 | "Wrong wheels." With those two words we'll easily dismiss a motorcar'southward potential for a feature in the magazine. Perhaps information technology's not just the await that'southward wrong--could be correct wheels, wrong fit. Tires hangin' exterior the fenders. Too much room between the rubber and the sheetmetal. Tread so wide you lot can't steer. Meats that are just apparently besides dinky. Ugly, ugly, wrong, ugly. Don't let this happen to y'all. The bike-and-tire combo is ane of the biggest styling statements you can make with your motorcar, simply unmeant on the fitment tin can wreck whatsoever combo. It's an expensive fault, besides, since few companies will take back wheels or tires one time they've been mounted. Tough as it seems, you take to option the right safety the first time. Our all-time advice on that score is to borrow some wheels from a friend and try before you buy. Even if the loaner rollers aren't the correct fit, you can use the photo captions in this story to assistance make up one's mind the perfect
setup. Here's another plus: We plant out that Weld Wheels has put a lot of effort into finding the perfect wheel sizes and backspacing to fit the biggest tires possible for a number of applications. The visitor exam-fit real-world musclecars with rims from 15 to 20 inches in diameter with varying tires and supplied united states with a sampling of the information for the cars most likely to be owned by Car Craft readers. We decided to print Weld's findings for rims up to xviii inches in bore. Anything bigger is pretty extreme for a street automobile. Earlier we become into Weld'south specific recommendations, at that place are a few caveats. Starting time, the backspacing data will not be authentic if you've either narrowed or widened your rearend, or if you've altered the brake system in a manner that will bear on the vehicle'southward rail width. Some aftermarket disc-brake hats are thicker than stock by every bit much as half an inch; also, swaps that involve unlike-than-stock spindles or control arms may move the wheel-mounting flange inboard or outboard from the manufactory location. Weld tested each fitment for clearance at total jounce and rebound, so the tire/wheel combos mentioned will fit lowered cars every bit long as the location of the manufacturing plant bumpstops has not been altered. You may run across clearance problems if your steering stops accept been contradistinct from original. Besides, the older and sloppier your suspension, the more probable y'all'll run into tire-contact problems thanks to excessive trunk roll. Side by side, we noted that Weld seemed to be going for the widest possible tires; in our opinion, it'southward sometimes better to fill the wheelwells with taller tires at the price of slightly skinnier tread width. Finally, know that Weld did all the fit-checking with its own wheels. Weld'due south specs should piece of work with wheels of any make, but it's possible that unlike manufacturers either measure or manufacture wheels just differently enough that there could be trouble. Test-fits were washed with both BFG K-Strength T/AKD tires and Bridgestone Pole Positions; Weld reports that, size for size, the BFGs tend to run a tad larger than the Bridgestones. So, once again, trying it out is your best bet--but this list gives you a very solid place to outset.
1967-1969 Camaros and Firebirds xv-inch: 15x8 with 4-1/ii-inch backspacing front and rear. With some tires the rear shocks volition have to exist mounted inboard; if you practice that, some combinations of 9-inch rear wheels volition work with v-one/2-inch backspacing. 16-inch: 16x8 with 4-ane/2-inch backspacing forepart and rear. The rear shocks will have to be relocated inboard. Use tires with an aspect ratio of l or less with section widths of 245 to 255. 17-inch: 17x9 with 5-one/ii-inch backspacing front and rear. There may be lower-command-arm contact with some steering gears. Apply tires with an attribute ratio of 40 or less and department widths of 245 to 255. 18-inch: 18x9 with 5-1/ii-inch backspacing front and rear. Use tires with an aspect ratio of 35 or less with section widths of 245 to 255 in front and 275 in the rear.
1970-1981 Camaros and Firebirds 15-inch: 15x8 with 4-1/ii-inch back-spacing upward front. Camaros use 15x9 with 5-inch backspacing in the rear; Firebirds can use 15x10 with 51/eight-inch backspacing in the rear. Use tires with an aspect ratio of 55 or less with widths of 255 front, 285 rear. You'll need to remove the outer rear seatbelt anchor/retractor and flatten the bulge in the rear wheelwell with a hammer. 16-inch: Same as for the xv-inch recommendations merely with a tire aspect ratio of 50 or less. In that location may be lower-command-arm contact with some steering gears. 17-inch: 17x91/2 with 6-inch back-spacing up front; you'll demand to modify the steering stops or the lower control arm to preclude contact. Camaros use 17x10 rears, Firebirds apply 17x11, both with half dozen-inch backspacing. As mentioned in the 15-inch recommendations, you'll need to remove the seatbelt retractor and bulge. Apply tires with an aspect ratio of 40 or less with widths of 275 forepart, 295-315 rear. This is a actually tight fit, and so success will vary
car-to-motorcar. 18-inch: Apply the aforementioned recommendations as for the 17-inch rims, simply the tires demand an aspect ratio of 30.
