Question on backspacing with weld wheels

[DATSBAD]

I have a 2004 crew cab 2500 hd duramax . i want to put on 17inch weld wheels . they have 2 that i like the mountain crusher and the cheyanne. however they make the mountain crusher in a 17x8 and i know it will fit ok and not stick out much , but the wheel i really want is the cheyanne because it is newer and not many people have it . but it is a 17x8.5 and that concerns me . anyone know what i should do . ?

i do not mind them sticking out very little but i do not want to buy them and end up they stick out 1.5 inches or more and be stuck with them . can anyone help me with this , maybe somepics of what you might have would help . thanks

[SoMnDMAX]

The factory wheels have 5" of backspacing.

If you can get the 17x8.5's with 5" backspacing, you should be fine. My 16x8's have 4 5/8" backspacing, and there's no problems there. I don't see the extra 1/8" the 17x8.5 w/ 5" BSP would stick out causing a problem. You may even be able to use a 5.5" BSP wheel. Make sure you try them on the truck before you mount the tires....

[DATSBAD]

on the 17x8 i can only get 4.625 backspace and the 17x8.5 is only in 4.5 backspace . ?????

what should i do ?

[Buck]

The question is what size tire are you looking at? Mine are 4.625 back space as well, I would be ok with 5/8" more width without rubbing at all, providing the tire is no taller than a 285/75/16 (32.8"). As far as tires sticking out don't worry, mine are just about flush with the flares.
BTW, I just turned the torsion bars a few turns.

[DATSBAD]

i was thinking of a 305 , or 315 70 17 ? not quite sure . might even go to 18" and get some nitto tires. if yours are about flush , how far would the 17x8.5 with a 4.5 backspace stick out . and are talking the rim is flush or the whole wheel and tire package , including tread and sidewall bulge

[mfontana]

Just a note to think about. The rear tires do not track in the path of the front tires. The backspacing that looks ok on one end does not look ok on the other. My truck has 5 1/8 backspacing on 8 inch wheels in the front and 4 1/2 inch backspacing on 8 inch wheels in the rear. So in the rear for example, the wheel is towards the outside 5/8 of an inch farther than the front.

[mfontana]

Backspacing

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The backspace is the measurement from the back of the wheel (where the tire bead mounts) to the mounting surface. The mounting surface is where the wheel contacts the drum or rotor.

You can measure the backspacing by putting the wheel face down. Be sure to put it on a soft surface that will not scratch your rim. Then lay a straight edge across the inner lip of the rim. Use a ruler to determine the distance as shown in the picture below.

Increasing the backspacing will move the wheel further inside the wheel well. Decreasing the backspacing will move the wheel further out.