I`m thinking about 17" wheels front and rear. I have the stock length rearend. How wide of a wheel can I go? The wheels I was looking at are available in 17x8 with up to a 5" offset and a 17x9.5 with a 5.5" offset. I`m running a 275/60/15 right now so I would like something in the 275-285 range. I`m not sure what profile I want though. I read through a bunch of posts but did`nt find what I was looking for. Thanks.

Do a search under 65elcamino, he has all the information that you need. Did you have to roll the lip to fit the 275/60/15s in the rear and what backspace did you run? I'm still thinking about what to run on my 65. Too many choices.

The car already had them when I got it. They did roll the lip and they also trimmed a little out of the inner wheelwell area near the lip. i`m not sure what this are is called. The wheels are 15x8 rally wheels with a 4.5" offset I think. I know they are aftermarket. The stock 15x8 rally is a 4" offset and it won`t clear, my buddy tried, so thats why I`m pretty sure it`s a 4.5". I`ll do a search and see what I can find.

Check out David Bates 65 in the Wheel & Tire Database above.

I saw his post before and just rechecked it to make sure I didn`t miss anything. He has the size and width that I want but the wheels I`m looking at don`t come in the offset he listed in his post. I just don`t want to have any fitment problems. Also if anyone has any pics of a 65 with 17`s please post them. Thanks.

Find another wheel that you can get the correct backspacing. Running the big stuff requires it.

I have a 64 with 17's


Brian

Find another wheel that you can get the correct backspacing. Running the big stuff requires it.


The wheels I`m looking at are 17x8 with a 5" offset or a 17x9.5 with a 5.5" offset. According to other posts I have read that should be fine but it doesn`t match up to the offsett that David Bates listed. I have also PM`ed both David Bates and 65elcamino but have not recieved replies.

The wheels I`m looking at are 17x8 with a 5" offset or a 17x9.5 with a 5.5" offset. According to other posts I have read that should be fine but it doesn`t match up to the offsett that David Bates listed. I have also PM`ed both David Bates and 65elcamino but have not recieved replies.
You're confusing offset with backspace. The wheels you're looking at will work on your car but you might not be able to run a 285 tire with 5.5" backspacing. Dave's front wheels have 4.75" backspacing and the fronts you're looking at have 5". Both will work fine.

Off set,backspacing, same difference to me. I knew what I was talking about, LOL. I know you measure from the backside of the rim to the mounting pad but like I said before, his numbers are not what I have found and since he has yet to answer my PM I`ll just have to figure it out myself. I might just stick with my 15" rallys.

Please explain what you mean by "his numbers are not what I have found"? I've already explained to you that the 17" wheels you want will work with those backspacing numbers? What part do you not understand,Anthony??

To quote American Racing's terminology:

Backside setting/Back spacing - The measurement from the mounting pad to
the inner edge of the wheel"

Offset - The offset of the wheel is the distance from the mounting pad to
the centerline of the wheel."

Negative offset - When the mounting surface is closer to the disk/drum
(Inside) of the wheel. Or the mounting pad is behind the centerline of the
wheel. This type of wheel is commonly referred to as a deep-dish wheel. This
offset is common in older vehicles and many of today's trucks and will bring
the wheel/tire combination out away from the vehicle."

Positive offset - The mounting pad is forward of the centerline of the
wheel, towards the street side of the wheel. This is common in most front
wheel drive cars and some newer trucks. Generally speaking a positive offset
wheel brings the wheels closer to the center of the vehicle."

Not quite the same,are they? :D

It almost sounds like your getting all "high and mighty" on me. Of coarse if you were, you would be able to put your post in your own words and not quote American Racing.

As far as what I mean by "his numbers are not what I found", Mr Bates listed a 17x9.5 wheel with a 5.625 "backspace". The wheel I`m looking at is a 17x9.5 with a 5.5" "backspace". If my math is correct, that shows a difference of .125" of backspacing meaning my wheel may stick out further than Mr Bates and the tire may not fit. Now, what part of that do YOU not understant, Clint? By the way, the wheel also has +8mm of offset. I know I said offset instead of backspacing but I would think most people who read this post knew what I was talking about by the measurements I gave. But like you said, they are not the same and I stand corrected, not that it matters.

I`m not trying to be a jerk and I do apprecieate you replies and help but when you come off condisending and talk to me like I`m some dumb kid, I take a little offence to that. I may not know it all, and I certainly don`t act like I do, but I`m not a newbie to cars. You knew what I was saying, you just wanted to try to make me look stupid I guess. Hopefully we can call it even and get back to finding the answer to my question.

Anthony,

I sent you a PM. Although 1/8" may not sound like much, when you have tires in the 285/40ZR-17 range on these old cars it can make a big difference. Spring rates (controlling suspension travel), Shocks (which will control rate of suspension movement), sway bars (controlling body roll), rigidity of suspension bushings (which directly control the position of the axle under the car) and whether or not the body mount bushings all play a factor on how big a tire you can run. The tighter things are, the more you can get away with.

Also, please don't take Clints post as being high and mighty even if it may come across that way. My dealings with him have been 100% positive and I'm sure his intent was to help clarify some of the terminology we're using and hopefully keep you on track. Good luck and don't hesitate to PM me if you have any further questions.

Thanks for the reply. I don`t take his post as high and mighty. He dug at me a little and I dug back. We`er even and I can put it behind me as long as it doesn`t continue. Thanks for the info in your PM. I`ll go over it when I get home tonight and hopefully I can figure out what will fit. Thans again.

Good luck with your wheel purchase,Anthony. I'm done.