I have decided on the Chrome Foose Legends for my 69 Camaro SS. I have the Hotchkis TVS system that lowers the front 2" and the rear 1.5". From what I can see from other posts is that typically I would use the 18x8 with 4.75 BS and a 235/40/18 tire in the front and 18x9 with 5.5 BS and 275/40/18 tires in the rear. The problem I am seeing is that the 18x8 fronts only come in a 4.5 BS or 5.0 BS and the 18x9 rears only come in a 5.25 BS or 5.75 BS? So what setup should I go with and not have clearance issues? Also can I use a 245/40/18 tire on the front?

I think I would go with the 18x8 with 5" backspace in the front and the 245/40 tire. In the rear I would go with the 18x9 with the 5.25" backspace and the 275/40 tire. Of course you can always go with the 18x9 with the 5.75" backspace and use a 1/4" spacer if you think you're going to be too close to the lip of the 1/4 panel. I don't think that would be the case though.

I think I would go with the 18x8 with 5" backspace in the front and the 245/40 tire. In the rear I would go with the 18x9 with the 5.25" backspace and the 275/40 tire. Of course you can always go with the 18x9 with the 5.75" backspace and use a 1/4" spacer if you think you're going to be too close to the lip of the 1/4 panel. I don't think that would be the case though.

I would think that the 5 BS on the front would make it rub for sure? Have you used that size? Thanks

I would think that the 5 BS on the front would make it rub for sure? Have you used that size? Thanks

Yes and for what it's worth I ONLY answer these qustions from hands on experience. That doesn't mean that it's a GUARANTEE that what I say works on EVERY car. Back to that.... all these cars are a little different, 40+ years of wear and tear, accident damage, replacement panels, production tolerance, and lets not forget RUST keeps these cars from ALL being the same. Another thing to think about is because all these cars ARE a little different it's always better to error on too much backspace than too little. I'm not advocating the use of spacers but a 1/4" spacer is a lot better than re-hooping a wheel. Think about the cost to re-hoop as well as the time it takes and the hassel to send a wheel back to the manufacturer. I hope this helps. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Yes and for what it's worth I ONLY answer these qustions from hands on experience. That doesn't mean that it's a GUARANTEE that what I say works on EVERY car. Back to that.... all these cars are a little different, 40+ years of wear and tear, accident damage, replacement panels, production tolerance, and lets not forget RUST keeps these cars from ALL being the same. Another thing to think about is because all these cars ARE a little different it's always better to error on too much backspace than too little. I'm not advocating the use of spacers but a 1/4" spacer is a lot better than re-hooping a wheel. Think about the cost to re-hoop as well as the time it takes and the hassel to send a wheel back to the manufacturer. I hope this helps. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Was your car lowered in the front also when you used the 5" BS?

Was your car lowered in the front also when you used the 5" BS?

We actually fit a 18x8.5 with 5 and 1/8" backspace and a 245/40 tire. The car was lowered about 3+ inches in the front and rear and yes it was a '69.

On a 8" front you need to have at least 4.75 BS, 5" works and tucks the tire a bit more.

On the rear, up to a 9.5 and 5.5BS is safe

On a 8" front you need to have at least 4.75 BS, 5" works and tucks the tire a bit more.

On the rear, up to a 9.5 and 5.5BS is safe This is the set up i have with Hotchkis front drop 2" lowering springs and rear Hotchkis 1.5 drop lowering leafs with my fronts with stock disk brakes are 18x7 with 4" back space and NO rubbing. So yes front 18x8 with 4.75 and the rears with drums brakes and 12-bolt are 18x9 with 5.5 back space.... Front tires are 245/40/18s and rears are 285/40/18s...
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/skeeter55/Image117-1.jpg
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/skeeter55/Image118.jpg
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/skeeter55/Image031.jpg

What about going with a 275/35/18 in the rear? Reason I am asking is because I already have a 4 new 275/38/18 BFG KDW NT tires that I could use on the rear. I think there is about an inch less sidewall then the 275/40/18 so it might look like there is not enough tire for my taste and make the ride a little more harsh.

What about going with a 275/35/18 in the rear? Reason I am asking is because I already have a 4 new 275/38/18 BFG KDW NT tires that I could use on the rear. I think there is about an inch less sidewall then the 275/40/18 so it might look like there is not enough tire for my taste and make the ride a little more harsh.

I think it would look like a forklift wheel and you'd have to match the front sidewall height to it - my opinion of course.

I think it would look like a forklift wheel and you'd have to match the front sidewall height to it - my opinion of course.

Well yes your are right (I don't know about a forklift though - ricer maybe??? :)). You wind up with a tire that is about 25.6" tall in the rear and are kind of limited to a 235/40 tire in the front unless you want more front tire sidewall in the front than the rear (I hate that look - my opinion of course :)). If you're concerned with ride quality that sure won't help. My concern would be with such short overall tire height would be getting the tires tucked up into the wheelwells so the car doesn't look like a 4x4. When you use low profile tires with large diameter wheels if the car is not lowered down on top of the tires the car looks a little strange.

Well they are on they way, I hope they fit:

Chrome Foose Legends
18x8 5.0 BS w/ 245/40/18 Nitto NT555 Extreme on the front
18x9 5.25 BS w/ 275/40/18 Nitto NT555 Extreme on the rear

We do the 18x8 and 18x9 with a 5" and a 5.25" all day long. Fit great!

Jon is that with discs front and rears??

Well they are on they way, I hope they fit:

Chrome Foose Legends
18x8 5.0 BS w/ 245/40/18 Nitto NT555 Extreme on the front
18x9 5.25 BS w/ 275/40/18 Nitto NT555 Extreme on the rear


Send pictures when you get them on your car. I'm thinking about the same size.

Jon is that with discs front and rears??

Yup.

OK, here they are.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o260/bryanw80/IMG_8374.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o260/bryanw80/IMG_8376.jpg



Fronts had some rubbing on the chrome fender trim and a few of the bolts. After I removed the bolts there were no more rubbing issues. So I will have to figure out another smaller head bolt to ut back and might have to trim the chrome trim a little. Other then that they are great, no problems and the rears.