A question about wheel size and backspacing on 16x8s

Bruce Urie

The Ventures,CCR forever!
Joined
Dec 30, 2006
Fellas, I'm been" thinking" (new to me:rolleyes: and my wife gets scared when I get into these thinking moods)about changing the wheel size on my '87 Grand National. I now have American Racing Torque Thrusts IIs, all 15x7s, with the stock Dunlop size tires on them.....they have been leaning against my garage wall for some time now due to my working on the car......I've only put about 100 miles on them......still new....(see why my wife gets scared now?)......so, after seeing the "stance" and cool lowered look of the GNX, plus a few stock GNs with 16x8 wheels, I'm going to sell the four 15x7 Torque Thrust IIs soon, plus the tires....I want to go with American Racing Torque Thrust IIs, in the 16x8 size......I need to know: backspacing for these wheels, front and back.

Plus, I'd like some recommendations on a set of 50 radial tires, ones that will not disrupt the speedometer reading.....I'd like know what you guys use just for the street....I'm too old to race anymore......It will be strictly street driving.


One guy here on this forum has a blue '87 Turbo Regal with this size Torque Thrusts IIs and I've been in love with the look and stance of the car.....this 16x8s goes just right with the G Body GN....I like the lowered stance of it a lot.

Can you steer me towards backspacing, and tire size for these wheels?

Also, would I need to add the GNX fender flares to my car with the 16x8s or will it be just fine without them?

I'd greatly appreciate your input guys. Tax time is here and I may be able to pull this off if I sell my present set of wheels and tires in about a month or so. (Depending on how long I can keep this idea from my loving wife. I know she'd never understand this changing something that looks perfectly great as it sits now. You know what I mean? It's a crazy "guy" thing.)

Thanks kindly

PS: With our 11th wedding anniversary coming up on May 29th, it may even take me a little more time to pull this off...so I'll just gather information on this, then price it all and see what happens. I don't want to look too greedy here, but I'm like all Turbo Buick owners: NEVER SATISFIED, GOT TO CHANGE SOMETHING ELSE ALL OF THE TIME! Must be some kind of "car" sickness.:wacky:

Bruce '87 Grand National
 
Not sure on the back spacing but I went with some 16x8 GNX Specd wheels!! I started with no flares 245/50/16s up front and 255/50/16s out back!! Didnt have any rubbing issues! Added the GNX flares keep in mind this is an all stock GN! NO lowering of any kind and I'll be lowering the rear 1" !! It'll be close but after measuring I should be ok!!
 

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Not sure on the back spacing but I went with some 16x8 GNX Specd wheels!! I started with no flares 245/50/16s up front and 255/50/16s out back!! Didnt have any rubbing issues! Added the GNX flares keep in mind this is an all stock GN! NO lowering of any kind and I'll be lowering the rear 1" !! It'll be close but after measuring I should be ok!!
 
Beautiful modification! Awesome car! Thanks for the information, as I'm writing it down right now...

The flares really add to the sinister look....I may reconsider and get a set..... I still want to go with the same size wheels all the way around, though.

Your GN looks awesome! Really like it.

Thanks!

Bruce '87 Grand National
 
Thanks and no problem!! Mario987 sells these wheels you can reach him at that username!! Good Luck(y)
 

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