Rally wheel backsaping and going to 17's

[smashingchuck]

OK, so I've got the 17's that used to be on my 78 just laying around. Meanwhile, the skins on my DD are getting tired, plus I bent one of the wheels the other day in the snow. So, my thinking is that I need a wheel, and 4 new tires. As long as I'm buying tires, why not get tires and throw on the 17's?!! Easy decision, right?

OK, so here is the deal. My 17s have 4.5" backspacing and are 8" wide. Right now I'm running the factory rallies that came on it in '91, which i presuming are 8" wide. What would the factory back spacing on these be? I hoping they are the same, as I have no need to tuck the tires in anymore.

Also, what size / brand tire should I be looking at. I would like quality M+S tire, as I drive this truck year round here in Michigan, back and forth to work 50 miles a day, down dirt roads, two tracks, and in the snow and ice. I currently have 235/75/15 Nokian Vativa's which have suited me very well. They were brand new when I bought the truck and I was skeptical of them, but they have turned out to be a pretty decent tire. I would like to go slightly taller tires on the 17's.

thanks for the help!
chuck

[Izzy]

Most of the stock rallies are 15x7 with 4" of BS.

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by Izzy

Most of the stock rallies are 15x7 with 4" of BS.

ok, so my 17's will work fine as far as the back spacing. thanks izzy!

so, what size tires then? It's stock height and I do not plan on lowering it.

[joe231]

there are 6-7, AND 8" rallys, i believe
from what I've heard, 17" tires are limited on size, and more expensive that larger ones....dunno, that is just here-say
your 235/75/15's are @28.9 inches tall with a 9.25 cross section width.
a 255/50/17 would be 27" tall and 10" cross section width
a 255/60/17 would be 29" tall and 10" cross section width
a 255/70/17 would be 31" tall and 10" cross section width
so......
do you know how to figure tire heights and widths?

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by joe231

do you know how to figure tire heights and widths?

yep...

[f.monroe]

Bridgestone makes a 255/6017 semi all terrain tire . I would look into that tire for what you need . It is a Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza . Looks like exactly what you need and a reasonably priced tire .
Frank