Thread: Wheel backspace question
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03-30-2006 03:07 PM #2
This is similar to asking "what woman would I get along with?"
Think about it. The clearance between the tire and your body is determined by (1) axle width, (2) tire size and profile, (3) wheel width, and (4) wheel backspacing. Also, the location of the body components (and frame rails) relative to the wheel flange affect your clearance. For most cars, the axle mounting method affects the side to side movement of the system. I know of famous cars that allowed the car to hit the body when the car accelerated.
The backspacing determines how close the tire sidewall comes to the rear inner fender (or body), etc. Each setup is different.....
you must measure your car. If you have front fenders, the same applies to the fronts. Open front wheels are a little more forgiving but still need consdieration to look correct. One of the best ways is to mount your exact tires on a wheel (that is the width you are going to use) and install it. Then, you can measure how far in or out you need to move the backspacing to achieve the correct clearance.
There is a nifty gauge to measure this but it costs something like $350. http://autowaretech.com/mountmate/pricing.html
Dont use measurements from someone else's car....you might have a set of new wheels that wont fit!!!!Last edited by robot; 03-30-2006 at 03:12 PM.
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