Hi Guys,

I have a set of Buick's version of SS1 wheels that look like they were made in 1980. They do clear my disc brakes, but the backspacing is 3 1/2". I believe the backspacing on my stock SSIIs is more like 4.5" or 4.75". Has anybody used these wheels on there Olds? Am I going to have troubles running this 3.5" backspacing on my '72 Cutlass? I'd like to use them as I like the looks, but I don't want to ruin anything or be unsafe either.

Thanks,

Rod

 

Well, first of all, Buick never used SSI/Magnum 500 style wheels. You have the Buick sport wheels, which are different. In any case, backspacing depends on rim width, which is why I always say to use offset, not backspacing, as the measurement that matters.

Unfortunately, you are wrong about the SSII backspacing, unless yours are not stock. A 6" wide rim with near zero offset will have about 3.25" backspacing. A 7" wide rim with near zero offset will have about 3.75" backspacing. If your SSIIs really have over 4.5" of backspacing, they are not factory rims but aftermarket. How wide are they?

Here's the Buford wheel. Note that the spokes are thinner and the faces are curved.



These are SSI wheels.