rymanrph
Well-Known Member
I'm planning on taking the car to the tire shop on Saturday so I'm curious to see what they say.
Here is what I found. The wheels on the front right now are actually 15x6 with 3.375 back spacing. The rear are 15x9 with most likely 6.5 backspacing. I'm guessing on the back spacing by looking at what's available to purchase new (yes I know I could take the wheel off and measure, but I just haven't had a chance).
I went to Discount Tire today to get their input. He didn't actually measure anything except the wheels I already had and then made some recommendations. With that said, I thought I would post his recommendations and see what the consensus is here.
For the front, he recommended a 17x7 with a bs of 3-3.5" with a 225/45/17. I can get a TTII in a 17x7 with 3.5" bs.
For the rear, he recommended a 18x8 with a bs of 3.5-4" with a 275/40/18. I can get a TTII in a 18x8 with 3.75" bs.
Thoughts? The guy seemed to know what he was talking about, but since he didn't actually put a measuring stick to the car, I'm a little hesitant. If I order what they recommend and they don't fit, they'll have to take them back and get me the right size, but I don't want to go through that hassle if I don't have to.
Wow. Those won't even come close to fitting. Not even close.
Each increase in diameter allows you to clear more. 15" is limited by UCA, 16" is limited by the UBJ, 17" is limited by the OTR. 18" definitely clears the OTR... I was test fitting 18" today on the front with 6.5" backspacing.
What your tire "expert" does not realize is that diameter makes a huge difference on the wheel clearance to the suspension on the front. 15" wheel is limited to 4.5", 16" is limited to 5.0", 17" is limited to about 5.5", and 18" is limited to when the tire hits the frame at full lock. Each increase in diameter allows you to clear more. 15" is limited by UCA, 16" is limited by the UBJ, 17" is limited by the OTR. 18" definitely clears the OTR... I was test fitting 18" today on the front with 6.5" backspacing.
The tire on there now is a 295/50/15 and there is no distance between it and what it would hit. It already rubs on the tub and the fender lip (more so on the tub).
Summit lists the wheel at -12mm and the Center Line website says 14 lbs (whatever that means).
So, if I want to match the placement of the current wheel (15x10 5" bs with 1/2" offset) with the narrower 18x9.5, then the 5.25 backspacing with 0 offset would be correct - right?
Get the 5" backspace 18x9.5. With the 275 it may work anyway. If not, you can run a small spacer, up to .25" without any issues, to get the clearance you need. If you get the 4.5" backspace and it rubs on the quarters, there's nothing you can do about it.
I'd like for it to sit just a little lower than that in the rear. Lower than mosleyme's car in the above pictures (mine has Mopar competition springs that I'd like to swap out).