Understanding Wheels
Thread Starter
1968 Cutlass Fan!
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 242
From: Weaverville, NC
Understanding Wheels
Hello All!
I sure had no idea wheels are so complicated. Can someone help me understand what these data points mean? How will I know what size tires match the wheel? How will I know if these will fit in the wheel wells? How do I know if the bolt pattern is right? What is backspacing?
Part Number: 61715
Size: 15x7
Part Description: 15x7 Series 61 S/S
Bolt Pattern: 5x4.5, 4.75, 5.0
Offset: +3
Backspacing (In) 4 1/8"
Load Rating: 1580
Weight: 26
Cap Part Number: 09090
I sure had no idea wheels are so complicated. Can someone help me understand what these data points mean? How will I know what size tires match the wheel? How will I know if these will fit in the wheel wells? How do I know if the bolt pattern is right? What is backspacing?
Part Number: 61715
Size: 15x7
Part Description: 15x7 Series 61 S/S
Bolt Pattern: 5x4.5, 4.75, 5.0
Offset: +3
Backspacing (In) 4 1/8"
Load Rating: 1580
Weight: 26
Cap Part Number: 09090
Last edited by 1968CutlassSupreme; May 16, 2014 at 01:49 PM. Reason: One more question...
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 272
From: Escondido California
Beer Connoisseur
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,092
From: Daly City, California
The best thing you can do is; go to your local wheel shop, tell them which wheels you like and see what they say. Talk to them about backspacing and fitment. Most of them will tell you exactly what you need, explain why and give you a price. Usually that price is not much more that catalog. Sometimes cheaper if you get a set with tires from them as they get a big break on tires. Whether you buy from them or not I would start there.
Registered User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,009
From: Woodland WA
All the stuff you want to know is everywhere, practically, on the Internet. Do some searches asking those same questions. Ex: bolt pattern size. In just a couple of looks I found at least three sites explaining this.
Alternatively any retailer that handles both custom wheels and tires will have been through this same set of questions lots of times and can help. Tire Factory comes to mind and they are also on the Internet. FWIW I have no connection with Tire Factory.
The hardest thing is knowing what will fit in your wheel wells. A good tire/wheel shop will likely be willing to help you do the measurements necessary.
I don't mean to sound pissy about this but you really need to figure out this tire and wheel stuff on your own as there are so many possible combinations of wheel size and offsets and different makes, models and years of cars plus suspension changes will also affect what you can use.
Jerry
X2 What 70Cutty says. I hadn't seen his post before doing mine.
Alternatively any retailer that handles both custom wheels and tires will have been through this same set of questions lots of times and can help. Tire Factory comes to mind and they are also on the Internet. FWIW I have no connection with Tire Factory.
The hardest thing is knowing what will fit in your wheel wells. A good tire/wheel shop will likely be willing to help you do the measurements necessary.
I don't mean to sound pissy about this but you really need to figure out this tire and wheel stuff on your own as there are so many possible combinations of wheel size and offsets and different makes, models and years of cars plus suspension changes will also affect what you can use.
Jerry
X2 What 70Cutty says. I hadn't seen his post before doing mine.
Last edited by 47 Convertible; May 16, 2014 at 02:42 PM. Reason: add info
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