Is 5.5" backspacing on 17x9 wheels enough for my 95 z? i am looking at getting some bigger and better wheels. not sure if 5.5" bp is gonna be not enough to clear my fenders. Thanks

 

......earilier today I was checking to see if Weld Pro Stars in 15x10 with
6 1/2" back spacing would fit my '94 Firebird and the consenus that I got
was no. Mine would have put 3 1/2" outside which is what your 17x9 with
5 1/2" back spacing would be. I did a search on 'weld and pro and star'.
There is a bunch to read on it. Tells about different size wheels with different
back spacing. I'd tell ya more but thats all I can remember........ Billl....

 

It gets even worse than that.... a 9" wide wheel is actually about 10" wide overall (including the bead retainer flanges). A 5.5" backspace (approx 12mm offset) would result in a 4.5" frontspace. That puts the outside edge of the wheel/tire about 1/2-3/4" outside the rear fender, and even farther outside the front fender. To see where they would sit compared to a stock 16x8" wheel (55mm offset, 6-5/8" backspace), measure out about 2.2" from where your stock wheels sit in the fender.

 

I have an 18x8 rim up front with a 5.5 backspacing and its just about even with the fender so the 9" wheel would definetly stick out passed the fenders!!