wheel help???

Hi savagess,

The post by psfracer incorrect if you want to lower the car or need to fit chains to an S197 Mustang.

Try this fitment test to learn what fits and what doesn't. Put the car on stands with the rear axle drooping. Suppport the axle in an axle saddle, pull the lower shock bolts and then keep lowering slowly so you can pull the springs. Lift the axle up and loosely install the lower shock bolts. Put your the 24mm wheel and tire combination on, raise the axle evenly and level back up into the car to full compression travel. Make sure the axle is into the bump stops at least one inch on both sides to simulate a fully loaded car or a bump while driving. The wheels will be rubbing the inner fenderwells. Ask me how I know this.

The S197 Mustangs need at least a 35mm offset with a 9" wheel to fit correctly if the car has been lowered or if you even think you will be lowering it or need to use chains. If you lower the S197 you will NEED to recenter the rear axle if you hope to get the widest possible wheels and tires to fit correctly. Look into Steeda or BMR adjustable Panhard bars for these critical parts. Also know that cars vary some from what car to car and that what barely "fits" on one car amy noy fit correctly on another perfectly straight car.

If you are buying over the internet be sure you can return the wheels and tires for a full refund if they claim they correctly and you find otherwise. This is important as many people have older Mustang wheels they dump on new Mustang owners looking for cheap wheels. Don't be yet another of these people who are screwed out of their hard earned money with out a written agreement.

You could also buy from a major wheel and tire dealer like Tire Rack who KNOWS what fits and where the limits are because they have sold thousands and thousands of wheels and tires to people with cars just like yours. Go on thier website and see what they recommend in terms of wheel and tire sizes. I can assure you they are not selling any 9" wheels with a 24mm offset for S197 Mustangs.

I hope this helps!


Cheers

psfracer said:

A 18X9 rim with a +24 mm offset will put a 255/45/18 just inside the fenderwell with no rubbing issues....I know, thats exactly what I run for street use, 2003/04 cobra rims on 255's. For track, since I wanted to go with a wider tire, I went with a 18X9 with +42mm offset. Just depends on how much tire you want under the fenderwell....

Click to expand...

Hi psfracer,

My standards of performance, fit and finish are very high. Many people are perfectly willing to drive their nice new Mustangs looking like they are going off roading or to a rice fest.

IMO mods done to a performance car need to have a purpose, otherwise what's the point? A modification that makes the wheels stick out and rub when driving the car loaded through a dip is not a safe or good modification for ANY vehicle used on a public road IMO. If you like a particular style wheel find a set that will fit or modify the wheels to fit correctly.

Personally I don't want to be driving down the road and find myself in a traffic jam or worse made by some guy who cut his own tires and got in a wreck because he thought that looks were more important and that a little bit of rubbing was no big deal.

Seen it, don't like it. Actually you have probably ALL seen it and didn't recognize it for what it was. A huge, jacked up to the sky 4x4 up-side down because his CG was so high my 7 year old could push on it over. That slammed Civic in a solo spin out because he liked the lowered race car look but was too lazy, cheap and stupid to buy stiffer shocks, get an alignment and driving lessions. Hey don't get me wrong, I'm all for a little bit of fun but you have to admit some of this stuff is pretty stupid on the street.

But that's just me. Maybe you like this stuff happening all around you slowing you down and rasing your insurance rates. Personally I'd rather have the money to do other things with.


Cheers

psfracer said:

Yes, I agree my post would be incorrect IF he was going to lower the car or runs chains. But he did not say that....which is why I said the 18X9 with +24mm offset would fit....which it does with 255/45/18's. Furthermore, I DO agree that this is the wrong offset if you want to maximize tire size. I just run them because I really like the 03/04 cobra wheel.

Click to expand...

SportsPix said:

Hi psfracer,

My standards of performance, fit and finish are very high. Many people are perfectly willing to drive their nice new Mustangs looking like they are going off roading or to a rice fest.

IMO mods done to a performance car need to have a purpose, otherwise what's the point? A modification that makes the wheels stick out and rub when driving the car loaded through a dip is not a safe or good modification for ANY vehicle used on a public road IMO. If you like a particular style wheel find a set that will fit or modify the wheels to fit correctly.

Personally I don't want to be driving down the road and find myself in a traffic jam or worse made by some guy who cut his own tires and got in a wreck because he thought that looks were more important and that a little bit of rubbing was no big deal.

Seen it, don't like it. Actually you have probably ALL seen it and didn't recognize it for what it was. A huge, jacked up to the sky 4x4 up-side down because his CG was so high my 7 year old could push on it over. That slammed Civic in a solo spin out because he liked the lowered race car look but was too lazy, cheap and stupid to buy stiffer shocks, get an alignment and driving lessions. Hey don't get me wrong, I'm all for a little bit of fun but you have to admit some of this stuff is pretty stupid on the street.

But that's just me. Maybe you like this stuff happening all around you slowing you down and rasing your insurance rates. Personally I'd rather have the money to do other things with.


