Wheel Offset

Theorangetiger

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
332
I'm starting a brake upgrade on my '65 Tiger and will be going to 15" wheels. I'm planning on using the Wilwood 11.75 rotors front & rear. For now I want to find a cheap set of 15" wheels & tires with the correct 4 lug pattern on Craigslist just to run while I make the changes to the brakes. I plan to eventually run 205/50-15s.
My question is If I find a set of tires and wheels, what will the wheel offset need to be and what are the chances of finding something that will work on Craigslist? I'm hoping they are fairly common.

Any help greatly appreciated.
 

Theorangetiger

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
332
TAH,
I've seen those while browsing eBay and thought they looked good for a good price. They look great on your car. I could just take the plunge now and do the brake mods with the actual wheels and tires I'm going to run...

What tires & brakes are you running?
 

TAH_Tiger

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
274
TAH,
I've seen those while browsing eBay and thought they looked good for a good price. They look great on your car. I could just take the plunge now and do the brake mods with the actual wheels and tires I'm going to run...

What tires & brakes are you running?

Stock brakes
Yokohama S.Drive
185/55R15 Front
195/55R15 Rear
PO had 15x7 and 195/55R15 on the front also, which required 1/4" spacers to clear the tie rod ends. I'm not a fan of spacers. This combination keeps the front wheels tucked in but not scraping.
Also made for lighter steering effort.
 

Hoghead

Gold forum user
Messages
570
Are your fender lips rolled front and rear?

Did you have to trim the front valance?

Have a pic of the tyre clearance at the rear?

Would a wider tyre fit front and rear and stay within the wheelwells - specially at the wider track front?

Do you think Wilwood calipers and the larger rotor kit would fit?
 

Theorangetiger

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
332
Thanks for the info. I agree on not wanting to use spacers and also want to avoid rolling the fender edges.
 

Warren

Gold forum user
Messages
3,872
14''s

I have a set of American Racing wheels that I am working on that may become surplus soon. There is also a couple of good internet sites that show all vehicles with a 4 X 108 pattern. It is really funny how little there is on Craigslist but lives in a pile of some Tiger owner that he got from another Tiger owner. As for mini lite style they look great till you go to an event and you see a huge % of cars with them. I don't think you will find any Craigslist nuggets in 15" diameter. I really enjoyed the squish of the 13" sidewall and the extra cushion provided on the cobblestone like LA roads.
 

TAH_Tiger

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
274
Are your fender lips rolled front and rear?
Yes- front

Did you have to trim the front valance?
No. Tires hit valance with 15x7 wheels and spacers. Not with 15x6
Have a pic of the tyre clearance at the rear?

Would a wider tyre fit front and rear and stay within the wheelwells - specially at the wider track front?
Rear has over 1/2" to inner spring

Do you think Wilwood calipers and the larger rotor kit would fit?
Yes

Hope this helps
 

Salem7

Bronze forum user
Messages
12
Rota wheels

I went this route with the Rota wheels. Nice quality and finish. I went with 6" wheels all around and 205/50 x 15's Go with the 7" in the rear, you will be happier. I replaced stock wheels with 175/70 x 13 "Jupiter" tires- that is the way I bought the car. The handling and ride difference is amazing. Going from 22" diameter to 24" diameter wheels has made a big difference in fuel economy too. I am running the original 260 with Autolite carb. Stock brakes, so I cannot help there. I did modify to a Ford Courier master cylinder and dual circuit brakes.

I have an issue with rubbing on the right front valance. I have been gradually adjusting the roll and valance to stop the rubbing. I have no idea why just the right side interferes, although anecdotally this is not unknown.
 

michael-king

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
4,132
I have an issue with rubbing on the right front valance. I have been gradually adjusting the roll and valance to stop the rubbing. I have no idea why just the right side interferes, although anecdotally this is not unknown.

Is it catching the lower portion of the valence when you are turning left?? Have you checked the rhs spring insulator is installed?
 

Salem7

Bronze forum user
Messages
12
Both sides seem the same. Might not be an insulator on both sides.

Just interferes when backing up. Turning right when looking from the back to the front. It looks like the valance was trimmed on the left side only by the P.O.
 

Hoghead

Gold forum user
Messages
570
With these Rota wheels in 6" front and 7" rear, what is the widest tyre that would fit on the front without sticking out past the fender lip

Widest rear tyre?

