18x10 rear wheels for A Body?

[That72Kid]

Been going thread crazy lately so I apologize for that. Forgelines were a little out of my price range, but i'm about to go with some Boze Forged on my 1972 Chevelle.

I've been told 18x8 with 245/40 R18 up front should work ok, but my main concern is rear backspacing.

I'm wanting to go 18x10 with either a 295/35 R18 or 285/40 R18. The backspacing on the rear is apparently 5.5"

I have looked up a few threads and guys seem to run this combo without problems, but I want to be 100%. My current setup is a
255/50 R17 and it fits the rear perfectly with about 1/4-1/2 inch before the sidewall of the tire hits the quarter-panel lip.

I feel like if i go any wider than my current setup I will have interference, but i'm not sure of my current backspacing either.


Thanks guys!

[andrewb70]

I run a 10.5" wide wheel in the rear with 6.25" backspacing. I've had 295/45, 295/40, and now have 295/35 tires on it. They all fit perfectly.

On the front I used to have a 8" wheel with 4.5" backspacing and have used a 255/40 tire. I have since widened the wheel to the inside, and have a 9.5" wheel with 6" of backspacing and a 275/35 tire. The tire hits the sway bar pretty hard, but I don't care. I added a .5" spacer, which should make it a little better. As they say, your mileage may vary.

Andrew

[Schwartz Performance]

No problem fitting an 18x10.
Your current sidewall bulges a bit more than a 285/40 so you'll have more clearance to the quarter. It's not out of the question to trim the lip a little either.
I can't comment on the ideal back spacing though sorry.

-Dale

[cmac06]

Similar to this, but still running 245 up front. Mines lowered about 4 inches, and no clearance issues.

[Sean Cooke]

I'm running 19x9.5 & 19x10.5 with a 275/30front and 295/30rear no clearance issues

[novajess1972]

I run 20x8.5 up front with 5.5in BS and 20x10 out back with 6in BS and 295/35 on my 72 Chevelle.

[chevelletiger]

18X9,285 35 18,5.25 b.s.,18x10,295-35-18,6.125 b.s.
Phil

[That72Kid]

I've got my choice narrowed down to the Boze Pro Touring wheels in 18x8 245/40 Front but i'm now hung up on the rear.

I did a lot of searching and i'm considering 19x10 in the rear with a 285/35, but I want to lower the rear eventually and I think that might look better with 18" wheels in the rear. I will be running nitto Invos all around. Any thoughts on that?

[novajess1972]

JMO, but I would go with a larger size on a 72. I think 18s and 19s look more at home on smaller cars, such as Nova, Camaro, Mustang. Especially if you're planning to run such a thin sidewall. If you're insistent on running a 19, I would at least step up to a 40 series tire. I have run both a 275/40-20 and 295/35-20 on 20x10 on mine. There was a very slight rub on the inner wheel well with the 295 until I installed a sway bar and QA1s....problem solved. And before that, the rub was only during a somewhat aggressive turn.

[That72Kid]

Exactly what I was thinking. However, a 285/40 on a 19" wheel is almost 28" in diameter which seems a little big to me.

A 285/35R19 has just under 4 inches of sidewall. Does that sound bad for a car I will be driving regularly on the roads?

[novajess1972]

That's not as tall as you would think. Below are several different tire packages on the same size wheel...20x10.

Here is my buddy's 67 with 285/35-20 (27.7in tall)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/ADA9FBAF44D74EF5A7A501B8FD9F8297_zpsug5u-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/blk72/media/ADA9FBAF-44D7-4EF5-A7A5-01B8FD9F8297_zpsug5ufgcn.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/A9ACB08E383C4DD7931BC0075238F5F5_zps7tjb-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/blk72/media/A9ACB08E-383C-4DD7-931B-C0075238F5F5_zps7tjbseop.jpg.html)

