Backspacing is the amount of space, measured in inches, between the inside surface where the wheel meets the hub and the edge of the rim. The larger the backspacing number, the farther inside the wheel-well the tire sits, allowing the use of wider wheels.
A related term is "offset," which is the distance between the centerline of the tire and the wheel-to-hub mounting surface. (Centerline means half the tire's width, as the tire is viewed edge-on.)
See the message exchange Backspacing??? from the Vintage Mustang Forum for more information.
submitted by a65ragtop
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