31 PM
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Looks good...I think I'm pretty close to pulling the trigger at this point! Thanks!
Old 12-11-2018, 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by jpattt24
front 17x8 4" back space.. tire 245-45-17...rear is 18x9.5 4 3/4 back space. tire is 275-40-18 they fit good all around no scrubing no mods at all. I had to custom order the rear rims. front rims are off the shelf. rear tire don't really stick out. not at top of fender lip anyways. just right I think.
pat, is that full travel of the wheels into the wells on the rear? and what spring rate are you running?

Last edited by naramlee; 12-11-2018 at 06:28 PM.
Old 12-11-2018, 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by naramlee
pat, is that full travel of the wheels into the wells on the rear? and what spring rate are you running?
stock spring rate. not sure on full travel. I never had anything bottom out or hit in 6000 miles
Old 12-11-2018, 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by jpattt24
stock spring rate. not sure on full travel. I never had anything bottom out or hit in 6000 miles
interesting... I have some billet specialty wheels sitting around not doing anything with very close numbers to that BS and OS
Old 12-12-2018, 03:24 AM
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terrys6t8roadster
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My 69 has 18x10 on the back with 5.0 back space, also have 2" offset trailing arms. T
Old 12-13-2018, 09:12 PM
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I'm putting 18x11 on my flared 68 with 4.00" backspace, will probably add a 0.25" spacer to the rear and the rubber is 295-40-18

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Old 12-13-2018, 11:51 PM
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Originally Posted by davidbii
Yeah, that's the process...I see that @Dustup7T2 put 18x9.5 with 5.5" Backspacing rubbed inside a bit on the rears, so I am wondering if I did 5.25" or even 5" may be better for the 18x10 or 18x9.5's
I got same wheels except 5.0 bs on 9.5" wheels like Dustup, mine do not rub, his do rub every so often. We both have 285 rear tire.
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Old 12-14-2018, 08:14 AM
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jpattt24
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Originally Posted by Rebelrob
I got same wheels except 5.0 bs on 9.5" wheels like Dustup, mine do not rub, his do rub every so often. We both have 285 rear tire.
that's why I went with a 9.5 rim and 4 3/4 back space. if I had 5" back space I would have rubbing and I wanted a direct bolt on no mods. well I did have to bend the e-brake cable a little bit.
Old 12-18-2018, 02:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Rebelrob
I got same wheels except 5.0 bs on 9.5" wheels like Dustup, mine do not rub, his do rub every so often. We both have 285 rear tire.
and you have stock trailing arms?


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