Here is my 72 with 275/40-20 (28.62in tall)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/AB022880CCDC4FF9ABAAC2BF206D7B7F_zpspxlw-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/blk72/media/AB022880-CCDC-4FF9-ABAA-C2BF206D7B7F_zpspxlwova2.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/A52F27A4F1D743F386FBF1A36A16EA9C_zps9mvi-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/blk72/media/A52F27A4-F1D7-43F3-86FB-F1A36A16EA9C_zps9mvifbsd.jpg.html)

Here is my 72 with 295/35-20 (28.11in tall)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/F51B4A5BFEF343E49E951050A47EB342_zpshcor-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/blk72/media/F51B4A5B-FEF3-43E4-9E95-1050A47EB342_zpshcor2x3p.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/D3B625EA245E4A45916E345D7CF738AF_zps0xrd-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/blk72/media/D3B625EA-245E-4A45-916E-345D7CF738AF_zps0xrd626t.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/A3A817C621B84B8DA0DB30B021FE3C36_zpspvnc-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/blk72/media/A3A817C6-21B8-4B8D-A0DB-30B021FE3C36_zpspvncfhzu.jpg.html)

And to give you perspective on a 18x10, here is my Nova with 295/35-18 (26.1in tall)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/04A1C34FAD4A49618B6EADA2F69D60A9_zpsvuua-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/blk72/media/04A1C34F-AD4A-4961-8B6E-ADA2F69D60A9_zpsvuuac4fm.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/82965E4C8C344B81933C8E56AE2FD589_zpsk8es-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/blk72/media/82965E4C-8C34-4B81-933C-8E56AE2FD589_zpsk8es1kf5.jpg.html)

If the car was larger, as in A body, the 18s would be swallowed up, unless you went with a taller sidewall.

I hope this helps or gives you the perspectives you are looking for.

JW

[That72Kid]

That's not as tall as you would think. Below are several different tire packages on the same size wheel...20x10.



If the car was larger, as in A body, the 18s would be swallowed up, unless you went with a taller sidewall.

I hope this helps or gives you the perspectives you are looking for.

JW

Thanks for the references!

I think I will keep it 18x8 up front and go 19x10 with 285/35R19 tires.


One last question… Will this fit?? I'm not sure what my current offset is, but my 255/50R17 in the back leave me very little wiggle room.

Hopefully a 5 5/8" or 5.75" offset will help on the 10 inch wheels

[novajess1972]

Thanks for the references!

I think I will keep it 18x8 up front and go 19x10 with 285/35R19 tires.


One last question… Will this fit?? I'm not sure what my current offset is, but my 255/50R17 in the back leave me very little wiggle room.

Hopefully a 5 5/8" or 5.75" offset will help on the 10 inch wheels

I'm pretty sure it will fit with the correct backspacing. I have never gone wrong with 6in BS in the rear on any of my A bodies.

Here is a super helpful tool to use when trying to determine what will fit.

http://www.rimsntires.com/specspro.jsp

You enter your current specs on the left side virtual wheel/tire setup and the desired wheel/tire setup on the right side. After entering the data, it will advise whether the desired package will fit in the wheel housing and against the suspension.

[That72Kid]

Got my wheels ordered tonight. Gloss black centers with the polished lip.

18x8 4.75BS Front

19x10 5.75BS Rear

Should be here in about 4-6 weeks!

[andrewb70]

Got my wheels ordered tonight. Gloss black centers with the polished lip.

18x8 4.75BS Front

19x10 5.75BS Rear

Should be here in about 4-6 weeks!

So...why did you order 19s for the rear? What tire are you going to run?

Andrew

[That72Kid]

So...why did you order 19s for the rear? What tire are you going to run?

Andrew

After looking at countless setups night after night and asking all kinds of questions, I personally think it will fit my car a little better than an 18".
I plan on running 285/35

Just look at the Roadster Shop Chevelle they did awhile back with 18/19 wheels for example
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/Picture14704-1.jpg

[andrewb70]

I only asked because there aren't a lot of tire options in a 295/35-19 tire...but there are many in the 285. LOL

Andrew

[That72Kid]

I hear that. I definitely made sure I had several tire options lined up before I pulled the trigger.