Reconfirming wheel specs for 15x7 Options

[grantsfo]

I'm about to pull the trigger on a set of custom wheels and want to confirm backspacing and center bore for hub centric ring on a 1974 car. I will be running fat 205/50/15 Hoosiers on the wheels.

I will be having 15x7" wheels made with 4 lug 4x130mm bolt pattern.

Back spacing specs: I have heard everything from 4.25" to 5" for backspacing for 15x7 wheels. I'm not afraid of bending my fenders a bit to make things fit and I like the idea of a little wider track. Would 4 1/2" back spacing be enough for somone who has rolled fenders? I have lots of room now with rolled fenders and my 205/50/15 tires on 5.5" Fuchs - easily 2 to 3 inches

I do have centering ring on my front hub. Mueller provided dimensions of 78.60 mm x 15 mm which looks about right using my tape measurer. If I make an error I want to make sure its making this bore too big.

I appreciate everyones feedback.

[Demick]

QUOTE (grantsfo @ May 25 2005, 08:59 AM)

Thanks Demick, So looking at my car currently (205/50/15 Yoko's mounted on 2.0 Fuchs) I have about an inch of clearnce on the inside and about 1 1/2" of clearence on the outside fender. If the Fuch 2.0 wheels have 4.7" of spacing I may need to keep that or even go for less? So maybe 4 1/2 backspacing if I'm not shy about pulling on my fenders?

Highly unlikely that you would want your current 4.7" backspace, and definitely don't want less!!

Your measurements are obviously balllpark - and you should try and measure as accurately as possible (and try to take into account what happens when the suspension gets depressed). But just generally from what you have provided: You currently have 1.5" clearance on the outside, and 1" on the inside. This means that your wheel is sitting about 1/4" off-center toward the center of the car. Now assume you retain your backspace and add 1.5" of wheel width to the outside of the car. Your wheel will now be about 1/2" off-center toward the outside of the car (centerline of the wheel moved 3/4"). I would probably target something around 1/4" off-center toward the outside of the car. This would put your desired backspace at 4.95".

But like I said, you need to carefully measure. 1.5" sounds like an awful lot. Remember, the place your tire will touch the fender is not at the center point of the wheel well opening - it is toward the rear of the car - so be sure and measure for the minimum clearance you find.

Demick