Best offset for 15X10 rear wheel on skylark?

Would 5.5 or 6 inches or somethin else be the best offset for fitting a standard 66 skylark. I do want a bunch of wheel and tire sticking out. I would buy 275 and not 295 tires, if need, to achieve the right look.

 

Awesome thanks! Ya backspacing was indeed what I meant...too much reading about this stuff these days.

Here is a cool tool for messing around with wheel/tire fitments:

http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp

 

Please note they are talking about '68-'72 cars which have a way more generous wheelwell than the earlier models. I don't know where you're putting those wheels on a '66. I've got a '65 and had a '67 and on either a 28x10" tread width slick on a 8.5" Centerline wheel with 4&7/8" backspacing was about it and that even required some air in the airbags. A 9" tire would allow it to sit down nicely with no rubbing.

An absolute easy fit with no complications would be a 255 60 15(27" tall) on the 8". That being said if you are running a 275 60 15(about 28" tall) tire there is no need for a 10" wheel. An 8" with 4.5" BS would work and will give you the cleanest look out of the larger tires. Even a lower profile 275 50 15(26" tall) tire works well with an 8". If you run a 10" wheel on either one of those tires the rim will stick out farther than the sidewall of the tire. I guess that is ok of you like the "tuner" look.

If you try a 295 50 15(about 27" tall) tire and the 10" get the air shocks pumped up and it'll fit. Maybe somebody has done it and they'll chime in but I doubt if it works out well. Just for fun support the rear axle and take a wheel off and just measure how much room 10" takes up in the wheelwell especially in the upper part.

 

Larry I assumed the sticking out was a typo. If not then get some 4" backspace wheels. That'll do it.

 

Haha that was a typo, I don't want anything stickin out. The car will be lowered an inch...I am going with 8" 4.5 backspace, 0 offset and 255/50 or 255/60/15....thanks for the input everyone

 

This is perfect I didn't even have to ask my question. I've got a 66 skylark that I wanted to fit 255/60s on the rear and I had no idea what wheel I was going to need for the stock ride height. Thanks no lift and thanks gribbs for asking about this!

 

A 255 60 15 on a factory 7" Rally wheel works fine also. That is what I'm running.

 

i just screwed my self on the 295 50 15 15x10 5.5 backspaceing there is no way on gods green earth they will fit my 70 sk;ark

 

If you check those links Larry(#3) supplied earlier Phillip had no problem putting tires on with a bigger diameter and width than your 295 50's. What area you going to run into trouble with?

 

I agree but when i put them on they will hit the wheel lip and moulding not even sure if i can cut enough to clean and the car has brand new rear springs so no sagin, i did really want to stuff those tires in there

 

Are the tires mounted yet? The tread width won't quite be as wide as the actual wheel so you could mount the wheel on the axle and have a good look at it without mounting the tire. If you did mount the tire then it will be evident to you when bolted to the axle as you said.

Did you check clearance on both sides of the car? Sometimes the body or rearend has shifted so one side is closer than the other. The inside of the tire should be about 1" from the inside of the fenderwell. I don't believe there is any difference between fenderwells on the GS and Skylark so that shouldn't be it.

 

didnt check both sides? they are mounted which is why im stuck with them now, they would prabaly clear the well ok just not the lip and moulding. i tossed one on as soon as i got home and was so pissed when i saw that i pulled it off and hevent been in the garage since.

 

that might be where i screwed up the wheels i got are 4.5 back space not off set?

 

Hi, I run the 325/50R15 drag radials on my car with the 15x10 and 5-5/8" backspacing. And I don't see why the wouldn't fit on your car. The 5-5/8" backspacing centers the wheel in the wheel well perfectly. That tire is over an inch narrower than mine. And I fit. Now I did have to trim back the very top of my wheel well to insure no rubbing there. A wheel with a 4.5" backspacing would push the tire outward towards the wheel well lip.

And as stated above, each side may be slightly different. That's why I got the backspacing I did. If it's a little different, you can always get 1/8" or 1/4" shims from Summit Racing. They did not build these cars to exacting standards and tollerenaces.

That said, I would definitely check both sides. And if the rearend if off center, it could be a bent rear control arm or simply a bushing that is wiped out.