I have 205/70/R14 on my 68 Coupe. Looking to get Cooper Cobra 215/70/R14.

Can someone explain what backspacers are and if I need them?

Thanks,

Nick

More than tire size, wheel configuration determines spacer requirements. Now, wheels have backspace, but there are no backspacers. It is built into the wheel. If a wheel has too much backspace, it may hit the ball joints, frame on turning etc. In that case, you will need a spacer to set it out more.
If you are running stock, factory wheels, you shouldn't have any problems with those tires on a 68.

 

Spacers = just a shim/washer type thing that moves the wheels away from the car... too much and you stress out the studs holding the wheel on...
Adaptors = remove the existing studs, use new short bolts to bolt the adaptor to the existing hub, new studs come from the adaptor, can be in a different pattern.
Say if you wanted to put cheby wheels on an ford. They have the effect of spacing the wheel out more.
Some adaptors are used just to do the spacing, if the studs may not be log enough... say you want to put a foxbody wheel on a classic mustang, the foxbody wheel goes too close to the chassis, so an adaptor/spacer might be used to push it back out, etc..... whaever...

Also known as a good way to die when the break, or the studs get over stressed and break.

 

I have 205/70/R14 on my 68 Coupe. Looking to get Cooper Cobra 215/70/R14.

Can someone explain what backspacers are and if I need them?

Thanks,

Nick

Wheel backspace and spacers are two different things. You shouldn't need to worry about either if you're just changing tires on the same rims. I went from 205/70R14 to 215/70R14 on my car and both fit just fine. In fact the 215/70R14s are equal to the original factory tire height. That being said my 14 inch wheels are 6 inches wide. 215/70R14 might be too wide for a 5 inch rim.

If you are changing tires AND rims this is a different conversation.

 

Are you asking about backspacers or wheel backspacing?
Previous responses have touched on backspacers, which increase the space between the rear wheel and the stud plate.
Wheel backspacing is related to the location of the bolt area of the wheel. If the bolt area of the wheel is located dead center of the wheel, then it has zero backspacing. If the bolt area is located closer to the bolt plate or farther from the bolt plate, then it has either positive or negative backspacing.
Properly backspaced wheels is the safest way to mount on the car. Using back wheel spacers is not acceptable at some wheel shops like Discount tire.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

If the bolt area of the wheel is located dead center of the wheel, then it has zero backspacing.

That is zero offset, not zero backspace. Offset and Backspace are 2 different ways of measuring the same thing.

 

Google has no idea what a "wheel backspacer" is. Can someone provide an example? Not a shim, spacer or adapter, I know those, but a "backspacer"?

 

I tink there is a reason google is unfamiliar with the term.

 

you shouldn’t need any kind of spacer with that particular setup. Going from a 205/70r14 to a 215/70r14 is going to add about 0.6” to the height of the tire (0.3” increase to the radius) and 0.4” to the width (0.2” increase to the inside edge of the tire).

 

...