Tires and wheel question.

[QUOTE='64 Cuda]I went out & did some SERIOUS measuring this afternoon. These are corrections for the earlier posts on this thread. My Rocket brand 14 x 7" wheel has 4 3/8" back spacing. The tire on it has a 9 13/16" section width, not counting the raised lettering on the side.

I spoke to Howard Cook at Newstalgia Wheel & he said a custom offset would add about $50 to the cost of a wheel.

It looks like I have about 1 1/4", maybe a little more, between the outside of the tire & the inner fenderwell. The Cragar 7" wheels have a backspacing of 4 1/8" & the 8" wheels have a backspacing of 4 1/4". When compared to the wheel & tire combo that I have now, this means that using the 7" wheels would move the tire 1/4" toward the outside of the car & the 8" wheels would move the entire tire 1 1/8" toward the outside of the car. This means the 8" wheel would allow me to run nearly an inch more section width & still fit it in the fender. If this is right, the 8" wheels would be perfect. \\:D/

Here's the question. DOES MY MATH LOOK RIGHT? AM I THINKING CORRECTLY HERE? I just don't want to commit to new wheels & then find that I screwed up in my reasoning. :cussing: I'd appreciate it if people would let me know if I've messed up here.

I'd also like opinions on whether you guys would run 6" or 7" in front. Thanks!

:burnout:

I rethought this while sitting in my car waiting to pick up my kids from school. Of course, my original thinking was off. The section width of the tire, & how much the side of the tire extends past the rim, is the determining factor. The 8" wheel with the 4 1/4" backspacing would only allow for about 1/4" more sectionwidth than the wheel I have. I could actually fit nearly 1/4" more section width on the 7" wheel than the 8" wheel because of the clearance between the rear spring & the tire. To really go with a signifigantly wider tire I would still have to change the back spacing of the wheels.

So, now the question is, what backspacing on an 8" wheel would allow the widest tire to fit in the wheelwell?[/QUOTE]

ARRRGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! This gets frustrating. Forget the part I said about how I rethought everything. I was right the first time.


MoparLee, What size tires do you have on the back of your car? With that diameter, do you think the tires would fit up inside the wheelwell farther without hitting on the body as it curves in toward the underside of the car in front? I really want to stuff as much as I can in mine. Hate to buy the wrong thing. Thanks!