Cheers

Click to expand...

Have driven my car with this set up 31,000 miles in LA traffic, with absolutely no rubbing issues. Furthermore, have turned 12.60's at LACR with this set up. From the start, I said they will fit, AND I KNOW BECAUSE I ACTUALLY RUN THEM ON MY CAR---FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE. They do not rub. If they haven't rubbed in 31,000 miles, then they are not going to. And they DO NOT stick out with a 255/45/18. And lastly, you do not want to lower your car to screw up weight transfer at the track, unless you are prepared to do alot more than just lowering springs. Thats why I haven't lowered mine. I know what I am talking about, I 60' regularly in the 1.6's. What do you 60'? Oh, but your car may look better, so we have different priorities, and thats where are opinion differs. And as far as safety, I couldn't agree more, however. No one would argue you on that. If my tires ever rubbed, then I certainly wouldn't be running these wheels, especially when I am going close to 110mph in the 1/4 mile. Below is a pic of me running this set up at the track before my DR's. If they rub like you say, how do you explain the picture below?????All of those passes at the track, and no rubbing.


Like I said before, if you want to get the largest tire possible under the car, then yes, you need more then 24mm of offset on a 9 inch wide rim, we are also in agreement there. When I run my DR's, since they are a wider and taller tire, I run a 9 inch rim with +42mm offset.

Hi psfracer,

I'm not a drag racer, I'm an open track guy. We have different objectives for our driving time and mine don't usually involve getting to drive for 13 seconds at a time.

Actually I've done and continue to do more than just adding lowering springs to my car, what I'm will to admit to is mostly in my signature. Weight transfer can be easily restored and actually improved by altering instant center which changes when a 3-link + PB suspension car gets lowered. The only real problem with lowering this car and drag racing it is the tire height limitations. As far as suspension and weight transfer goes in practical terms even on a lowered car it can all be put back or even improved on if you know suspension. For a road racing tire height is not going to be a problem on the lowered car. All of this is easy stuff to do on the S197 chassis and not too expensive especially if you can weld yourself.

You know that most of what I reply to about here and on other boards are suspension issues which I know how to make work pretty well. The basic ideas are the same for drag racing or road racing. Effectively controlling weight transfer to give the tires a chance to do their job to our advantage on the track.

Yes my car does look better than yours. It also corners better, handles better, stops better, rides better and the tires do not rub even while fully loaded with my family and the weekly groceries in it with chains on while driving through the snow.

Go look on BMR's site and see the blurb about the guy with an '05 GT who is doing his 60' in 1.33 and 12.50 ET @ 104. All motor NO spray full interior etc., that's what good suspension can do for your car.


Cheers

psfracer said:

Have driven my car with this set up 31,000 miles in LA traffic, with absolutely no rubbing issues. Furthermore, have turned 12.60's at LACR with this set up. From the start, I said they will fit, AND I KNOW BECAUSE I ACTUALLY RUN THEM ON MY CAR---FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE. They do not rub. If they haven't rubbed in 31,000 miles, then they are not going to. And they DO NOT stick out with a 255/45/18. And lastly, you do not want to lower your car to screw up weight transfer at the track, unless you are prepared to do alot more than just lowering springs. Thats why I haven't lowered mine. I know what I am talking about, I 60' regularly in the 1.6's. What do you 60'? Oh, but your car may look better, so we have different priorities, and thats where are opinion differs. And as far as safety, I couldn't agree more, however. No one would argue you on that. If my tires ever rubbed, then I certainly wouldn't be running these wheels, especially when I am going close to 110mph in the 1/4 mile. Below is a pic of me running this set up at the track before my DR's. If they rub like you say, how do you explain the picture below?????All of those passes at the track, and no rubbing.


Like I said before, if you want to get the largest tire possible under the car, then yes, you need more then 24mm of offset on a 9 inch wide rim, we are also in agreement there. When I run my DR's, since they are a wider and taller tire, I run a 9 inch rim with +42mm offset.

Click to expand...

Which is my point, the BMR car has much more done to it then just springs. Weight transfer can be improved, but you know you can not change instant center with just springs....its pinion angle....its changing the mounting point of the UCA and LCA's. You yourself said you have much more done to your car then just springs. When I am ready I will do the same...coil overs in the rear (MMR makes them), adjustable UCA, new mounting brackets for LCA, (already have BMR LCA's which stopped the wheel hop), subframes, some good drag struts for the front. Thanks for proving my point. And BTW, I wasn't talking about the BMR car, I was talking about YOUR car. Can it 60' in the 1.6's? Is it a daily driver like mine? Lets see some pics, your gallery is empty.

To get back to the original question.......18X9 with 24mm offset will fit with a 255/45/18 and WILL NOT RUB...I have driven 31k miles, raced at the track, had the groceries in trunk with my wife in the passenger seat and my son in the back, never rubbed. What more do you want? Video?