Selecting new rear meat

[BR3W CITY]

I guess the title of this could be taken multiple ways lol.

with my swap done, I need to get some more traction on the rear, and a big part is upgrading my 15x8 aluminum MT wheels to something a bit wider.

i have considered getting steel wheels to widen, but with that I face the issue of determining the offset/backspace and width of the wheels. My initial thought is a 12" wheel (since I am tubbed to the frame width), but I had also considered a 10" if I could get the right look and performance. Soooo.....

1. What size tires should I be looking at? Its street vehicle but I DO like to get into a little action on the street occasionally, as well as SOME strip time (a few weekends a year). 295/65/15 seems popular, are there enough choices in this size?

2. HOw the heck do you determine the correct offset/backspace for a custom widened wheel? I have some people telling me so do it off of the tire, or how to determine it off of the rim....but I don't have either yet...only the 8" rims on it now.

3. I'm also ok with buying a set of DR's or slicks for track days and keeping them on an extra set, so if this affects #1, please take it into consideration.


Thanks for all the help!

Quick pic of the tubs mocked up. Inner width won't be a problem.

[softballnrd27]

On my 85 I am going to stuff a 29x15r15 MT Sportsman S/R on a 15x12 rim. I would think that 6-7" BS on a 12" wheel should work. I am also going to add to the factory tubs and keep a stock width rear end

[djracer]

If I were you I would measure the wheel you have and see where you want to move the offset. I would buy a 12 inch aluminum wheel. Steel wheel will hurt you on performance. They would be a ton of extra rotating weight. I would buy a 295/50/15 drag radial. I have a set for my sons truck. You can also go to a big drag radial race and but take offs with lots of tread left dirt cheap!

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by djracer

If I were you I would measure the wheel you have and see where you want to move the offset. I would buy a 12 inch aluminum wheel. Steel wheel will hurt you on performance. They would be a ton of extra rotating weight. I would buy a 295/50/15 drag radial. I have a set for my sons truck. You can also go to a big drag radial race and but take offs with lots of tread left dirt cheap!

Cool. So it sounds like the 295/50/15 is a pretty popular size? Do you have any pics of the rear with that size on? I'd like to see how wide they look from the back. Performance is priority but I'm shooting for the nice chubby rears lol

[djracer]

We don't have them on his truck yet. We just picked up the motor yesterday. I'm probably gonna get it running before I have the rearend shortened.