Fitment Question: Backspacing

[John H.]

Hello Club4AG!
I have a fitment question for you guys.
I'm planning on buying a set of 14x8 wheels for my AE86, Diamond Racing Wheels, if you are wondering . Basically the whole backspacing thing is kind of confusing me.
Just wondering how much backspacing I can run on my AE? I have stock flares that are rolled a little, front and back, nothing insane. I would like to run the widest wheels possible.

Thanks in advance, anything and everything helps guys!

-John

[gotzoom?]

This article should help you out. You'll find a lot of fitment threads and advice on offset, so once you settle on an offset, a little math will get you to the backspacing.

[John H.]

Thanks gotzoom,
that seriously helped! I also found this if anybody else is in the same boat.
http://forums.club4ag.com/zerothread?id=36529
backspace to offset conversion chart



-John

[Cavi Mike]

I like ^that^ chart, it's the only one I've seen that compensates for the thickness of the lip on the wheel. It needs to be factored in when going from back-spacing to offset. A 10" wheel with 5" back-spacing isn't actually a 0 offset wheel, there's like 1/2" extra there. 12mm seems about right.

[ga_goosh]

you also need to take tire size into consideration. even tho the wheel can completely clear with out rubbing it may be a different story when you have tires mounted. if you have a decent streach on your tires then i wouldnt worry about rubbing if your rims clear. over all you have about 4.5 to 4.625 inches of back spacing available. if you go wider then 8.5 or 9 inches you will probably have to roll your fenders for clearance. 10 inches and wider you will need flares. here is a watanabe site with lots of ae86 pics with wheel sizes specs and tire size to comare to. in some cases it says if you need a roll or not surf there and find out what you like to get an idea of what you want

http://www.rs-watanabe.co.jp/userspage_new/toyota.htm

also here is a tire and wheel calc so you can figure out the correct offset for any width wheels.
http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp

[John H.]

Thanks ga_goosh,
I often go on the watanabe site just to look at the cars, I've never thought of using it as a reference!
QUESTION: When they say 14-80 is that the same as 14x8? Example: http://www.rs-watanabe.co.jp/userspage/patrick.htm
Another example: http://www.rs-watanabe.co.jp/userspage/maeda-ae86.htm this one would be 15x8.5? Right?

-John

[Red]

OK, I'll take the devil's side and say that if you want a widetrack, you want a Pontiac. That was what they were famous for.

As you move the wheels further apart (length or width) you get a more stable car that prefers to track in a straight line. The whole purpose of an AE8x is to be nimble, not stable. Spread the wheels, and you won't be as nimble.

And when the nice folks from the DOT put out all those orange slalom cones when there's road work, you'll have much less fun trying to do a slalom without hitting them. <VBG>

[ga_goosh]

Thanks ga_goosh,
I often go on the watanabe site just to look at the cars, I've never thought of using it as a reference!
QUESTION: When they say 14-80 is that the same as 14x8? Example: http://www.rs-watanabe.co.jp/userspage/patrick.htm
Another example: http://www.rs-watanabe.co.jp/userspage/maeda-ae86.htm this one would be 15x8.5? Right?

-John

yup i think they just yse 2 digits or forgot a decimal? not sure but yea 14x8

[John H.]

QUESTION: Does anyone know if 4x4 1/2 is the same as 4x114.3???
http://www.diamondracingwheels.com/inde ... ger-series
Standard Bolt Patterns
•4x100, •4x4 1/4, •4x4 1/2

-John

[Red]

The math says YES.

You can always convert units online, just type in the convert question in a search engine and you'll get either an ansswer, or hits on the calculators that convert it.

[Cavi Mike]

There are 25.4mm in an inch. Divide 114.3 by 25.4 and what's your answer?