im looking at a set of 14" wheels, the fronts are 7" wide and the rears are 8" wide. the backspacing is 3 1/4 and 4 1/4. i plan to put these on my 73 dart. will these be a good fit?

I guess yes.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Can anyone else help me? I'm going to loo at these wheels again this afternon and kinda need to know if they'll work. I know this question has probably been asked but I've searched and can't find the answer I'm looking for. If anyone can help write fast.

Why don't you just test fit them to the car and see if they will fit. My personal opinion is that 8" rims are to wide for the rear of a dart. I would suspect that the sidewalls will be pressed against the fender lips.

Here's what i'd do:
take a wheel off the back of your car, measure from the face of the brake drum to the spring, and to the inner fender-- this shouldn't really be a big deal with a 14" rim unless your car is lowered a whole bunch seeing that the tire will usually hit the spring before the inner fender, but better to check anyway. Then measure from the drum to the inside of the fender lip.
Now, when you go look at the wheels, measure the backspacing and the offset. You'll know if you'll be into the fender or into the springs.

You can fit 8" rims out back but special consideration has to be taken with the backspacing. More than likely 4.250" isn't going to be enuff and you'll wind up on the fender lip. But, again, it depends on alot of variables such as rear end and wheel offset. So measure it up and go in armed with sufficent information to make a educated purchase.

Good luck homeslice!

-JYH

Even if the 8" rim fits what size tire can you put on it that will also fit?? an 8 " wheel needs a pretty hefty chunk of rubber for proper fitment, just be careful .!!!

Offhand, I'd say that 3.25" for a 7" and 4.25" for an 8" rim will not be enough offset. I think you would need more inboard. I've used 3.5" bs on a 7" rim on my '64 and '68 Darts, and it is marginal with 215/60-14 tires. 4-4.75" bs on a 7" rim is really the range you want to be in.

Of course, you could have a little more room on your '73 and it might be OK... Measuring is best, as JYH says.

Lou

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