Hi All, I'm going to be putting new wheels and tires on my 73 W200 fairly soon. With the lack of availability and price of 16.5 inch tires I'm planning to switch to 17" wheels. I'm going to stick with 35x12.5 tires. The truck has a 4" lift. What do people recommend for backspacing and wheel width?

Thanks,
-Jon

With 12.5 wide tires you should have a 10" wide rim.
A tape measure will reveal your back space.

Really nice lookin' truck there.

i just bought some 17x9 wheels for my 77 w200, haven't put them on yet though. i bought zero offset and they only have a worn out 285/70-17 (~33") on them right now, in the future i might go up to a 34x11" tire.

currnetly the truck has 36.5/12.50-16.5 military bias plies on the original rims most likely and i can't get full lock on the right hand turns.

fyi, i found these steelies for pretty cheap at jegs and that's one reason i went with a 9" rim.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Cragar/260/342-8980/10002/-1?parentProductId=

zero offset is a 5" backspace and the wheels are rated for 3000lbs.

I'm also running 17x9 with a 285 70 17. I have a 4.5" back space. With this set up tires are at the edge of the fenders. They are very close to the rear lip when turning but don't rub. This is on a 85 W350

Thanks everyone, I appreciate it. I'll get out the tape measure for sure but the baseline numbers are really helpful!

I'd prefer a 17x10 wheel, but I can't find any steel wheels in larger than a 17x9. Does anyone know a reasonably priced steel 17x10? If not I'm okay running a 17x9. The tire says it needs a 8.5 to 11 inch rim so while not ideal I'm comfortable with the 9.

-Jon

here is my truck with original wheels and some 36.5x12.50 military bias ply tires...



just put some zero offset (17x9) rims with worn out (measure 32" tall) bfg A/T tires on the truck, the tires basically come out to the edge of the fender now instead of being tucked in.
the original wheels were 4.1" backspacing and 7.5" wide...