Need correct BS for 17" wheels on '71 Camaro

[80Camaro]

I'm ready to buy my TT II's: 9.5" w/ 285-40 and 8" w/245-45. I will be using the Hotchkis suspension. Is 5.5" rear and 5" front correct without beating or rolling?

[David Pozzi]

Check my web page below.
We did my wife's 73 Camaro with those sizes and Hotchkis Suspension with good results. If you run any neg camber at all on the front, your tires will clear fine with 8" X 4.5 BS, perhaps the tire may touch the splash panel rear side in a full lock turn if you have 5 or 6 deg positive caster dialed in. Ours touches on one side but has not even rubbed the paint off so we've not done anything about it. We had the tire touch the antiroll bar but just barely, again at full lock.
Our rear fender lips are rolled but the tire sits in enough that it probably wouldn't hit anyway.

Here's a quote from my web page:

"SECOND GEN WHEEL OFFSETS
The wheels we use are
F 17X8, 4.5" bs
R 17X9.5 5.5"bs.

TIRES
F 245/45/17
R 285/40/17

Thanks to N Memory for posting those offsets and sizes on http://www.nastyz28.com (quoting N Memory) "I recommend using 4.75" or 5" backspace on the front wheels".

But 4.5" was the max available from vintage Wheel. The 4.5's work for us because we have the factory bumpstops, the car is not excessively lowered, and we use.5 to 1 deg neg camber which tilts the top of the wheel in."

If you use any neg camber this front wheel may be best.

[c.schulz]

I ran the same wheels for mine at 17x8 with 4.5 BS and 17x9.5 at 5.5 BS and they fit great.

Chris