Wheels and Tires Need help with wheels or tires? Got fitment issues? Have questions about tire performance and handling? Ask all of those questions here!

What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-31-2009, 08:14 AM
  #1  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
 
84 z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Rochester NY
Posts: 1,801
Received 21 Likes on 19 Posts
Car: 1984 z28
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 4.11
What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

I been searching for a while and i'm getting mixed results. I need to know what the best backspacing would be for a 15x8 rim for the rear of the car. I dont want to modify anything. 5.5 or 4.5 backspacing ?
Old 07-31-2009, 04:13 PM
  #2  
Supreme Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
iTrader: (15)
 
//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 12,666
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 48 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am, 92 Firebird
Engine: 408 sbc, 3.1L of raw power
Transmission: TKO600, T5
Axle/Gears: Moser 9", 3:70 trutac, 3:23 torsion
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

what size tire?

both you mentioned would work, one would just sit in a little more than the other
Old 07-31-2009, 04:56 PM
  #3  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
 
84 z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Rochester NY
Posts: 1,801
Received 21 Likes on 19 Posts
Car: 1984 z28
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 4.11
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

I hear a 275/60/15 is good but i will use what ever sits in the wheel wells nice with out hammer the crap out of the car.
Old 07-31-2009, 08:42 PM
  #4  
Member
 
kens86's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New holland, PA
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1986 Camaro
Engine: 436" SBC
Transmission: TH350, 8" Converter
Axle/Gears: S60 with 4:11 and Locker
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

5.5 will work good with 275/60/15. I have 15x9 with 5.5 with those size tires.
Old 08-01-2009, 06:32 AM
  #5  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
 
84 z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Rochester NY
Posts: 1,801
Received 21 Likes on 19 Posts
Car: 1984 z28
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 4.11
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

Theres no difference between a 15x8 and a 15x9 rim ?
Old 08-01-2009, 10:13 AM
  #6  
Supreme Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
iTrader: (15)
 
//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 12,666
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 48 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am, 92 Firebird
Engine: 408 sbc, 3.1L of raw power
Transmission: TKO600, T5
Axle/Gears: Moser 9", 3:70 trutac, 3:23 torsion
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

Originally Posted by 84 z28
Theres no difference between a 15x8 and a 15x9 rim ?
one is an inch wider
Old 08-01-2009, 10:52 AM
  #7  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
 
84 z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Rochester NY
Posts: 1,801
Received 21 Likes on 19 Posts
Car: 1984 z28
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 4.11
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

I firgured that out I'm just saying that with that extra inch the 5.5 backspacing would stil move the rim. So im just making sure that a 15x8 with say a 275/60/15 tire would still work without any mods.
Old 08-06-2009, 06:02 PM
  #8  
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
MG66Biscayne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: L69
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

On the rear of my 84Z I have 15x8 rally wheels with 4 inch backspacing and 275/60 BFGoodrich TA radials. They stick out just a bit too far and I rolled the wheel lip for extra clearance. 4.5 backspace should be fine. I know an earlier post said 5.5 would work but on my car I just don't see that there would be enough clearance.

Hope this helps.
Mike
Old 08-06-2009, 06:19 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
bitchin_buick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91' bird(WS6>>305TBI), 82'Regal
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

I got 15x8 cragars all the way round > No backspacing needed at all & tires sit well in the fender...Bigger pics in my profile/Album if you want to check to see how mine fit...
Old 08-06-2009, 08:20 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
RED_DRAGON_85's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Norfolk VA
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 85 Camaro IROC
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: open rear, 3.42 gears
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

No backspacing needed at all & tires sit well in the fender
backspacing is the distance from the hub to the back edge of the wheel...
just to be clear...
it has nothing to do with banging a hammer in your wheel wells.
Old 08-07-2009, 06:13 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
bitchin_buick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91' bird(WS6>>305TBI), 82'Regal
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

Originally Posted by RED_DRAGON_85
backspacing is the distance from the hub to the back edge of the wheel...
just to be clear...
it has nothing to do with banging a hammer in your wheel wells.
Duh! You quoted me and the next guy... Mine fit great and no hammering needed.... Pay attention! DUH!!!!!
Old 08-07-2009, 06:25 PM
  #12  
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
 
91interceptorZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: boise, ID
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 91 B4C "police special service"
Engine: L98 494hp
Transmission: tko-600 on order
Axle/Gears: 3.23 true trac
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

Originally Posted by bitchin_buick
Duh! You quoted me and the next guy... Mine fit great and no hammering needed.... Pay attention! DUH!!!!!

Every wheel has a backspacing....it's a measured distance....you have to have backspacing, if you had no backspacing then the bolt flange would be even with the edge/lip of wheel and look really stupid, let alone not fit.
Your probably thinking of wheel spacers.
DUH!!!
Old 08-07-2009, 07:17 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
bitchin_buick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91' bird(WS6>>305TBI), 82'Regal
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

Originally Posted by 91interceptorZ
Every wheel has a backspacing....it's a measured distance....you have to have backspacing, if you had no backspacing then the bolt flange would be even with the edge/lip of wheel and look really stupid, let alone not fit.
Your probably thinking of wheel spacers.
DUH!!!
Thanks for the update .... REREAD ALL POST..No Back-spacing/wheel spacing MY 15x8 fit great! I guess if you could afford Cragars you would understand stand no MODS are needed >>>>
Old 08-07-2009, 08:22 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
RED_DRAGON_85's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Norfolk VA
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 85 Camaro IROC
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: open rear, 3.42 gears
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

what we are saying is that backspacing is a property of the wheel. cragars or not, every wheel has backspacing. its a physical property of the wheel itself.
oh, and cragars arent really that great.
as for no mods being needed, ok, thats different, and yes, its true.



