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Originally Posted by NY2LA  thanks i appreciate the responses . . i am by no means a tire expert and have NO clue what the hell any of those numbers meant . . my main reason for asking . . . . |
Sorry. The stock V6 comes with 16x7" rims; that is diameter of the rim, x (by) width of the rim between the surfaces where the tire meets it.
Stock 2006 V6 tires are 215 millimeters through the widest part, the sidewalls that connect the tread to the "bead", the part that meets the rim. Car manufacturers usually put the smallest "safe" tires they can get away with on the baseline models, like the V6 S197 Mustang. The expectation for those cars is that they will be used as tools, something to transport a semi-conscious body from one place to another with minimum fuss and minimum investment.
Up to a point, wider is more stable and lasts longer; too much, and performance (mileage) suffers, and the interference you were asking about is more likely.
If you contemplate any kind of sporting use at all, it is worth choosing a larger section (225 for example) that will fit on the same size rim (7"). That's the least expensive way to get a little bit better performance and appearance.
If you are going to go to the expense of getting larger rims, they might as well be significantly larger, at a little more expense. My advice to another V6 tire/rim questioner was to find a set of GT takeoffs: there are two sets available on ebay at something over $600 shipped, and they were supplied on a car that was expected to have somewhat more strenuous use than expected of the V6.
Stock GT wheels are 17x8", a substantial improvement over V6 stock, and the tires are 235 section, also a worthwhile increment. Two years ago I was able to shop a while and find a set of essentially new such wheels/tires for about $550 delivered, with lugnuts and locks. Everything costs more nowadays, but there are inexpensive and competent wheel/tire sets out there for not much money, relatively speaking.
If you want to do a once-and-for-all, not quite as inexpensive upgrade, look for something in the 18x8.5 or 9 or 9.5" area, with tires at least 255, or up to 275 in section.
As far as appearance goes, some like 20-in rims, I don't. I have some all-black 19" rims that look perfect on my black convertible. I have some 18-inch "Fanblades" in sparkling silver that look perfect on that car, too. And, I have a set of 18-inch polished aluminum Bullitts that look perfect on my white coupe. They all have decent-size tires on them (275, 245, 235, respectively) and look just fine or better.
As a practical matter, there's no use "upgrading" to the same width rim, even if of larger diameter. The best compromise between usefulness and cost is the 17" GT takeoffs. If you can actually afford something bigger, do the 18s.
If your goal is to just keep your V6 from sitting on the ground for another 15,000 miles, come get my original V6 rims and tires. I won't pack and ship, but if you want to pick them up, they're yours.
Will these rims and tires fit my 2006 Mustang v6 and not rub ? 
(don't ya think?)