1982-1992 Camaros and Firebirds 15-inch: 15x8 with iv-one/2-inch back-spacing front end and rear. Use tires with an attribute ratio of 55 or less with a department width of 255. 16-inch: 16x8 with 4-one/2-inch back-spacing front, 51/viii backspacing rear. Use tires with an aspect ratio of 55 or less and a section width of 255. 17-inch: 17x9 with 5-1/two-inch back-spacing front and rear. Use tires with an aspect ratio of 40 or less with section widths of 255 front, 275 rear. eighteen-inch: 18x9-1/2 with 5-1/2-inch back-spacing forepart, 18x10 with 6-inch backspacing rear. Use tires with an aspect ratio of 35 or less with section widths of 275 front, 275-295 rear.
1993-2000 Camaros and Firebirds xvi-inch: 16x8 with 6-1/2-inch back-spacing front, 16x9 with 61/2-inch backspacing rear. Use tires with an aspect ratio of 50 or less with a section width of 255 forepart, 275 rear. 17-inch: 17x9 with 6-i/2-inch back-spacing front and rear. Utilize 27540R17 tires. 18-inch: 18x9 with vi-ane/ii-inch back-spacing front, 18x10 with 7-inch backspacing rear. Use tires with an attribute ratio of 35 or less with section widths of 275 front, 295 rear.
1978-1987 GM A- and G-bodies 15- to 18-inch: All rim diameters use viii-inch-wide wheels with iv-1/two-inch dorsum-spacing. Use tires with an aspect ratio of 50 or less with section widths of 245 forepart, 255 rear. Some model/axle combinations volition accept 9-inch-wide rears with 5-1/2-inch backspacing, and then yous need to check first.
1964-1967 GM A-bodies xv- to 18-inch: All rim diameters employ viii-inch-wide wheels with 4-one/2-inch backspacing. Use tires with a 245 section width and aspect rations every bit follows: 15-inch, 60; 16-inch, l; 17-inch, 40; and 18-inch, 35.
1968-1972 GM A-bodies 15-inch: 15x8 with 4-one/2-inch back-spacing front and rear. Apply 255/sixty tires. 16-inch: 16x8 with 4-ane/two-inch back-spacing forepart and rear. Use 255/l tires. 17-inch: 17x91/2-inch with 5-ane/2-inch backspacing forepart, 17x11 with 5-1/2-inch backspacing rear. Use 275/40 front tires and 315/35 rear. This is tight in the rear. 18-inch: Aforementioned as 17-inch.
1994-2000 Mustang 16-inch: 16x8 with 5-1/two-inch backspacing front end and rear. Use 245/55 tires. 17-inch: 17x9 with vi-inch backspacing forepart and rear. Use 255/45 tires. 18-inch: 18x9 with 6-inch backspacing front and rear. Use 255/35 tires.
1979-1993 Mustang 15- to 17-inch: All 15- to 17-inch rim diameters apply 8-inch-wide rims with 5-i/2-inch backspacing and 245/55 tires.
1967-1968 Mustang and Cougar 15-inch: 15x8 with 4-1/2-inch back-spacing and 225/60 tires front and rear for 1967-1968; 1969-1970 can employ 15x9 with 5-1/2-inch backspacing and 235/60 tires in the rear. 16-inch: 16x8 with 4-one/2-inch back-spacing and 225/fifty tires forepart and rear for 1967-1968; 1969-1970 can utilise 16x9 with five-1/2-inch backspacing and 245/50 tires on the rear. 17-inch: 17x8 with 4-1/ii-inch back-spacing and 245/40 tires front and rear for 1967-1968; 1969-1970 can use 17x9 with 5-i/2-inch backspacing and 275/40 tires on the rear. 18-inch: 18x8 with 4-ane/two-inch back-spacing and 245/xl tires front and rear for 1967-1968; 1969-1970 can utilize 18x9 with 5-ane/2-inch backspacing and 265/35 tires on the rear.
1965-1966 Mustang xv- to eighteen-inch: All rim diameters use seven-inch-wide wheels with 41/four-inch backspacing and 225-section-width tires upwards front. Rear wheels are eight-inch with iv-ane/2-inch backspacing and 235-department-width tires in the rear except for 18-inch rear wheels, which can use 245/35 tires. Tire aspect ratios for each rim diameter are as follows: xv-inch, 60; 16-inch, l; 17-inch, 40; 18-inch, 35.
