Wheel Backspacing

[VDOG]

Originally Posted by bad6772

i having a hard time with understanding this. i run a centerline wheel that is 17X13 and i have a 5 inch offset and myrear tire are 1 inches wide . now its is close but i have a 1/2 inch or 1 inch easily . is it just my offset

Yes its the offset. My offset on my 15x10's was 6 1/2 inches toward the front of the rim. My lip was 4 inches. I did not want to tub my truck.
Again at the Swapmeet yesterday, nobody had 10's with the right offset or right price.

[dubs68SWB]

Originally Posted by VDOG

Yes its the offset. My offset on my 15x10's was 6 1/2 inches toward the front of the rim. My lip was 4 inches. I did not want to tub my truck.
Again at the Swapmeet yesterday, nobody had 10's with the right offset or right price.

You guys are getting offset and backspacing confused. Offset is measured in inches positive or negative from the centerline of the wheel. If you offset was 6 1/2 toward the front, you would have to be running around 15 x 15 wheel. I think you mean backspace which is measured from the rear lip of the wheel to the inner center that touches the drum also known as the mounting surface. Want to help you guys get this straight because if you talk to someone that knows wheels, they won't be able to help you because you won't be giving them the correct measurement!

[72 Cheyenne402]

Why will or why won't a wheel spacer work? In my case a 1" in the rear would be good. running a 20x8.5 with 5.4 backspacing.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by dubs68SWB

What ever you do......don't run a spacer.... Using a spacer moves the weight on the studs from the drum, where it's the strongest, out to where the stud was not designed to carry the load. I know people do it.....but just because you might be able to drive with your feet doesn't make it a good idea!!!!!

There's a difference between spacers & adapters. Spacers over .250" are asking for trouble because they do in fact overload the stud & allow stress that they're not meant to handle. Billet adapters can be wider w/o the issues of stressing the studs.

[7T2]

A spacer is a hunk of metal that goes between the wheel and hub, using the existing studs. They are not recommended over a 1/4 inch or so for the reasons stated above. They are commonly used to solve problems of interference between a hub and wheel. They sell for around $8 a pair.

Billet adapters are thick pieces of aluminum that are drilled to your existing bolt pattern, and have new studs mounted in them, either in the same bolt pattern or a different bolt pattern. They mount to your existing studs with nuts, then your wheels mount to the new studs like they normally would. They are most commonly used to change bolt patterns when you want to run a wheel that isn't made with your existing pattern, or to mount wheels that have a drastically different offset than your factory wheels, such as Corvette wheels on an old truck. Because of the way they work, they can't be manufactured less than 1" thick, so sometimes people that are trying to change bolt patterns run into trouble because the adapter is now pushing the wheel out an extra inch towards the outside of the vehicle. Aluminum adapters start out around $80 for a pair, and large ones for things like Corvette wheels can run up to $200 each.

Spacer:



Adapter:




It gets more confusing when people call adapters with the same bolt pattern on both sides "spacers", as I found in my Google image search.

[neo1370]

put me in line for 10 in. ralleys if you decide to sell. thanks

[72 Cheyenne402]

The adaptor is the way to go then. Are these a safe alturnitive?

[VDOG]

Originally Posted by dubs68SWB

I think you mean backspace which is measured from the rear lip of the wheel to the inner center that touches the drum also known as the mounting surface.

Your right Backspace, im sorry for confusing things. Now I see the difference between the two.
Now why would you need adapters or spacers on rims that are 20x8.5?

[72 Cheyenne402]

Originally Posted by VDOG

Your right Backspace, im sorry for confusing things. Now I see the difference between the two.
Now why would you need adapters or spacers on rims that are 20x8.5?

the rims are 20x8.5 with 5.4 backspacing. I don't know this for sure but the wheels my sit real far in the fender wells. anybody have some pics of this situation?