Larry- i would like your input regarding a set of four wheels I"m considering buying. The wheels in question are Vision 142 Chrome Legend rims, 18" x 9.5" with 5.25" backspacing and 0mm offset per the seller. I would like to install these front and rear. Do you think these wheels will work on my 71 Skylark GS w/o issue? I value your input. Thank you
Ken, I know that a 10" wide wheel needs 5 1/2" of back spacing, and sometimes 5 5/8" depending on the car. Some car bodies are shifted on the frame resulting in more room on one side than the other. Once you get up around 10" for wheel width, you are getting close to the limit, and it's kind of impossible for me to say whether they will fit with no issues at all. They might, or you may need to roll the lip a bit. The 70-72 cars have the most generous wheel wells. Wish I could be more definitive, but I can't. BTW, offset is the distance from the wheel mounting surface to the CENTER of the wheel. A 9.5" wheel's center would be 4.75" In order for a wheel to have 0 offset, the back spacing would need to equal the center measurement of the wheel. In this case it doesn't. The back spacing is .50" more according to the seller. That means it has .50" positive offset. Either the seller doesn't know the difference between offset and back spacing, or he is wrong about the measurements. Proceed with caution. Best I can do, hope it helps.
I am running Pro Trac S370 15s on the back and on the front BF Goodrich T/A Radial, P215/60R14. Handles pretty good even with the stock front suspension.
I contacted Summit Racing, who also sells these wheels, for clarification regarding the 5.25" backspacing, 9.5" width and 0mm offset specifications. Per the Summit tech, he said the backspacing of 5.25" and 0mm offset are correct as the actual width of the wheel is 10.5", when measured from the outside of the front and back wheel lips. He further stated the 9.5" width is arrived at when measuring from the inside of the front and back lips of the wheel. Whats your take on this guy's explanation?
I did a little research Ken, and that appears to be correct. I found this video helpful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzDWO4dQbrA That wheel is going to be very close. I can't tell you it will fit. I'm not sure. I know Phil Sedlon (70 gsconvt) has 15 X10" wheels. That means his wheels are actually 11" wide from edge to edge. He needed a full 5 1/2 -5 5/8" back spacing to fit some really wide drag radials. http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?34990-Beware-the-315-60R15-DragRadial&highlight= http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?14509-My-15x10-s-are-here!!!-My-15x10-s-are-here!!!&highlight= Your wheels are a 1/2" narrower, and have 5 1/4" B.S. Like I said, these are really close. Will they work on your car. I don't know. It may depend on the tire you choose. I would try to PM Phil and ask his opinion.
Thinking of adding Torque Thrusts to my 72 Skylark. Awesome info here, want to do 16's or 17's Anyone know if the tires are more expensive to go with 17's? Would it be wiser to have all 4 the same size instead of wider rims in the rear?
You can fit 8" wide rims at all 4 corners. Back spacing needs to be 4 1/2" regardless of whether it is a 14, 15, 16, 17" or whatever. You will need to use a tire with a shorter sidewall to keep the overall tire height at the optimal 26-27". And yeah, they cost more, that's a given. Some sizes are worse than others.
Got a deal on some 16" Torque Thrust 2's this weekend. Michelin Pilots still had the nubs. Man it sure helped the driving of the car~ 16x7 on the front 16x8 on the rear
17x9 rears 285/40/17 Nitto 555 extremes, 17x8 fronts 245/45/17 Nitto 555 extremes, Hotchkiss springs w/ 1 inch drop, QA1 adj shocks, front upper and lower tubular cntrl arms, rear upper and lower tubular cntrl arms, front and rear anti-sway bars, AGR quick ratio steering box.
Guys ,I'm having so many issues trying to get some new rollers, I swear. I have gone to THREE dealers in the area w/ no less than THREE options for wheels for my '71 Rivvy. I checked them all out. The options (now forgotten) for the three were 20x9 in the rear (unless I can afford and fit larger ones) 5.5 backspacing, 5x127mm bolt pattern. Front 18X8 4.5 backspacing. Hand the paper over w/ these for pricing and nothing .... I told this this to the second guy about the first and said "I guess he didn't want cash (I had actually showed him the $$$ clip)". He laughed, but nothing. Same thing with the third guy. BTW I did call them back later and they all had no idea who I was, didn't remember the black and gold Riv (like they see 50 a day) or have the spec shet. How do theses people make a living when someone comes in READy TO PAY!?!?!?! anyway, I'm open for sizing suggestions. I keep going back and forth w/ some 5 spokes like these: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=chrome+ridler+695+20 I like these as well: http://www.ebay.com/itm/20-in-Visio...d=100033&prg=1011&rk=2&rkt=3&sd=271097939046& BUT THEN!!! I see a car w/ old school OE chrome steelies w/ bullet caps and wide whites!!!!! The bad thing about these is the size = $$$$ I can't really afford... http://www.ebay.com/itm/CLASSIC-CHR..._Car_Truck_Wheels&hash=item2c6701bc91&vxp=mtr sometimes you just feel like kicking an old lady out of her chair will make it allllllll better... *sigh*
These might work with some spacers to center the wheel in the wheel well: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-395-8973mb0/overview/
Guys I stayed with the original height tires for my 72 GS455 but just with a little old school flare, since I am old. Had to have RWL so I went with Cooper Cobra tires, 215 70 15 in the front and 255 60 15 in the rear. I personnally think that this is the way our A-body Buicks should look like. George
Sounds like they are scared to make money I'd you make it to Dallas let me know. There's plenty of rim ships around that will sell.
I know this is a pain in the ass question, but I searched a bit and cannot physically even remove my spare to check- hurtin' today:shock:. Is the factory bs for the '71 Riv- 3 7/8 or 4 1//4? Also not sure if it's a 6 or 7 in rim, but currently has 23575 on it, and to be honest. I tried to check it all around yesterday for clearances. It seems like I have a about 2+ in in the rear inner wheel well and about 3+ (according to my fat fingers) from tire to outer lip. Even going to a 29-30 in tire (currently the 235/75 reads as 28.8 and9.25 in wide) and pretty much whatever width I could ask for-for the rears anyway. I would assume the wheel is a 7 to have a 9in + tire-correct? I figure ,I can go from there to fing out what final bs I will need in the end. this $$$ is burning a hole in my pocket. I have been trying for a few years, but stuff kept coming up. Now the wife insists I do this for the car. I love her!!! Front meat questions to come later -but keeping them 20s as well..LOL And thanks guys (especially you Larry! :beers2