to the OP, generally speaking, try and keep the backspacing proportional to rim width.
what i mean is this:
say you start with a 7" wide wheel with 3" backspacing.
if you move to a 8" wide wheel, you will want between 3.5" and 4" of backspacing.
the idea is to keep the "front spacing" the same.
7-3=4" of front spacing.
8-4=4" of front spacing.
there is some room for leeway here of course.
if you want the wheels to stick out more, then go with less backspacing.
there is not a simple "BEST" fit
Old 08-08-2009, 06:25 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
bitchin_buick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91' bird(WS6>>305TBI), 82'Regal
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

Wow, I really did a bad job trying to help out. All I said in my original post was my rims(15x8) fit fine >>> Backspacing/spacers was never a concern for me !!! Talk about being thrown under the bus!
Old 08-08-2009, 10:19 AM
  #16  
Supreme Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
iTrader: (15)
 
//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 12,666
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 48 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am, 92 Firebird
Engine: 408 sbc, 3.1L of raw power
Transmission: TKO600, T5
Axle/Gears: Moser 9", 3:70 trutac, 3:23 torsion
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

Originally Posted by bitchin_buick
Wow, I really did a bad job trying to help out. All I said in my original post was my rims(15x8) fit fine >>> Backspacing/spacers was never a concern for me !!! Talk about being thrown under the bus!
no body was throwing you under the bus, they were just trying to correct a misstatement of terminology, and then a yelling match started over misinformation. I think its been cleared up now, but i cant tell what is sarcasm in your post and what isnt.

Im sure your wheels fit fine, but they still have backspacing. Backspacing and spacers are not the same thing. Spacers are used when the wheel you are suing has too much backspacing, ie, 4th gen wheels. Backspacing is just the distance from the mounting surface of the wheel to the inner edge. Every wheel has backspacing, i have never seen a wheel of any size that has 0 backspacing, except maybe a bicycle wheel.

for the OP, a 15x8 with anywhere from 4.5 to 5.5" of bs will bolt on fine. 5 would probably be ideal to center the tire in the wheel well.
Old 08-08-2009, 10:21 AM
  #17  
Supreme Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
iTrader: (15)
 
//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 12,666
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 48 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am, 92 Firebird
Engine: 408 sbc, 3.1L of raw power
Transmission: TKO600, T5
Axle/Gears: Moser 9", 3:70 trutac, 3:23 torsion
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

Originally Posted by RED_DRAGON_85

what i mean is this:
say you start with a 7" wide wheel with 3" backspacing.
if you move to a 8" wide wheel, you will want between 3.5" and 4" of backspacing.
the idea is to keep the "front spacing" the same.
7-3=4" of front spacing.
8-4=4" of front spacing.
there is some room for leeway here of course.
if you want the wheels to stick out more, then go with less backspacing.
there is not a simple "BEST" fit
right idea, but not correct. The width of a wheel is measured form the inside of the bead seats. So a 15x8 wheel will actually measure about 9" wide. a 15x9 will measure 10" wide, ect. the diameter is measured the same way, so a 15" wheel will measure almost 16" in diameter if measuring to the outermost end of the lip as opposed to the bead seat.
Old 08-08-2009, 12:45 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
RED_DRAGON_85's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Norfolk VA
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 85 Camaro IROC
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: open rear, 3.42 gears
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

Originally Posted by //<86TA>\\
right idea, but not correct. The width of a wheel is measured form the inside of the bead seats. So a 15x8 wheel will actually measure about 9" wide. a 15x9 will measure 10" wide, ect. the diameter is measured the same way, so a 15" wheel will measure almost 16" in diameter if measuring to the outermost end of the lip as opposed to the bead seat.
But either way that extra half inch was there to begin with and is there after you change wheels so it cancels out in the end...

It would be different if he was installing 12" wide wheels but with 8" wheels it's not a concern.
Old 08-08-2009, 05:07 PM
  #19  
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
 
91interceptorZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: boise, ID
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 91 B4C "police special service"
Engine: L98 494hp
Transmission: tko-600 on order
Axle/Gears: 3.23 true trac
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

Originally Posted by bitchin_buick
Wow, I really did a bad job trying to help out. All I said in my original post was my rims(15x8) fit fine >>> Backspacing/spacers was never a concern for me !!! Talk about being thrown under the bus!
I think you are thinking of ZERO OFFSET which if that's the case then you are correct....that means the bolt hub is in the center of wheel....maybe confused about the different terms?
Old 08-08-2009, 05:23 PM
  #20  
Supreme Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
iTrader: (15)
 
//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 12,666
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 48 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am, 92 Firebird
Engine: 408 sbc, 3.1L of raw power
Transmission: TKO600, T5
Axle/Gears: Moser 9", 3:70 trutac, 3:23 torsion
Re: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim

Originally Posted by RED_DRAGON_85
But either way that extra half inch was there to begin with and is there after you change wheels so it cancels out in the end...

It would be different if he was installing 12" wide wheels but with 8" wheels it's not a concern.
i understand that, and the backspacing is still measured to the outermost edge of the wheel, i just thought i would through that little tidbit of info out there because its important to know how to measure the wheels.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
LiquidBlue
Wheels and Tires
32
12-10-2019 04:06 PM
BrianChevy
Wheels and Tires
10
08-08-2019 02:16 PM
BrianChevy
Wheels and Tires
5
10-13-2015 12:33 PM
dbrochard
Exterior Parts for Sale
5
10-10-2015 01:03 PM
brockerboy
Wheels and Tires
2
09-17-2015 03:59 PM



Quick Reply: What is the best backspacing for a 15x8 rim



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:25 AM.