I am thinking:
195/50/15 front and 205/50 rear
205/50 all round
205/50 front and 215/50 rear

Opinions on:
The same size tyre all round or the staggered look
Staggered rim widths, or the same 6" all round?
 

Bob Knight

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
207
Wheels

I currently have a set of stock Ford steel wheels on my Tiger, I think they're 15 x 6, and I have 195/50/15 on the front and 205/50/15 on the back. I have the 5 lug Ford bolt pattern. I have the Wilwood disc brakes on all four wheels, the steel rims fit around them fine. My 68 Shelby GT500KR rims, 15 x 7, did not fit over the Wilwood brakes and I'm currently having them split in half and mated with a modern 15" aluminum rim that clears the Wilwood brakes. My tires don't stick out of the front fenders, but I had Dale make the front suspension for my car an inch skinnier on each side than stock. Because I hate how the front tires sticking out of the fenders looks. Now my footprint is about even front and rear. If your car sits as low as mine you'll need to roll the inside of the front fenders. I have the rolling tool if you need to borrow one.
Bob K.
B9471705
 

Warren

Gold forum user
Messages
3,872
Size chart borrowed from another site

http://www.wheelsupport.com/list-of-bolt-pattern-4 x 108 /











  • find-boltpattern.jpg

List of Bolt pattern 4 X 108

By admin on December 12, 2011 in Bolt Pattern

List of cars the have the bolt pattern of 4 X 108
4 X 108(mm) = 4 X 4.25(inch)
Make Model Year Bolt Pattern Wheel Size Stud Size CB Offset ALFA ROMEO SPIDER 1968 > 4 X 108 14/15 X 6 12 X 1.5 69.1
AUDI 80, 90 QUATTRO 1988-95 4 X 108
14 X 1.5b 57.1
AUDI 80/ 90 QUATTRO 1988-95 4 X 108 14 X 6 14 X 1.5b 57.1 H AUDI 90, 100 1989-91 4 X 108
14 X 1.5b 57.1
AUDI 90/ 100 1989-91 4 X 108 14 X 6 14 X 1.5b 57.1 H AUDI COUPE 1985-90 4 X 108 14 X 6 14 X 1.5b 57.1 H AUDI QUATTRO 1985-90 4 X 108 14 X 6 14 X 1.5b 57.1 H FORD CONTOUR 1995 > 4 X 108 14 X 6 12 X 1.5 63.4 H FORD CONTOUR 1995-00 4 X 108
12 X 1.5 63.4
FORD ESCORT 1981-90 4 X 108 13 X 5.5 12 X 1.5 63.4 H FORD EXP 1981-85 4 X 108 13 X 5.5 12 X 1.5 63.4 H FORD FAIRMONT, THUNDERBIRD 1978-88 4 X 108 14 X 5.5 1/2-RH 63.4 M FORD FOCUS 2000 > 4 X 108 15 X 6 12 X 1.5 63.4 H FORD FOCUS, SVT 2000-08 4 X 108
12 X 1.5 63.4
FORD GRANADA, LTD II 1978-88 4 X 108 14 X 5.5 1/2-RH 63.4 M FORD GRANADA, LTD II,FAIRMONT,T-BIRD 1978-88 4 X 108
1/2-RH 63.4
FORD MUSTANG 1979-93 4 X 108 14 X 6 1/2-RH 63.4 M/H FORD MUSTANG 5.0 GT 1991-93 4 X 108 16 X 7 1/2-RH 63.4 M FORD MUSTANG 5.0GT 1985-91 4 X 108 15 X 7 1/2-RH 63.4 M FORD MUSTANG 5.0GT 1991-93 4 X 108
1/2-RH 63.4
FORD MUSTANG II 1974-78 4 X 108
1/2-RH 63.4
FORD T-BIRD 1981-88 4 X 108
1/2-RH 63.4
FORD TEMPO 1983-94 4 X 108 13 X 5.5 12 X 1.5 63.4 H FORD THUNDERBIRD 1981-88 4 X 108 15 X 7 1/2-RH 63.4 M FORD VX3 1997-02 4 X 108
12 X 1.5 54.1
MERCURY CAPRI 1974-86 4 X 108 14 X 5.5 1/2-RH 63.4
MERCURY COUGAR 1980-85 4 X 108 14 X 5.5 12 X 1.5 63.4
MERCURY COUGAR 1985-88 4 X 108 15 X 7 1/2-RH 63.4
MERCURY COUGAR 1999 > 4 X 108 16 X 6 12 X 1.5 63.4
MERCURY COUGAR 1999-02 4 X 108
12 X 1.5 63.4
MERCURY LN-7 1982-83 4 X 108 13 X 5.5 12 X 1.5 63.4
MERCURY LYNX 1981-87 4 X 108 13 X 5.5 12 X 1.5 63.4
MERCURY MERKUR XR-4TI 1985-89 4 X 108 14 X 6 12 X 1.5 63.4
MERCURY MONARCH, MARQUIS, 1978-85 4 X 108 14 X 5.5 1/2-RH

