[DeTomaso] Suspension geometry guru question

[John Bentley (jab)]

Hi Mike,  

This exercise is left to the reader. ;)

JB - this one's a keeper....

 

-----Original Message-----
From: MikeLDrew at aol.com [mailto:MikeLDrew at aol.com] 
Sent: Monday, June 05, 2006 5:13 PM
To: John Bentley (jab); Detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Suspension geometry guru question


In a message dated 6/5/06 12:40:11, jab at cisco.com writes:

<< Question: If I take off my 335/35-17 rears and want to replace with a
narrower tire (since I can't find a 11x17 steel wheel with a 6.5 inch
backspace) and keep the center of the tire tread in the same place, can
I just get a 2-inch narrower tire/wheel and replace with a wheel that
has a 1-inch less backspace?

>>>Yes, exactly.
 
>What tire/wheel combination has the best chance of keeping the
alignment
the same?  I'm more concerned with alignment issues than the looks of
the tire being an inch further inside the wheelwell/fender. >>

>>>What possible circumstance could you envision that would cause your
wheel 
alignment to change, when you change to different wheels and tires?  In
your 
fevered imagination, do you have visions of the narrower tire reaching
out and 
removing or adding alignment shims when you're not looking? :>)

The only way to change your wheel alignment is to, uh, change your wheel

alignment. :>)

Having said that, it's true that if you fitted tires with a RADICALLY 
different height ratio front/rear compared to your existing tires, then
that would 
slightly change the kingpin angle.  Caster and toe would remain
unchanged.

Mike