I'v read in a few places that Steel 16" stockers have 5.75" backspace. Is this true?

I think tomorrow I'm going to pull my spare and measure it.

If this is true then stock 16" rims can fit larger tires than 17" Aluminum rims due to an extra half inch in back spacing.

 

more like 6.25" on stock steelies

 

Everything I've read has shown all of the stock wheels to be 6 or 6.25 backspacing.

 

6 or 6.25 depending on where you measure. That's why 1.5" spacers are needed for wider tires.

Both 16" and 17 are same.

 

The higher the backspacing number the closer the tires usually sits to the inside of the vehicle...

Identical wheels 5" of backspacing sits hypothetical 10" from the frame... The same wheel with 3" of back spacing will sit 12" from the frame...

Hope that makes sense and answered your first question...

 

I've had both the stock steel and stock alloy wheels on my JK. They had identical backspacing.