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The normal definition of "track" is "the distance from centerline to centerline of the road wheels", ie the centers of the tires. Back in ancient times when all wheels had zero offset, that was the same as "flange to flange distance."

I amost never have any use for "track"; I'm usually dealing with "sidewall to sidewall" outside distance; track plus tire minus backspace, that is, "how wide the whole thing is."

I just realized that there has to be a word for that, and I can't remember what it is. Can anyone clue me in?

It's a very technical term: FIDMTTWE

Fluff I Didn't Make The Trailer Wide Enough

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Martin


My build log:
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=14520&start=0
My build video:
https://vimeo.com/143524140 password "matovid"

I am not aware of a term for what you are looking for. Consider that tire size is measured at the widest point (usually the sidewall, not the tread). All other things constant, the width of the wheel will also have a slight effect on the an outside to outside measurement. You didn't mention wheel adapters which are sometimes used and could also make an effect.

What exactly are you needing the dimension for, that will simplify things if you had the name of the term? Just measure it all up and add them up. Maybe make a simple spreadsheet where you can vary the variables.

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Chuck.

“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

And don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766

I've heard it referred to overall width (John Deere) or outside tread width (trailer mfgr), but I don't think either of those are standard terms, just ones made up for a specific application.

Most commonly, whether a given assembly will fit in the wheelwells of an existing body.

When you're swapping rear ends or going with tubs, the only dimension you care about is outside-to-outside, which can't be too much more than the orginal width.

They have like five terms for kingpin inclination, and none for that?

Aren't you interested in BOTH the outside and inside measurements? You may need to fit inside wheel wells too, right? Doesn't that also require knowing how much lateral movement you have? IRS vs panhard vs Watts link also affect how much room you will have/need. or Camber? or Camber gain? or Caster & Steering angle? I guess I just don't see how this one measurement will get you absolute confidence that something will fit a given space without full homework being done.

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Chuck.

“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

And don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766

Change that to Gonzo and that's exactly what happened to JD. I believe there's one inch clearance between the tires and the walls. I think JD is the only one who can load the car.

And then (2 hours later) he steps back and says "See honey, I told you it would fit"

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mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

I've seen guys at the track changing "race tires" to "trailer tires" just to get the thing back on the trailer.

A lot of hassle for a measurement that doesn't seem to have a name...

OWW - Outer Wheel Width, or Overall Wheel Width.
TOWW - Total Overall Wheel Width.

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If I must be a one-man PC free zone, so be it!

Does anyone know if Vsusp refers to track using the center of the tires? Now that it's brought up I guess I should make sure before I cut metal for control arms.

Center-to-center is both SAE standard and "industry standard." *However* you will sometimes find people using it to mean the outside-to-outside distance in internet-land, so you need to run a sanity check on any track figures you pull off the web.

I suppose you can play with wheel / rim offsets and come up with different track numbers (center to center) with the same outside to outside measurements?

But then again, at that point, you'd have to be a suspension engineer to really care?

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Geek49203 aka
Tim Wohlford
Louisville, KY
Hayes front, S10 +2 rear, Lalo body.

Or someone who has had wheels custom-made so the outside-to-outside distance will fit under the bodywork.

I've had three sets of wheels made, so far. On the other hand, I've never had any use for "track".

CTW, i just invented a term for what you are refering to, the overall width across the tires from one side of the car to the other from curb to curb.

CTW is "curb track width" as a member of SAE, i now make this an SAE standard term in vehicular geometry for this measurement. (well a locost term but still just sayin')

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this story shall the good man teach his son,
and chrispin chrispian shall ne'er go by,
from this day to the end of the world.
but we in it shall be remembered.

"Curb Track Width" sounds fine to me. I shall adopt it forthwith.