[69redbird]

Hey,

Saw Horsepower TV today and on there they showed how to measure for the biggest tire and rim combo you could put on the car. It showed to measure the wheel well width, then pick your tire. My question is also they used a tool for measuring the rim size and back spacing. It mounts to the tire you choose and you adjust it to fit the tire, then you mount the tool and the tire on the car to ride height and then take the measurements (rim size and back spacing) Does anyone have a idea were you can get the tool for this?

Thanks

[Tom McQueen]

Sounds like a wheel simulator. Good ones arent inexpensive, but there isnt a better way to measure for custom wheels. I have one, and they work well.

[ErikW]

"The Thomas Tool is a measuring device used to determine both the offset and backspace of automotive wheels in one motion. A wheel measuring device that every manufacturer,wheel buyer,wheel shop owner, or tool collector needs."
Found this doing a google search, but the link was dead.

[69redbird]

Thanks for the info.

Tom do you remember were you got the tool? Let me know. Thanks again

[gearbanger]

I got by with a piece of aluminum angle about 18" long. I drilled two holes that I could mount it to the face of the rotor or drum using two lug nuts. Then I drilled a holes at the points representing the tire tread, the widest point on the tire, and the where the rim lip would be. I used different lengths of all thread rod to mock up these points and form sort of a tire-like cross section. Then I rotated it through and kept adjusting the all thread rods until I got the tire centered up in the wheel well. The distance that the "rim lip" piece of all thread is sticking in past the aluminum angle is the backspacing you need.

Also, the dimesions that they advertise for tire dimesions is not very accurate. I looked at the Nitto site and the dimensions for the 295/45/18s were somewhat bigger than the tire actually was. It is best to some measurements off actual tire wheel combinations if you can find them.

[sharkbite]

Did they talk about tire roll or side to side movement of the rearend?

[Tom McQueen]

Originally Posted by 69redbird

Thanks for the info.

Tom do you remember were you got the tool? Let me know. Thanks again

The one I have is a Wheel Works piece called the mount mate. It will do All 5 and 6 lug spacings, diameters 14"-20" and widths up to 14".

[69redbird]

Tom,

Hate to ask, but do you have a phone number or website for wheel works.

Thanks again

[69redbird]

Tom,

Hate to ask, but do you have a phone number or website for wheel works.

Thanks again

[Tom McQueen]

Looks like Wheel Works might be out of biz. But, their wheel simulator is still available. Try here;

http://www.autowaretech.com/mountmate/index.html

Good pics as well as details and pricing.

[69redbird]

Tom, Thanks