Lowering and wheel offsets...

[blackpala96]

I have a 1986 Buick Regal and am in the process of lowering it 2 inches front and back. Spindles up front and springs in the rear. I am looking at wheels and am wanting to use "offset" wheels. They are 17x7.5 with a 42 offset. They are also 5x120.

So, what size spacer will I need and what size tire can I run to avoid any headaches.

I was thinking 245/45 in the rear and 235/45 in the front? And about 1 1/2" spacer?

 

[pontiacgp]

5 x 120 isn't the bolt pattern for a G body, it's 5 x 4.75 or 5 x 120.65

 

[blackpala96]

I know this, I plan on getting 5x4.75 to 5x120mm spacers. The question is, how big? 1 1/2" or 2 inch for a 7.5" wheel with 42mm offset. And say a 245/45 rear and 235/45 front tire.

 

[pontiacgp]

You mean a wheel adapter, not a spacer. I assume that's a positive offset and the BS on that FWD rim is about 6" and you'd want to have about a 4" BS...I don't recommend wheel spacers or adapters, get a wheel that fits properly

 

[FE3X CLONE]

I don't recommend wheel spacers or adapters, get a wheel that fits properly

Agreed.

It would be one thing if you had a set of wheels just fall into your lap for free that you were trying to use but if your actually ordering new wheels, then order the proper wheels from the get-go and forget the spacers/adapters.

 

[blackpala96]

Come on now guys. There are hundreds if not thousands of people (some on this site) running adapters/spacers from quality places like Skulte performance and the likes. It's not unheard of, and it sure beats running the same old tired wheel setup(Coys, TT2, etc)

I will pay the money to get quality pieces that have hubcentric hubs and all that jazz, but I do appreciate your concern.

 

[pontiacgp]

how much extra pressure are you putting on the wheel bearings on the front with those wheels?...and how much extra strain are you putting on the rear axle just behind the flange?

 

[blackpala96]

Unless an engineer chimes in, I doubt either of us will really know. Though with that said, I haven't heard of a failure of a spacer/adapter when ordered and installed properly.

Enough bickering, so a 42mm offset wheel is about 6" of BS? So I would need a 2 inch adapter/spacer to get to a 4" BS? And my tire coices should work decently?

 

[RITTER]

Leaving the whole spacers/adpaters are bad arguement out of this ... if you are ordering new wheels, why wouldn't you just order what you need, instead of ordering a wheel that you'll have to use an adapter

 

[khan0165]

here's my math

17x7.5 wheel
7.5/2 = 3.75 inch to center of wheel
42mm = 1.65"
1.65" offset + 3.75" wheel center = 5.40" theoretical backspacing

... but this doesn't tell us true backspacing, you still need to know actual wheel width, from lip to lip. The 7.5" you have is only from beed to beed.

backspacing information should be given on the spec' sheet of the wheel you are ordering, there is no other accurate way to know without measuring.

That being said, I think you will need between 2" to 2.5" adaptors. You HAVE TO upgrade your studs as well.

all together, you are looking at close to $350 to $400 before the cost of your wheels and tires.
... all this being said, you wait save ALOT more money and headache if you order wheels with less backspacing. You will also cause less wear on your bearings/hubs/studs