Wheel Backspacing?

[Evan A. Beck]

Hey guys, I am planning to convert to the Weld Renegade F1 18x8. 5 wheels with 285/60 tires, and I am needing to know what backspacing to get. I'd like to keep the stock look, so getting the right backspacing is pretty important. I got a '01 2WD 2500 QC. Not sure what the stock backspacing is...

Thanks! #ad


[This message has been edited by Evan A. Beck (edited 03-25-2001). ]

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I found this info on aftermarket wheels at Fritzs' web page:

Rims should maintain the same centerline no matter the size. This means that if the offset is 2", it MUST remain 2". In other words, if the backspace = 4" on a 6" rim, you will need 5" on an 8" rim.

While this is the ideal, it isn't always possible. (There is only so much room to the inside of the wheelwell. )

So, you try to get as close as possible. The Rams seem to do well with a backspace in the 4-5" range in terms of fit. While this is close to optimum for an 8" rim, it starts to place more and more stress as the width rises. A 10" rim would most likely be perfectly fine in all respects. However, a 12" (and the tire that would carry) is starting to place the centerline of the wheel beyond the bearings.

It's up to you if you want to go that large, but I wouldn't expect to be able to use the truck to it's limits without doing damage. If you're just driving it around empty on the road, it should be fine, but add a trailer or large load, and you are adding stress the bearings were not designed to handle. They might do just fine, but it is a gamble.

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[Mick2500]

Evan,

My 2001. 5 came with the forged aluminum factory wheels, 6 1/4" Positive offset. I think if your new wheels are also 8", stick with the 6 1/4" offset. Going more negative than that can cause bearing loading problems if you put any kind of a load in it.

Mick2500
<font color=blue>

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2001. 5 2500 ETH/DEE, QuadCab, 4X4, SB, LSD, 3. 54, SLT+, Sport, Intense Blue PC/Agate, Tow Package, Camper Package, 'DC' Bed Cover, Sliding rear window. Totally STOCK!!
On Order 4/28/00
Arrived 9/14/00 !! #ad

My Truck


[This message has been edited by Mick2500 (edited 03-27-2001). ]

 

[Evan A. Beck]

So if I go with the 18x8. 5 rim with 6. 25" of backspacing, it shouldn't stick out any more than stock? As you can see, my ignorance about wheels & tires is becoming evident. #ad

 

[Dave B]

Evan,

I went thru this nightmare about a year ago..... I too wanted Weld wheels, and went around n around, but at that time, nothing bolted on to my 99 with the same offset/backspacing as stock wheels. I even went so far as to talk to Les Schwab's rep over in Prineville to see what they could find, and at the time, we could find nothing. Maybe I was looking in wrong places, but I never found anything that has the same backspacing as stock. Do you recall the truck that BD had at Timberline Dodge last summer... it had aftermarket wheels that didn't stick out farther than stock. BD guy said he didn't remember what kind they were and would email me, but he never did. They looked great, and he had 265s on there.

I'm with Evan, if anyone has a suggestion, I'd like to hear it as well.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Evan,

Offset--measurement of the wheel's centerline in relationship to your hub flange. The more positive, the more the wheel sticks out, sorta like those Hondas you saw in Pasco when you came over last spring #ad


Backspacing--has to do with how far the tire reaches into the wheelwell. If you get wide wheels and keep stock offset, there will be a lot more backspacing. If you want to keep stock backspacing, then you need a lot of offset (NOT desirable). Make sense now?

Remember this. . . the Weld Renegades you are looking at are ONLY 1/2" wider than the stock wheels, so there certainly should be no problems staying with stock offset. Call Weld, they have all the proper info about what offset you should run, etc. I noticed they changed their spec page, they used to list offset in inches but now they have some number that doesn't make sense.

F1 Renegade Specs

Let us know if ya get 'em, those wheels are wayyy cool #ad


Vaughn

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Steve, I think you're right--I couldn't remember if you moved toward positive or negative moving the tires outward from the body. Some Hondas around here have such major negative offset the whole tire is out beyond the body #ad

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Evan,

$1600 Bananas on just wheels?

Holy Cow!

 

[Evan A. Beck]

HEMI, yeah, I know... It's gonna be expensive, but man, it is gonna kick *** !!! #ad
*LOL* gotta remeber, I got a grand tied up in JUST headlights on this truck... #ad


Will be calling Weld this week.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Vaughn I believe you have the offset backwards. A positive offset wheel will move the wheel in towards the body. The little honda's you see with the tires sticking WAY out are either no offset or negative offset. I am very familiar with this because I had 4wd S-10's in the past and they use a positive offset wheel and they are EXTREMELY hard to find aftermarket. I used Centerline HT II's on my last truck and they were very expensive because few trucks use wheels with that much positive offset. Most FWD cars also use positive offset wheels.


[This message has been edited by Steve St. Laurent (edited 03-26-2001). ]

 

[pcorssmit]

Steve's got the offset thing right. A 9. 75" wheel w/6" offset would look like a dually wheel.

Pete

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'97 2500 CC 4X4 5spd Sport
'83 K5 Blazer 350 TBI (ex 6. 2), 39. 5 TSLs, 3" lift, Dana 60/GM 14 blt, Detroits

 

[Mick2500]

Okay,
I was wrong, I'll admit it #ad

Here is what I meant to say. #ad

http://www.rsracing.com/wheelstuff.html

Negative offset moves the wheel mounting flange inward which moves the outside edge of the wheel/tire outward.

Positive offset moves the wheel mounting flange outward which moves the outside edge of the wheel/tire inward. (Like our factory wheels).


Mick
<font color=blue>

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2001. 5 2500 ETH/DEE, QuadCab, 4X4, SB, LSD, 3. 54, SLT+, Sport, Intense Blue PC/Agate, Tow Package, Camper Package, 'DC' Bed Cover, Sliding rear window. Totally STOCK!!
On Order 4/28/00
Arrived 9/14/00 !! #ad

My Truck

[This message has been edited by Mick2500 (edited 03-27-2001). ]

 

[Justbeamn]

pcorssmit, what's wrong with dually wheels #ad


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98. 5 3500 SLT Quad Dually 4x4. 3:54 Auto, Waterfall Blk on red. Custom dually flaps, Rhino lining, All acc's w/leather, Muth signal mirrors, Catz MSC's, 55watt back up lights, Optima Red Tops, 80/100 head lights
BD exhaust brake, Banks EGT/Boost/Temp gauges, Mag-Hytec DC&TP, SS bug screen and fender trim,SS Stull diamond line running boards, SS 4" turn down.
My Dually

 

[pcorssmit]

Originally posted by Justbeamn:
pcorssmit, what's wrong with dually wheels #ad

Nuthin', except a 9. 75 w/6" negative backspacing would be really hard on the front wheel bearings, not to mention hard to steer, as well as creating possible fender interference. #ad
(picture your front dually wheel mounted backwards).

Pete

 

[Papa Joe]

Evan, don't spend a nickel until you get to the bottom of this !!

I ran this gambit once before and the confusion was exceeded only by the wrong information I was given.
Evan, I ended up getting the honest truth explained the way I could understand from Les Schwab. Give it a shot. $00. 02 #ad
Joe

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White 2001 QuadCab 2500 Laramie SLT, HO 6-speed, 3. 54 limited slip, Mopar exhaust brake, towing/camper options, Rhino liner, Grover Air Horns (not yet installed), Un BOMBed (so far), DUAL AIR BAGS !!

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Thanks for the help, guys. I'll be doing the switch-over as soon as my stock tires wear out. I am guessing they got about 30K left in them, so around the 70K mark I will do the cahnge to 18".