Lowering Malibu confusion need advice!

[scoti]

I’m really just looking to close the gaps a little bit between fender and tire. Nothing like crazy crazy but gaps closed much more. I will pull off the wheel and check backspacing. Maybe an inch and a half lowered maybe 2?

Also was going to change up my wheels. I hear people say you can’t fit a 275 most of the time but I’ve heard you can fit a 275 on a 15x7 wheel with 3.5 backspacing

Gotcha.... Move things back to 'stock' height vs raised up to clear the current placement.

A 255/60 fits w/o much fuss on an 8" wheel with 4.25 back-spacing and is ~27" tall.

Your desired 275/60 comes in @ 28" tall. I don't like the idea of a 275mm tire on a 7" wide wheel as it pinches the sidewalls in. The narrowest wheel I'd put a 275 on would be 8" minimum (I prefer a 10" wheel for the record). Using a 7" wheel seems counter productive as well but could be a solution (not the way I'd go).

I'll ask just for insight toward solutions: Why 275's? Is it for looks? Is it a late night street brawler?

 

[jcelk]

a 255 is the widest i would go on a 7 inch rim putting a tall tire on is like highway gears check on line.. gears tire size rpm

 

[scoti]

a 255 is the widest i would go on a 7 inch rim putting a tall tire on is like highway gears check on line.. gears tire size rpm

Definitely.

Knowing the vehicles current set-up (engine/trans/rear end ratio/wheel & tire set-up) as well as it's typical usage (or planned usage) helps forum members make better suggestions.

 

[Irishspring46]

Gotcha.... Move things back to 'stock' height vs raised up to clear the current placement.

A 255/60 fits w/o much fuss on an 8" wheel with 4.25 back-spacing and is ~27" tall.

Your desired 275/60 comes in @ 28" tall. I don't like the idea of a 275mm tire on a 7" wide wheel as it pinches the sidewalls in. The narrowest wheel I'd put a 275 on would be 8" minimum (I prefer a 10" wheel for the record). Using a 7" wheel seems counter productive as well but could be a solution (not the way I'd go).

I'll ask just for insight toward solutions: Why 275's? Is it for looks? Is it a late night street brawler?

Yeah the wheels I’d like on my car they have the 8” ones have too high of backspacing so it wouldn’t work. The 7” wheels would have 3.5 backspacing which I’ve heard works. I’m planning to swap motor soon and would like a wider tire on the back ideally but am kinda considering going down to a 255 to avoid issues. I’m really doing it for looks now at the moment

 

[Irishspring46]

Definitely.

Knowing the vehicles current set-up (engine/trans/rear end ratio/wheel & tire set-up) as well as it's typical usage (or planned usage) helps forum members make better suggestions.

Gotcha.... Move things back to 'stock' height vs raised up to clear the current placement.

A 255/60 fits w/o much fuss on an 8" wheel with 4.25 back-spacing and is ~27" tall.

Your desired 275/60 comes in @ 28" tall. I don't like the idea of a 275mm tire on a 7" wide wheel as it pinches the sidewalls in. The narrowest wheel I'd put a 275 on would be 8" minimum (I prefer a 10" wheel for the record). Using a 7" wheel seems counter productive as well but could be a solution (not the way I'd go).

I'll ask just for insight toward solutions: Why 275's? Is it for looks? Is it a late night street brawler?

Sorry for bombarding you with questions but also do you think I’d be able to fit a 15x7 wheel in the front with

Definitely.

Knowing the vehicles current set-up (engine/trans/rear end ratio/wheel & tire set-up) as well as it's typical usage (or planned usage) helps forum members make better suggestions.

Definitely.

Knowing the vehicles current set-up (engine/trans/rear end ratio/wheel & tire set-up) as well as it's typical usage (or planned usage) helps forum members make better suggestions.

gonna have a built 350, grand national rear with highway gears not sure the exact gearing (might change them in the future to 373s and I’d like it to just be a street weekend cruiser. I found another similar wheel. What do you think about a 15x8 3.5 backspacing on a 275

 

[scoti]

Sorry for bombarding you with questions but also do you think I’d be able to fit a 15x7 wheel in the front with

15x7 will fit up front but again backspace & tire size dictates potential problems.

This car is fairly low but had 15x6/3.75bs w/195/65-15's @25" tall up front & 15x8/4.25bs w/255/60-15's @ 27" in back.

Without lowering, a 15x7" wheel w/215/65-15's should easily fit up front & is a good match to the 8" wheel 255/60-15 size out back.

 

[Irishspring46]

15x7 will fit up front but again backspace & tire size dictates potential problems.

This car is fairly low but had 15x6/3.75bs w/195/65-15's @25" tall up front & 15x8/4.25bs w/255/60-15's @ 27" in back.

Without lowering, a 15x7" wheel w/215/65-15's should easily fit up front & is a good match to the 8" wheel 255/60-15 size out back.

Ok so 255 on 8

As pictured, it looks like there's a decent gap off those 275's so I'm thinking going lower = returning things to stock height. How much are you wanting to 'lower' it?

Pull a rear wheel off & measure the back spacing. Just from the initial images, I'm betting you'll want more back-spacing vs the wheels currently installed.

maybe I’ll try to get some stock springs? There’s no way these are stock springs in the back. Maybe I’ll try stocks and just see how that sits and if it rubs. Stock springs are pretty cheap

 

[scoti]

I'd start w/stock springs.
What shocks are out back?

 

[Irishspring46]

I'd start w/stock springs.
What shocks are out back?

it’s got kyb gas adjusts all around. Stock rear springs seem super stiff and sit high. It has a little rake to it the front is a little lower than back. I’m assuming it’s stock springs in the front, it sure seems like it. Do you think it’s a good idea to get it to sit right with suspension and figure that out before I get wheels?

 

[jcelk]

both have to be taken into consideration lastly when you have your ride height where you want it measure for shocks