What's the widest 15" wheel/tire I can fit on my box Caprice?

[BoxCaprice]

What's the widest 15" wheel/tire I can fit on my box Caprice? More cornering grip wanted. Looking at some Basset DOT wheels, 15x7's or 15x8's maybe. Not sure about tires yet.

[Barbarossa]

Hello,

someone may be along that is able to answer this, but ImpalaSS Forum is mostly about 94-94 Impala SS's.

Say no to donks.

[scot]

I use 15X9 rear with a 3/8" spacer needed to clear the frame, 15X8 front, all made from oem aluminum Caprice wheels cut down the middle and widened. So all have the factory offset, just widened toward the inside. Even fit on a RMS with the rear skirt with Firehawk 275/60-15's. Best handling, ride and braking combo for currently available new tires. Used to have the same wheels with Pirelli P-Zero 255/60-15 that were even better in handling and braking (not ride), but they are no longer made.

[BoxCaprice]

Originally Posted by scot

I use 15X9 rear with a 3/8" spacer needed to clear the frame, 15X8 front, all made from oem aluminum Caprice wheels cut down the middle and widened. So all have the factory offset, just widened toward the inside. Even fit on a RMS with the rear skirt with Firehawk 275/60-15's. Best handling, ride and braking combo for currently available new tires. Used to have the same wheels with Pirelli P-Zero 255/60-15 that were even better in handling and braking (not ride), but they are no longer made.

Wow 15x9's back there, so I should be fine with the 15x8's I'm looking at I would think...Do you know what the backspacing on those factory wheels was? I'm kind of confused about offset and backspacing etc. The 15x8's I'm looking at (http://www.bassettwheel.com/dot.html) have backspacing options of 3", 4", 4.5" & 4.75".

[jayoldschool]

With proper measuring and ordering the correct backspacing, you will be able to easily fit a 15x10 and a 295 50 15.

[Bigdawg70]

15x10 will fit 5 inch backspacing no spacer required. You may need to trim the lip to fit a big rear tire. A 295/50/15 will put a goot tire on back. I had a 295/65/15 on.

[BoxCaprice]

Originally Posted by Bigdawg70

15x10 will fit 5 inch backspacing no spacer required. You may need to trim the lip to fit a big rear tire. A 295/50/15 will put a goot tire on back. I had a 295/65/15 on.

So that's a 295/60/15 on the rear in the pics? I guess I've got nothing to worry about since the biggest I'm probably going to go is a 15x8. The more backspacing you have the wider your stance correct? Or is it the other way around?

[Bigdawg70]

no thats a 295/65/15 tire Drag radial. Its the other way around if you have a 15x8 with 5 inch back spacing it will be tucked under. But it you have a 3 inch back it will sit farther out just becareful if you plan on lowering it order accordingly.

[akio]

I run 255/55R16 on an 8" rim with 4.5" backspace on a '79 Bonneville, same design as your Caprice. Front wheelwell clearance and "fill" is perfect. In the rear you'd be safe with the same specs, but depending on your tire, you may want spacers to fill out the well.

[BoxCaprice]

Originally Posted by akio

I run 255/55R16 on an 8" rim with 4.5" backspace on a '79 Bonneville, same design as your Caprice. Front wheelwell clearance and "fill" is perfect. In the rear you'd be safe with the same specs, but depending on your tire, you may want spacers to fill out the well.

Thanks Akio good to know