Bob, your memory is slipping. There is NO other wheel
to my knowledge that has both the same bolt pattern and
offset on a stock car. Some of the racers use wheels
made for the 65-67 Ford Mustang 4 bolt patter, these
are known as Shelby wheels, these appear to have a 0.25"
offset in the outboard direction, clearing the A-arm, but
fouling the fender if you drive hard. FYI, the later 4
bolt Ford wheels are a different pattern.
Its 3.5" backspace and 3" front space, this adds to 6.5",
the beads are exactly 0.5" each, so it depends on what you
want to measure. A straight edge on the edge and one across
the middle on the side that presses the hub is the right method
to measure this. Follow closely, this means the OFFSET or
centerline of the tire is 0.25 inboard of the mounting point...
---------- ---- ------------
(cannot remember if this is + or - in wheel guy terms.)
This is the critical dimension to maintain the steering and
handling geometry. SCCA and others allow 0.25 +/- the stock
location to allow various wheels to fit. This is likely
to maintain the safety and alignment of the front steering.
As you'll note on the TR6, the two points of minimum clearance
are the upper rear A-arm hitting the inside lip of the wheel
and the outside of the tire hitting the outside upper fender lip.
It turns out that a standard wheel made in a zero offset will
allow the centerline of the tires to move outboard 0.25" to
improve the stability and handling without upsetting the geometry.
The Panasport 15x7 zero offset is the "perfect" wheel and the
only cheap, vintage look wheel available with this bolt pattern
that I know of. This wheel will hold 215VR65-15 Michelin tires
perfectly on a stock car. Racers use 50 series tires on the
same rims. These look "vintage" are MUCH lighter than a steel
wheel/redline/tube combo and the driving is exceptional.
TRF has discount sales at times with 25% off free shipping, their
wheels include centers and nuts, so its possible to get 4 wheels
delivered for about $850.
PANFS1507/SVR T26 PAN/SPORT 15X7, WITH NUTS S 284.95 CUR Z
This is the same amount of rubber that many of the Mustangs run
and its on a TR6 which is 1,000 lbs lighter...
Roger
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Roger G. Bolick, rgb@exact.com 512-794-9567, FAX 512-345-2879
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