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Emergency rim size Question


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Hi Guys. I don't often have the chance to go to a wreckers and tomorrow I will be. I need to take advantage of this and pick up some rims and tires for my 6 lug converted loyale. I have researched a bunch but i still have some massive questions regarding rims. From what i see, stock rims are 13x7 with a high positive (30-50mm?) offset that I am guessing gives it back spacing around 5.5"? I can't find any hard numbers on this but that is what my research and lack of knowledge leads me to believe. I have looked at the 6x139.7 wheel chart and it looks like nothing comes close to that backspacing in a 15" rim. Correct me if I am wrong but that would give most rims a smaller back spacing and would push the wheels outwards. Would smaller backspacing be better because then you would only have to worry about cutting and bashing fenders vs suspension rub?

I am looking for 26=27 inch tires that aren't too fat and fit a 15 inch rim. I want winter rated tires for lots of snow driving. I don't care if they stick out past the fenders or not. I just want the biggest tire with no rub and essentially no bashing. What type of offset and backspacing will provide that? What is the closest to stock in a bigger rim? Does 6 or 7 inch offer more options. What is the actual offset and backspacing of stock rims?

I have until noon tomorrow to get this dialed and hopefully walk out with all i need. Please help. I didn't even know what backspacing or offset was until I began this. Based off all this, would a landcruiser/ hilux/ 4runner  at 15x7 with 4.5" backspacing be the easiest closest to stock I could go? Please help!

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You will want to look into something along the lines of Dodge D50 or stock Toyota steel wheels if you want to keep close to stock offset (Maybe some old Chevy pickup rims).  They will probably stick out a little as I am not sure if anything had the same high positive offset that stock wheels do.

 

The more positive offset the more you will have to trim to make up for the increased swing of the tires.  You will just have to get out there and see what they have available.  Not sure about you guys up north but wheels should be easy to find, tires that small will probably be a lot harder.

 

Good luck.

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These rims have the best offset for subaru's in terms of NOT sticking out of the fenders. toyota15" mid 90's 4 runner and pickup.

P1010018.jpg

 

These ones, from an early Isuzu Trooper......stick out a little further but are still reasonable......some like the slightly more "stanced" look.

P1010019.jpg

 

In general, I think the rims from midsized Japanese rigs workout better for us. Some are available in 14", 15" and 16" and even 17" rims.  Nissan, Mazda(older), Mitsubishi, Isuzu, and of course...Toyota.......(just picked up some FJ Cruiser 17")

 

The Chevy rims tend to be WAAAAY stickout....and pretty wide (8" or more) since they are for Full size trucks.

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http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/gallery/image/2905-mazda-b2300-14/

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/gallery/image/2905-mazda-b2300-14/

All the Toyota rims had been scalped already so I ended up grabbing some '88 mazda B2300 rims that seem pretty similar to stock and look sexy. They are 14x6 with a 4" backspacing. I like the look of the wheels sticking out a bit I just don't want to run into fitting issues and having to cut and bash. I like the look of the mud flaps and it helps with rust protection. I hope to get 26-27" tires on with a 2 inch lift. 

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So, I've actually got around to using a tape measure on these rims instead of trusting the sizing chart on the official 6 lug conversion thread. I guess I got some non standard rims. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/128105-offcial-6-lug-re-drill-thread/ http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/gallery/image/2909-wheel-details/

 

According to my tape measure the centre bore of the mazda b2300 wheel is 93mm which is an issue as the Loyale hub needs 94mm. It is just a tad to small to fit the hub. I am thinking I should grind the wheel down as it is easiest and then I'm not messing with the hubs. This could keep the rim hub centric as well, for what it is worth. The chart in the 6 lug thread says the rim has a centre bore of 108mm. I just hope I can keep the centre caps! http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/gallery/image/2907-center-bore-width/

My tape also says the back spacing of this wheel is 5" which is the same as what I measure on the loyale 13" rim. The chart says it is 4". I measured from the mounting surface to the back of the wheel. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/gallery/image/2908-back-spacing/

The wheel measures out to be 5.5" wide from inside of bead to inside of bead. The chart says it is 6". The loyale rim is 5". http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/gallery/image/2906-mazda-rim-width/

Did I get a rare wheel? Am I doing this all wrong? What are your thoughts? I thought this would be the easiest part since I was just following a chart and grabbing a rim. oh well!

 

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The center cap is most definitely to small with it's clips and the wheel itself won't sit flat on the hub as it rides on the lip of te hub by a mm or two.

 

After checking out tires for a 14" rim, I'm starting to think it didn't make my life easier than 13s. I went to two shops and there are no light truck tires available and only two car tires above 26" diameter. One of them being 205mm wide. Would you lose all road performance with an 8" tire on 5.5" wheels?

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Pretty much your only choices for all terrains are

 

27x8.5x14 General Grabber AT2 - Cheaper, but larger and not sure about fit on a 5.5 rim.  Its below recommendation.

or

195/75/14 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO - Smaller, less trimming and bashing or possibly none at all.  More expensive.  Says it fits on a 5-6" wide rim.

 

Even with a 15 or 16" rim you are pretty limited in choices of offroad type small tires.

Edited by Vegablade
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Is there some sort of calculation you can do for backspacing, tire width, diameter and lift? I can't picture in my head what rim and tire combo works. I also have a set of 15"x 6.5?" 94 pathfinder steel wheels kicking around.

 

There is not really any sort of set guide on what works.

 

There is so much variation between different setups it would be hard to say what works without trying it.

 

The pathfinder wheels might work but would depend on how much offset they have.  Do you not want to trim or bash at all?

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Golden, BC might be the rust capital of the world. Between the 3/4 crush they use so big rigs can get grip and the salt spread everywhere, cars don't last long. I figure the more I bash and trim the more chance of rust getting in. Plus I want to make this car look clean. That being said, I don't see much of a problem hammering in a tiny bit on the inside of the wheel well. I really don't want to mess with the fenders though.

I found some nice 205/75/r14 for my mazda rims that I will buy for the winter. Now I just need to make the center bore larger and figure out some way to make the center caps work.

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