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Backspacing is the distance from a cycle's mounting flange to the uttermost signal inboard on the wheel. Some manufacturers measure from the mounting flange to the bead and non to the piddling lip around the circumference of the rim, merely Weld uses the latter method. Also, brand sure to measure out from the exact point where the wheel volition contact the car, not from any depression that may exist effectually the lug nuts. Deeper backspacing moves the bicycle and tire inboard on the car; shallower moves them outboard.
When measuring the width of a wheel with no tire mounted, measure simply from bead to bead--not the unabridged width. As a rule of thumb, Weld tells usa the dewdrop is commonly a one-half inch from the outer edge of the cycle. That's why this wheel appears to be 61/2 inches wide overall, only from dewdrop-to-dewdrop it's considered a v-1/2-inch-wide bike.
A wheel measurement that's become disquisitional with today'southward performance disc brakes is the mounting-pad depth, or the distance from the wheel'due south mounting flange to the nearest point of contact outboard of the flange. That's where the brake calipers need clearance. Old discs needed something similar five/eight-inch pad depth, but Weld tells us that clearance requirements up to 1 v/8 inches are not uncommon these days.
I of the more critical dimensions that affects tire clearance is the section width of the tire, or the overall width from sidewall to sidewall with the tire mounted on the rim and total of air. To cheque it, lay the tire on its side, place a straightedge across the tire, and measure the altitude from the lesser of the straightedge to the floor.
Here'due south an unusual glitch nosotros've run into: With some combinations of brakes and wheels, the hub may be long plenty to contact the inside of the lug-nut cap on the wheel. Check it out before you buy wheels.
To get an idea of the wheel backspacing to try, hold a straight edge against the cycle-mounting surface of the car, then use a tape measure to check clearance at all points. If you lot're using 15-inch rims, hold the tape measure 71/ii inches from the middle of the hub (one-half the rim bore) to estimate the location of the rim. Don't forget to account for sidewall bulge.
To measure overall height, put the tire against a wall and then it'due south straight up and downwardly, then place a level at the highest betoken and line upwardly the bubbles. The altitude from the bottom of the level to the ground is the true top. Yous'll find that tires get a bit taller when mounted on rims. The BFG Yard-Forcefulness T/AKD is a 275/40ZR17, and it's 253/eight inches tall with a section width of 111/sixteen on a 9-inch-wide rim.
Both these tires are 26x11.l K/T ET Streets. The i on the left is on a 15x10 cycle, and the one on the right is on a 16x8. Annotation that the right-side tire is an inch taller than the other--that'south because yous can't trust the sidewall designation to know the true tiptop of the tire. We've yet to see a tire manufacturer print specs that are the true size of the tire. Secondly, while both these 11.50s have the aforementioned measured tread width, the tire on the x-inch rim has a much greater section width. The wider the rim, the wider the tire will be when mounted.
This photograph and the one above it show two different tires on our Duster; one is a Dunlop P235/60R15 (true tire peak x width, 24-1/2x99/16) on a 15x7 with 4-inch backspacing and the other is an 1000/T 28x7.50-fifteen (really 27-1/4x7-1/vi) on a 15x4 with ii-inch backspacing. Note that the closest contact point to the sheetmetal is at the front of the fender opening when the tire is steering. Both tires have near the same clearance, which tells you this: If you want taller tires, they may need to exist narrower, and if yous want wider tires, you usually have to go shorter to obtain the needed clearance.
With tall tires--especially those purpose-built for drag racing--you often need greater clearance than you would with a low-profile treatment tire because the sidewalls will flex more. These G/T 28x11.l-15 ET Streets (true measurements: 279/16x105/8) on 15x7s fit our Squeegee with about an inch of clearance to the foliage spring and the quarter-console, only the wheel lips need to be folded to prevent rubbing during turns and hard launches.
When measuring for tire fitment, don't overlook potential contact with the tie-rod ends equally shown on our 1967 Impala wearing a 17x9 Weld wheel with 5-1/2-inch backspacing. The solution is either less backspacing (five-inch would work here) or a larger rim diameter that would allow the tie rod to tuck inside the wheel.
Many of Weld's wheel fitments outlined in this story use the widest tires possible on all 4 corners, so the designs are oftentimes low-profile. If your car isn't lowered, tires that are besides curt look bad. Check out the photo of our stock-elevation 1967 Impala--in that location'due south mode too much air around the tire.
Lower the auto 4 inches (three hefty pals on the hood) and it's instant sweet. Filling the wheel opening with rubber is central to a sharp stance.
Weld sent us one of its new 17x9 Draglite XP wheels mounted with a BFG M-Strength 275/40ZR17 (253/8x111/6) to try on our 1970 Chevelle. Information technology fit the front end perfectly, with but light contact at the rear of the upper control arm at full steering lock and full droop, a situation unlikely to occur while driving. Information technology'southward best to cheque-fit with the full weight of the car on the tire. | |
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