How
to Measure a Wheel's Backspace
- Turn the wheel face (outside)
down.
- Place a straightedge across the back
of the rim as shown.
- Measure from the bottom of the
straightedge to the center of the wheel
(where the wheel is bolted to the brake drum
or front hub).
Backspace is important as a measure on its own (too much backspace can lead to a wheel rubbing on suspension pieces or brake lines), but it's also important as a percentage of the total rim width. Two rims of the same nominal width but with different backspace dimensions will appear quite different on the car - the one with least backspace will yield the widest track because it will "stick out" further from the car's centerline.
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