CORRECT OFFSETS FOR CAMARO WHEELS

[Richard Pryor1548534703]

A while ago there was a question about offsets for Camaro wheels...I don't remember if anyone answered it but I just found my notes and here's the dope:

 

1982-1992 Camaro/Firebird 16" x 8" rims stock have 4.5" backspacing front

and 5 1/8 " backspacing rear

 

17 inch x 9" rims have 5.5" backspacing front and rear

 

1993-2002 Camaro/Firebird 16x8 have 6.5 backspacing front and rear..same with 16x9 rear

 

17x9 use 6.5" backspacing front and rear

[bsim]

Youda man - I know I asked this question once - thanks RP...

[Al F.]

hmmmm...so does that mean one could could increase track on the front by 1 1/4" by running rears there?

 

Thanks for the info Richard, I know I asked when I was looking for more wheels.

[Richard Pryor1548534703]

nope, it's the opposite....backspace is negative offset toward the cars centerline...you want positive offset for more track which is why most 3rd gen camaros run front rims on the rear for a wider track...richard

[bsim]

I had a discussion about this with a fella running A/S. I told him I wanted all front offsets. He replied to the effect of '...that will make your car a little more squirrely, add some over steer...'.

 

I guess the 'normal' narrower rear track helps keep the rears in line behind the fronts for stability. But with the power levels we're running, it's not like we're gonna lose the rear end on a regular basis.

 

So yeah, I think all front offsets (the wider track) frees up the car a little...

[Al F.]

it's not like we're gonna lose the rear end on a regular basis

Speak for yourself! Anyway, so I had the direction of the offset backwards, good to know. For those of you that do this, keep in mind the increased track will also increase the bending loads on the axles. Just another reason to check for cracks periodically so as to not have the same experience as Julie had.

[kincy]

I just happened to have one of my set of newly polished and beautiful 16x8 salad shooters for the fourth gen (that have polished center caps) and are for sale.....hint, hint.

 

So I measured them on my Patented Super Wheel measurer (that is actually true and another story). The 16x8 4th gen wheels are a tad less than 6 and 3/4 inch backspacing with 56 mm positive offset. The 56 mm I remembered but the backspacing I didn't.

 

And there was never a 16x9 offered. So if anyone is using one that is a NoNo.

 

To increase your consumption of trivia the 17x9 or 17x9.5 ZR1 style wheels have 7.49 inch back spacing. The GS offset ZR1 17x11 has 7.9 inch backspacing and the true ZR1 17x11 has the same 7.49 inch backspacing as the fronts. Now my Fikse's on the Vette have 8.3 inch backspacing which is wonderful since that allows you to run a 17 x 11 without skirts ala the GS and having the wheel still be completely under the car. All this last stuff is only important if you care about corvettes or wanta run 17x11s on your AI or AIX car. Alas I didn't measure this last info, it simply seems stuck in my brain while much more important stuff goes unremembered.

 

Perry