Shoreman

I am traveling and have a chance to buy two supposedly OEM wheels for my 1955 Olds 98 2dr Hdtp. The 5x5 bolt pattern is correct, but can someone please confirm the backspace these 15" wheels should have? Thanks.

Funkwagon455

When I put the correct 15 inch wheels on my 40 90 series coupe I was told that these 15 inch wheels went all the way up to 1956 or maybe seven these are five on five have three clips to retain a hubcap and have a backspace of 4.15 inches

joe_padavano

Backspace is meaningless without knowing rim width also. The number you care about is offset, which is the distance that the wheel mounting flange is offset (get it?) from the center of the rim width. Nearly every RWD Olds ever built wants wheels with near zero offset. Note in this diagram that backspace changes with width, even if offset stays the same. Also note that the thickness of the lip on the edge of the rim affects the backspace measurement as well. Backspace is easy to measure but pretty worthless from a fitment standpoint.

Shoreman

Thanks, FUNKWAGON455, for your timely and useful response.