[mikeinta]

I have an 04 GT with factory wheels and tires. I am starting the modifications to increase performance. I would like advice on the right wheel size and tire selection for high speed street performance. I live in Los Angeles and will drive dry pavement 95% of the time. I do not plan to race at all.

I'd appreciate your rationale for the recommendations so I can learn more about various perspectives on the topic.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[le012wf]

all depends. Is money an issue?

[GTS 5.7]

Originally Posted by le012wf

all depends. Is money an issue?

DEFINATELY makes a difference-------my plan is Hypercoated FR500s with BFG T/A KDW2 tires- Front-18X9 with 265/35 tires,rear 18X10 with 295/35 tires--But the $$ are making me wait a bit

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/BigPic...TAKDW2&place=2


http://www.americanmuscle.com/18x10-...percoated.html

[mikeinta]

Money is not an issue for the wheels (Don't tell my wife). I am scouting out those Ford Racing FR500's. The target price range for tires is about $250. A little more if there is a killer tire you could help me rationalize

Thanks.

[CobraBoy]

On your car... just my opinion... get deep dish bullit 17x10.5 in the back and 17x9 in the front. for the tires get sumimoto htrz's (because you said you arent going to race)

[CobraBoy]

that will run you about 1k for everything btw

*edit* and i would get them from americanmuscle.com because they will mount and balance and ship them for free

[CobraMD]

i got shelby razors... 20" is too big imo, but i'll mount up 255/35 R20s and pray for the best.

[2000gtpacifica]

I want to get some deep dish tires on the back for my car, but really only want to get two rims. since I have a 2000 gt, and stock rims, I can't find any that I can put some 315's on( that will match the original style). So, I just found some BFGoodrich 275/40/zr17's to put on their for now. maybe when I become a pro drag racer, I'll invest in some DR's.


BTW: those tires hook up better than any tire I've ever had, not talking about racing, but just DD, even in the rain. And my car doesn't have traction control in it.

[CobraBoy]

the BFG drag radial... surprisingly enough... actually gets really good traction in the rain compared to most street radials... i think its because the compound is so soft

[mikeinta]

Anyone with good pics of thier 17 or 18X10 back and 17 or 18X9 setup on the front? Curious about how the backspacing works within the wheel well. Thanks.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by GTS 5.7

DEFINATELY makes a difference-------my plan is Hypercoated FR500s with BFG T/A KDW2 tires- Front-18X9 with 265/35 tires,rear 18X10 with 295/35 tires--But the $$ are making me wait a bit

SuperView of the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2


Hypercoated Deep Dish FR500 Wheel (18x10)

Ok. This is what I have exactly!!! FR500's rock on black mustangs (check my black 99 cobra in my profile pics to see, this was before the BFG's by the way. Michelin I think is what I had before) Go for it though, you wont regret it at all! I highly, highly suggest this tire set up with any mustang with 18" wheels! Only change I would make is maybe go with a 40 profile in the rear.IMO BFGoodrich g-force T/A KDW's are the best tire you can use! BFG's are all around awesome tires! I have them on all my cars, 3 mustangs, a Jeep, & a Honda Element. Worth every penny!
Im not sure if I have any good wheel shots in my pictures, but I might. Go check them out.

[mikeinta]

Not to drag this point out, but here's the next question... I've selected to get the FR500's 18X9 on the front and 18X10 on the back. For tires, American Muscle says 285s are the right size and Tire Rack says 275s.

Hmmm... who the expert here on tire fittment that can guide on the best fit?

[CobraBoy]

with a 10 inch rim you can do a 295 actually... yeah tire rack AND american tire both told me that i would never be able to fit 315/35's on the back of my car and i did it just fine. till i got the drag radials haha...

275 to 295 will be just fine

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by mikeinta

Not to drag this point out, but here's the next question... I've selected to get the FR500's 18X9 on the front and 18X10 on the back. For tires, American Muscle says 285s are the right size and Tire Rack says 275s.

Hmmm... who the expert here on tire fittment that can guide on the best fit?

Me!!! Im the tire expert!

Like I said in another post, these tire guys dont know crap! They are reading something out of a book, manual, or directions from a boss. If you are going to go with an offset (bigger in the back, smaller in front) go with at least a 285. Personally on my car at this moment in time, I have 295's in the rear. I have not had any problems AT ALL with them for the six months ive had them. Ive used 285's in the rear before as well. Not a single problem with those either. You could go all the way to 315 & maybe beyond, I just havent heard of anyone going wider than 315, "YET".

When I ordered my tires from the tirerack.com they actually called me to see if I knew what I was doing before they filled my order. I dont see what the big deal is!? Whats wrong with wider? If you want the ghetto mexifornia, lowrider, bubbled tire look(when the tire is too small for the rim you are using) than go get another car. Ive seen this on a few mustangs as well. "STOP BEING CHEAP PEOPLE!", I realize tires get more expensive as you go up in size, but stop going for the smallest cheapest tire you can afford. You should have stayed with the stock size rim then. "If you cant play the game dont try!"
I hate that these tire shops dont want to put big tires on mustangs. Its ok for the drag strip, why not the street? Dont get me wrong 275's are not bad tire sizes; for the front. I prefer to have a little meat under my car. Personally, I highly recommend going with a 285 or 295 with a 30-40 profile in the rear & no less than a 265/35 in the front. I think 255 is just too small, IMO. How much side wall do you want? I like 35, but I think next time Im going to go with 40 just for the rears though.

Im kinda not impressed with americanmuscle.com anymore, thier quality & knowledge seems to be deteriorating. I suggest stangmods.com, better quality, better prices, etc... They still have free shipping which is why most of us use americanmuscle.com, thats why I used to. As far as tirerack.com... They just arent up to date on thier info. Great site! Love it! You can order whatever you want thru them, just be prepared for the phone call..."are you sure?"

[mikeinta]

Now that's a darn good post. I would agree that having a little more meat under the car is important... I mean I don't drive a go-cart and the roads are less than perfect in LA. So, low-profile is a bit silly IMO given the trade-off of cornering stability with beating the crap out of your car. I do want to keep the front/back sizing relatively even given I don't drive a dragster either

Even BFG suggests a wider tire on thier high performance treads like the GForce KD. They suggest the 295/35 rear with 275/40 front... based on the BFG site (Although Tire Rack cites all sorts of additional sizes for that tire). Interestingly it looks like they don't make a 295/40 on either the KD or KDW... at this point.

So... I think I'm at the FR500's hypercoated with the front wheel 18X9 with a BFG GForce KD 275/40/18 tire and rear wheel 18X10 with a BFG GForce 295/35/18...

This was a really great thread and got me answers to exactly the questions I sought.

Many thanks.