New wheels for GL?

[grandpaslincoln]

I've recently decided to get new wheels for GL and have decided on AR Outlaw II's. Now, here's my questions which have probably been answered a million other times. I can't remember what the stock backspacing is on the panthers. Nate was telling me that the stock offset is .45. Is this right? Pete was telling me that if I got the wheels for the 90's Ford Explorer that they would work fine on the panthers. Is this correct? I've been looking on ebay and most of the Outlaw II's are listed as having -6 offset. I'm not quite sure what all this means. Could someone explain this stuff to me and give me some advice?

[mrltd]

I've run exploder/ranger wheels on my cars. I ran the STX twisted 5 spoke, my bud ran teardrop 5 stars and sprot trac wheels without any issues.

[boXman]

The Ranger wheels are skinny...

[Tiggie]

Offset and backspacing can be confusing, I think these pictures tell it best:






Offset is the difference from the center, backspacing is the distance to the mounting side to the outside of the rim.

Not all Ranger wheels are skinny. I'm looking for a set of the chrome 5-hole dishes, which are 15X7, for my Ranger right now. The are just kind of rare, the only came optional on '95-'97 4X2's.

[Southern_Pride]

Ranger wheels work fine. I think I have an entire extra set of the outlaw style in the shed.

[DuceAnAHalf]

you can run up to 5" of backspace in the rear and up to 4" of back space up front.

[mrltd]

The Ranger wheels are skinny...

yeah, 15x7 is skinny....

Same with the 16x7's....

Wider than any box wheel....

[Tiggie]

you can run up to 5" of backspace in the rear and up to 4" of back space up front.

My Cragars have a smidgen over 4in of back spacing, 4 1/8in, and they don't rub at all. Granted, they do get close. It guess it depends on the type of tire you are running.

[boXman]

yeah, 15x7 is skinny....

Same with the 16x7's....

Wider than any box wheel....

Ooo a half a fucking inch! Big deal I just meant he could get AR wheels in 15x8 and they would look better on the car.

[nitroracer]

If you find a ranger/explorer set cheap just get them, they look pretty good all shined up.

[grandpaslincoln]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/15X7-OUTLAW-II-AMERICAN-RACING-WHEELS-5-6-LUG_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43955QQihZ005QQitemZ150088031188QQrdZ1

This is just an example of some of the wheels I'm looking at. Under the wheel specs, they have various bolt patterns available, then it says the offset is -6. I don't know if this an inch measurement or some kind of numbering system for the offset. Anyone know what the hell this is?

[monterey1962]

Are wheel specs usually printed on the inside of the wheels? I have a set of those Outlaw II's that were ordered specifically for a Grand Marquis.

[DuceAnAHalf]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/15X7-...88031188QQrdZ1

This is just an example of some of the wheels I'm looking at. Under the wheel specs, they have various bolt patterns available, then it says the offset is -6. I don't know if this an inch measurement or some kind of numbering system for the offset. Anyone know what the hell this is?

-6 would mean it has 6mm of negative offset, the mounting face of the wheel is 6 mm to the inside of the centerline of the rim. 6mm is about 1/4"

[Nathan in MI]

So what does it mean when the '85 Ford book says stock backspacing is .45? Is that a different type of measurement?

[drock96marquis]

So what does it mean when the '85 Ford book says stock backspacing is .45? Is that a different type of measurement?

Most likely .45" - or ~11.5mm

A wheel with offest in the 0-10mm range should still sit nice.

Are wheel specs usually printed on the inside of the wheels?

On FoMoCo wheels? Typically, yes. Somewhere around the hub face the wheel size will be stamped (ie 16 x 7) and on some wheels the offset in MM will be stamped below that.