MERCURY MONARCH, MARQUIS,ZEPHER 1978-85 4 X 108
1/2-RH

MERCURY MYSTIQUE 1995-00 4 X 108
12 X 1.5 63.4
MERCURY MYSTIQUE 1995-96 4 X 108 14 X 6 12 X 1.5 63.4
MERCURY MYSTIQUE 1995-96 4 X 108 15 X 6 12 X 1.5 63.4
MERCURY TOPAZ 1983-85 4 X 108 13 X 5.5 12 X 1.5 63.4
MERCURY TOPAZ 1986-94 4 X 108 14 X 5.5 12 X 1.5 63.4
MERCURY TOPAZ 1992-94 4 X 108 15 X 6 12 X 1.5 63.4
MERCURY ZEPHER 1978-85 4 X 108 14 X 5.5 1/2-RH

OLDSMOBILE 106, 206, 306, 307, 406 ALL 4 X 108

65.0
PEUGEOT 106, 206, 306, 307, 406 ALL 4 X 108 15 X 6
65
PORSCHE 924 1977-86 4 X 108 14 X 6/15 X 7 12 X 1.5b
H SAAB 900 1988-94 4 X 108 15 X 6 12 X 1.25 65.1 H SAAB 900 1990-93 4 X 108 16 X 6.5 14 X 1.5
H SAAB 9000 1986-97 4 X 108 15 X 6 12 X 1.25 65.1 H SAAB 9000, 9000CSE 1998 4 X 108 16 X 7 12 X 1.25 65.1 H VOLVO 850 1992-93 4 X 108 15 X 6.5 12 X 1.5b 65.1 H
 

Theorangetiger

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
332
Thanks Warren. I did find something similar and this confirms that these wheels are a little on the obscure side. Now I'm really leaning towards just getting the wheels I want to eventually use and then make the changes to the brakes.
 

Hoghead

Gold forum user
Messages
570
Here is a new Rota listing with different backspacing
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROTA-WHEEL-RB-15X7-4X108-30-15-RGM-ALFA-ROMEO-SUNBEAM-TIGER-/301952554660?hash=item464dc656a4:g:8Y4AAOSw~gRVlEzU&vxp=mtr

Now I am even more confused as to what would be most suitable to keep the tyres inside the fenders, while clearing bigger brakes

I am wallowing in offset and tyre clearance confusion

Anyone know which of these Rota wheels would be most suitable to keep the tyres inside the fenders with 205/50/15's with Wilwood brakes
 

mwood

Gold forum user
Messages
175
Basically, the larger offset will give you more backspacing and tuck the wheel further under the fender...which is not to say that I believe the 15X7" ET30 Rota with a 205/50 will fit. I think you'll hit the A-arm on steering lock. The only offset, far as I can tell, that will allow a 7" rim and 205/50-15 to fit (given rolled fender lips and valence clearance) is in the ET20 range...and that is going to stick out past the fender.

We ended up going with a 6" front/ET22 and a 205/50 is flush with the fender line on my lowered car. If my car didn't have rolled fenders and -1.5 camber, it would be pretty tight. The 195 Toyo I ran previously provided plenty of space.


Here's a pretty cool calculator (with graphics) for playing around with offsets

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

Hoghead

Gold forum user
Messages
570
these Rota wheels are 6" on the front with a 20mm offset

He has the rears in either 6 or 7" with the samr 20mm offset
15mm offset is available, but insufficient for my application

Too bad and it sounds like I will have to settle for 195/50??
 
Top