Wheel Backspacing???

[Al 65 Sting]

I am looking to change my stock wheels/tires to something more dressy on my '65. I am considering the Torque Thrust II's and 215-70 15 or 225-70 15. Will both tires fit without rubbing with the stock suspension and what backspacing do I need to accomplish this?

Thanks,
Al

 

[Islander]

Tell us how wide your TT2s will be:6",7" or 8"??

 

[Al 65 Sting]

Tell us how wide your TT2s will be:6",7" or 8"??

7" or 8", whichever will work best.

Thanks,
Al

 

[paul67]

I was advised to stay with 6" wheels and I did. American Racing set the backspacing at 3 3/8". The tires are 215-70ZR/15. I did not have any rubbing problems during the 2004 driving season.

 

[Islander]

I have asked around and the concensus has it that 15x8 rims with 4.75" backspacing will fit in the stock rear with 235 tires. In the front to avoid any rubbing against the lips the widest rim would be 7" with a 4" backspacing and a 225 tire.

Personally, I dropped the idea to go with 8" rims, too many fit problems to deal with on a stock car. I'm putting 16x7s with 4" backspacing all around with a 225/55/16 tire or a 225/60/16 tire to keep about the same tire profile as the original (a bit less than 27"). Depending on the tire I chose the width of the tire hitting the road will be around 8.5", much better than the original 5.5".

You may want to try different tire combinations on your rims, just in case. All cars sit differently on the frames, some may have more room on one side than the other or the tire you picked might rub against something. Normally, once you mount a tire on the rim you can't return the rim, but you can sure change the tire. Make sure the shop is OK with this.

 

[Al 65 Sting]

Paul, thanks and beautiful mid year.

Islander, you got any pics with rims & tires? I am from Sarasota. You?

 

[Islander]

Islander, you got any pics with rims & tires? I am from Sarasota. You?

Nope, not yet, you can probably do a search on Torqe Thrust or TT2 and see some pics in those threads. I just needed to figure out what tire/rim combination I was going to use on my 66 roadster. It doesn't sit on a stock frame, it sits on an aftermarket tube frame but the dimensions are nearly identical. I don't have to worry about leaf spring obstruction and such since the frame takes C4 suspensions, but the body will be stock and I wanted to keep the same look and feel.

I'm in Winter Springs, BTW. That's northeast Metro Orlando.

 

[JohnZ]

No way will 7" rims work on stock suspension and body with a 215/70-15 tire, and 225/70-15's won't work with ANY 15" rim; Paul's combination (215/70-15's on 6" rims) is the max you can run and not risk fiberglass damage, and even that is very close. Midyears with stock suspension are extremely intolerant of larger tires and wider-than-stock rims; the body clearances were designed in 1961 around 6.70-15 tires on 5-1/2" rims with no thought to anything larger or wider, and it shows.

 

[Islander]

You da man, John!! Thanks for the correction.

 

[Craig -1965]

wheels and tires mid year

John,
I've been following this thread..... And I have a 65 with stock supension, so what your saying is using 15x7 american torque thrusters with 225/60/15 will or will NOT fit.:confused

 

[Al 65 Sting]

Everyone, thanks for the input. John, what backspacing should I run with the 6" and 217 -70 15's?

Thanks,
Al

 

[paul67]

It was John's advice that I took in the autumn of 2003 When I purchased the American Racing/Pirelli combo. What more can I say? Except that - again- I have no problems.

You can go to a lower profile (e.g. 60) tire if you wish but that does not fill the wheel well properly. Gives you a fat tire/hot rod look. And many prefer that.

 

[Al 65 Sting]

Paul,
are you sure it is a 3 3/8 backspace? I am sure they can make it but its not a stock backspacing they offer online.

Thanks,
Al

 

[youwish2bme]

No way will 7" rims work on stock suspension and body with a 215/70-15 tire, and 225/70-15's won't work with ANY 15" rim; Paul's combination (215/70-15's on 6" rims) is the max you can run and not risk fiberglass damage, and even that is very close. Midyears with stock suspension are extremely intolerant of larger tires and wider-than-stock rims; the body clearances were designed in 1961 around 6.70-15 tires on 5-1/2" rims with no thought to anything larger or wider, and it shows.

John this is the probably the only time that I will disagree... I'm currently running 17x7 with 4" of backspacing 225/50/17 tires and no rubbing.. Now given if I go into a steep driveway with full lock then maybe I'll pop a fender but not likely.. I would think that a 15 or 16" wheel with matching tire will have less surface area at the outer tire than my 17" which is very square. I think that if you have any quams.. go with the 6" wide rim.. if you want the widest tire that you can fit without modifying the fenders go with a 7" width rim and just be aware of deep or ratical elevation changes while making low speed turns into driveways...Dave..

 

[paul67]

Al,

The TTIIs are custom-made, two-piece wheels. In other words the centre spoke section is matched to the outer rim to get the correct specifications (for the C2) and then welded together. Delivery time is about 8 weeks.

 

[JohnZ]

John this is the probably the only time that I will disagree... I'm currently running 17x7 with 4" of backspacing 225/50/17 tires and no rubbing.. Now given if I go into a steep driveway with full lock then maybe I'll pop a fender but not likely.. I would think that a 15 or 16" wheel with matching tire will have less surface area at the outer tire than my 17" which is very square. I think that if you have any quams.. go with the 6" wide rim.. if you want the widest tire that you can fit without modifying the fenders go with a 7" width rim and just be aware of deep or ratical elevation changes while making low speed turns into driveways...Dave..

Dave, I don't disagree - you have more leeway on backspacing with 17" rims; 15" rims are much more confining due to issues with the end of the rear spring and the parking brake cable and bracket. With 15" rims, you don't have to go very far from the stock configuration before it gets risky.

 

[Al 65 Sting]

Thanks Paul.

Al

 

[paul67]

Al,

I had more pics of the TTIIS from early 2004 when I went through this decision-making process but many went away with a virus attack. My hard-drive archives were destroyed. Of course just one day before automatic back-up. Murphy's Law! Sorry. I wish I could help you further.

 

[youwish2bme]

Dave, I don't disagree - you have more leeway on backspacing with 17" rims; 15" rims are much more confining due to issues with the end of the rear spring and the parking brake cable and bracket. With 15" rims, you don't have to go very far from the stock configuration before it gets risky.

John thanks for always taking the time to reply.. I think I need to go check the rallies that I took off the car originally.. I want to say they were newer 7" rims that are mounted to 215/70/15's. I didn't see any fender contact problems not to say that I couldn't....I've always said I'd rather be lucky than good..

So if I understand correctly since a wider tire than 215/70/15 is really not allowable there is no reason to step up from a 6" rim to a 7"? So to ask why do so many move up to a 7" rim..? Dave..

 

[Islander]

Dave, could it be because they also move to a bigger rim as well? I'm going to a 16x7 and should have no problems with obstructions. Most others go to the 17x7s, whose looks I don't like on a C2.