72 c10 with an ECE 3 1/2 5 drop

[Riverdog57]

I have a 72 c10 that I am building . I have the frame blasted and powder coated with a new 3 1/2 x 5 ECE lowering kit and Wilwood brakes I need to get wheels and tires so I can roll it around . I want Torq thrust vn215's in the old catalog from ECE they have a picture of a 68 long bed that they have 255-60-17 with 8 wide rims in the front and 275-60-17 with 8 inch wide rims in the rear this looks like what I want . Looking for some one that is running this setup . I'm trying to find out what back spacing they are running . I think American has these wheels in two back spacing available a 5.050 and a 4.070 any help would apricated. I do not have the cab or bed on yet . Thanks

[SCOTI]

It depends on how you manage your vehicles & what your preferences are.

If I were doing 8's on all 4 corners of a 72, I'd choose the 5" back-spacing option for the front wheels & the 4" BS for the rears. This would help keep the track width equal to slightly narrower in the front.

But...
I've never rotated tires on my vehicles (almost 40yrs of driving/owning vehicles) so that's not a concern to me.
I like a slightly deeper lip/dish on the rear wheels vs. them being same front & rear.

[gmc684x4]

8 wide 4.5 backspace is close to stock size

I live in snow country I rotate summer and winter tires

One reason I like keeping a stock sized wheel is on long trips one spare tire will suffice when I was young a 5 hour drive may need 3 spares to make it with out finding a garage for a flat repair

Say you keep a front sized spare back tire is bigger your posi will not like it

Or you keep a back sized spare may rub in the front

[Riverdog57]

Thanks Guys , I'm just worried about them rubbing . Should i go with a wider tire & rim in the back ? My plan for the truck is cruse nights I don't plan any long trips but if things change I would like it to be able to.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Riverdog57

Thanks Guys , I'm just worried about them rubbing . Should i go with a wider tire & rim in the back ? My plan for the truck is cruse nights I don't plan any long trips but if things change I would like it to be able to.

A spare the same size as rear tire OD will usually work just like a 'new car' temporary spare (not exceeding a certain speed or x-qty miles). Temp spares are to get you off the road to a place to get replacements/repairs.

Again.... 38yrs of owning & driving hotrods (I've only had 1 or 2 that had same size all around), I never had issues w/tires while traveling.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Riverdog57

Thanks Guys , I'm just worried about them rubbing . Should i go with a wider tire & rim in the back ? My plan for the truck is cruse nights I don't plan any long trips but if things change I would like it to be able to.

Originally Posted by gmc684x4

8 wide 4.5 backspace is close to stock size

I live in snow country I rotate summer and winter tires

One reason I like keeping a stock sized wheel is on long trips one spare tire will suffice when I was young a 5 hour drive may need 3 spares to make it with out finding a garage for a flat repair

Say you keep a front sized spare back tire is bigger your posi will not like it

Or you keep a back sized spare may rub in the front

If you went through 3 tires on a 5hr trip, a 1hr stop @ a tire store for fresh rubber probably should have happened BEFORE the trip.

If you carried 3 spares of the same size, carrying 2 of different sizes would be no worse.

[Riverdog57]

Looking at Tires it looks like there are a lot more 18" tires than 17" I may go with them . Still unsure about back spacing and I may go with a 10 wide rim on the back.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Riverdog57

Looking at Tires it looks like there are a lot more 18" tires than 17" I may go with them . Still unsure about back spacing and I may go with a 10 wide rim on the back.

There are more choices for 18's now. The watch-out is if/when running staggered sizing (taller rear vs. front). Being able to get both sizes in the same tire/tread series tall enough to fill up a trucks wheel opening is sometimes harder to accomplish.

Trucks typically need to keep sizing close to OE specs for optimal visual scaling (too short of a tire looks awkward if the truck isn't lowered enough). Just because a 275/35-18 looks killer under a 4th GEN F-body doesn't mean it will look the same under one of these trucks. Finding 27-29 tall tires in 18's might be more challenging than expected.

A 10" wide rear wheel is an easy fit under a fleetside bed (5-5.5"BS is typical).

[Mike C]

I love the vn215 wheel and am planning a set for my Corvette.

BUT....take this to heart.... THE LAST thing you buy for a project is wheels and tires. You will never regret postponing that purchase to the end and get some disposable rollers.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Mike C

I love the vn215 wheel and am planning a set for my Corvette.

BUT....take this to heart.... THE LAST thing you buy for a project is wheels and tires. You will never regret postponing that purchase to the end and get some disposable rollers.

This is so true. I know multiple guys that bought wheels/tires only to not get their project on the road. X-yrs later, they're x-yrs old tires. If it's to nail down fit, I would get the wheels & go w/used tires (for fitting validations) then buy new when it's closer to being on the road.

[davischevy]

ECE 2/4 drop with 17X8 TT, 4.5 BS.

[davischevy]

Now it's 3/5 on 20's.

[Riverdog57]

I love that Red and white truck the look with the 17" what I'm looking for do you have 17 X 8 on all four with 4".5 back spacing

[davischevy]

Yes, 4.5 and as I remember they were 275/60/17 and 255/60/17.

[Riverdog57]

I've been looking at a lot of wheels the last week and I believe I want to go with a 18 X 8with a 4.5 backspacing on the front and a 18 x10 with a 5.75 B.S.i n the back . still looking at tires , anybody running this wheel size I'm going with the Torq Thrust 215's

[paujones1]

Originally Posted by davischevy

Now it's 3/5 on 20's.

What sized wheels and tires are you running on your truck in this photo?

[Mike C]

Zero offset is good usually. I have 235 55 17 on 17x8 with 4.5" backspace in the front and 275 55 17 in the rear on 17x9 with 5" backspace. Love this combo on my truck, but nobody makes tires in a matching set anymore. 18's would give you more tire choices. My truck is lowered 4.5" front on ECE spindles and 2" springs and has a 7" leaf spring flip in the rear.

[CC69Rat]

Before you compare pics and sizes, one thing you might want to check is to be 110% sure you know which rear axle you have under the truck now. I know it's a 72, and chances are the original rear end is still in the truck.

But ..

Let's say I post up a picture of a 67-68 with the sizes you're looking at. It wont fit the same on a 72, as it will on the earlier years. In your examples you mentioned a 10 wide wheel with 5.75 BS. That wheel will fit completely different on an early housing than the later housing.

The early housings are 55.5" long if you measure from the inside edge of the brake backing plate over to the other side in the same spot. The later housings are 57" using the plate-to-plate method. It's just an easy way to tell which one you have in the truck now without taking the wheels off. It's likely going to be a later housing, but just sayin.. I'd check it to be sure.

The longer housings (+ 3/4" on each side. 1.5" longer overall) are usually 5 lug, yes.. but there were 6 lug versions in 70. 70 was the transition year and could have either.

My concern is someone else posting a truck with those wheel sizes and backspacing, and you go with it.. I just wanted to make sure your rear axle might be longer than theirs. With a 275/60 rear, 18x10 5.75 and a 5" drop,.. it could mean fitting vs not fitting.

Maybe I missed it, but just making sure, is it a stepside truck or fleetside? Do you have an adjustable track bar on it now?

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by davischevy

ECE 2/4 drop with 17X8 TT, 4.5 BS.

Do you remember which model number TT's you had on the truck ?