I posted this in the tires and wheel section over a week ago with no replies. :(

First, let me give you my 67 chevelles setup.

1. 2 inch drop spindles with Hotchins springs all the way around.

2. 15 x 8 rallies with 4 inch backspacing.

3. 235 60 15 all the way around.

I have some tire rub in front when I have two passengers and also when I hustle the car through a corner. :( Tire rub occurs on the bolt that holds the inner fender to the fender. I would like to elimate that with my new wheels and etc. I would like to run 235 60 15 in front and 255 60 15 in the rear. I would like a wider tire to help in the car hooking up. Rotation is not a factor since it is a weekend warrior.

I have narrowed my choices to the Torq Thrust II and the Cragar SS. I know I have heard about the unilug, but the guy at JEGS tells me it is better. graemlins/angry.gif Also he said you can get the Cragars in 16s now and this wheel does not use the unilug. Tire selection is not good. Anyway this is what he told me.

Cragar

15x7 4 1/8" backspacing
15x8 1 1/4" backspacing

Torq Thrust II

15 x 7 3 3/4" backspacing
15 x 8 3 3/4" backspacing

You can get a "custom backspacing" from American Racing, but the cost is 260 bucks. :eek:

My question is will the Cragers backspacing stop the tire rub.

Aaron,

I have 15-8's on the rear of my '65 with 255/60 tires and with 4.5" backspacing. I only have about 3/8" clearance from the outside of the tire to the fender. However, I don't know if '67's have more tire room in the rear than '65's. The tires don't rub under hard cornering (pretty close though), but I don't see how you can fit 255/60's on 8" rims in the rear with anything less than 4.5" b.s. at normal ride height, with 4.75" b.s. probably being more optimal.

Rod

HotRod65SS

You mean 255 and not 225 correct? I guess the 235 are the limits on a 4 to 4 1/4 backspacing wheel? What brand of wheels are you running? The Torq Thrust II are just way to expensive for the "custom backspacing" at 260 bucks a pop.

Aaron, I originally had 15x8 Rally Wheels with 4-1/2" backspacing and 275/60R15 BFG T/A's on the rear of my 65 Elky with no rubbing issues at all. 4-3/4" would have been a little better as HotRod65SS indicated.

I currently have Fikse Profil 5S 17x9-1/2 with 5-1/2" B.S. and 285/40ZR17's in the rear, 17x8 with 4-3/4" B.S. and 245/45ZR17's in front and they fit perfectly. Fikse builds the wheel based on a fitment data sheet you have to fill out and send them.

I have a 69,so most measurements do not apply the same,but I had 15x8 ralleys with 295/50s with no issues.Feel your pain on the Torque Thrusts though.The lack of available backspacing led me to buy Centerline Convo Pros,which were my second choice.

Aaron, You may end up having to run a 7" rim in the front to gain the clearance you need. A 235/15 tire will fit fine on a 7" rim. I'm guessing that the lowering kit requires a bit more clearance than the stock setup. I was under the impression that I could fit an 8" rim with a 4" backspace on my 66 (17" rim). The 4" backspace would make your situation even worse. You can also replace the inner fender to fender bolts with button head allen screws to gain a little more clearance, as well.

Tom

Aaron,

I have Edelbrock 409 wheels on my '65. The fronts are 15x7's with 215/60's with 4" b.s. and the rears are 15x8's with 255/60's and 4.5" b.s. I'll e-mail you a photo of my car.

Rod

Aaron,it's pretty obvious you need more backspacing. What you want is a 15x8 wheel with 4.5" backspacing,assuming the drop spindles don't create clearance problems.(they're good about that and that's why I don't recommend them)

A cheaper wheel with the wrong backspacing is still wrong. First thing I would do (and it's cheap) is try some buttonhead bolts on the inner fenders,like someone else suggested.

Where can I get some of these buttonhead bolts?

At your local fastener supply store.
Try this first,though. Remove the top two or three inner fender bolts and see if that cures the rubbing problem.