Should I get those wheels widened?
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SteedaGT9150
Advanced Member
fivespeedsteed
20+ Year Stangneter 
Dino Dino Bambino
15 Year Member
You could consider adding a pair of 1.5" rear wheel spacers instead of buying another set of wheels.
Doesn't really help me. My wheels are already flush with the fender lips, so spacers would push them out. Not what I want to do here
I want more rubber on the road, so widening the wheels would increase the wheel width to the inside and allow me to run a wider tire and still keep the wheel flush with the fender lip. Then i can run a tire size bigger than a 245/255
I think you are going to spend a whole lot on tires and rim widening and you aren't going to fit the tire width you want on them.
A lot of money for very little.
Max tire width is probably going to be around 275, anything larger is either going to run around bumps or rub either on the fender or inner tub when you corner hard.
I have my fenders rolled, so my 275's no longer rub on bumps, but if i hit a curve hard, they rub on the inside, hence i purchased a panhard bar.
A lot of money for very little.
Max tire width is probably going to be around 275, anything larger is either going to run around bumps or rub either on the fender or inner tub when you corner hard.
I have my fenders rolled, so my 275's no longer rub on bumps, but if i hit a curve hard, they rub on the inside, hence i purchased a panhard bar.
hsean
10 Year Member
Can I vote for doing it AND selling them to me? 
IMHO, every Fox should have 275s or wider in the back, even if it means minitubs. Plus, with a rare wheel like that, it would be super unique and truly bad ass.
IMHO, every Fox should have 275s or wider in the back, even if it means minitubs. Plus, with a rare wheel like that, it would be super unique and truly bad ass.
You make some good points, and i've thought about them prior to this as well.
Right now, i have 245's out back with rolled fenders. I also have mach 1 springs, so i'm not that lowered. My tires don't contact anywhere right now.
So, any widening i do would need to be to the inside of the wheel? How much can I do? 9? 9.5", 10" Unsure yet. Need to get under the car and do some measuring. More than likely i'll need to keep the sidewall of the tire pretty flush with the edge of the rim - no bulge in other words. So i might be limited to a 275/285 or so on a 9.5" or 10" rim.
I could also have 1/8" machined off the hub flange a bit to pull the wheel inwards slightl.
So i *could* end up spending $400 to be stuck with a 9" wide wheel and 275's...or i might be able to make it work and put a larger tire under there.
So i really need to put some thought into this before I do it. I think I want to widen them, but need to figure out how much, and what tire, and think to myself if it's worth it.
I do want to run THESE wheels though. I've loved them ever since i saw my first '01 cobra with them on. It's just a question of leaving as is with 245's...or going wider.
You make some good points, and i've thought about them prior to this as well.
Right now, i have 245's out back with rolled fenders. I also have mach 1 springs, so i'm not that lowered. My tires don't contact anywhere right now.
So, any widening i do would need to be to the inside of the wheel? How much can I do? 9? 9.5", 10" Unsure yet. Need to get under the car and do some measuring. More than likely i'll need to keep the sidewall of the tire pretty flush with the edge of the rim - no bulge in other words. So i might be limited to a 275/285 or so on a 9.5" or 10" rim.
I could also have 1/8" machined off the hub flange a bit to pull the wheel inwards slightl.
So i *could* end up spending $400 to be stuck with a 9" wide wheel and 275's...or i might be able to make it work and put a larger tire under there.
So i really need to put some thought into this before I do it. I think I want to widen them, but need to figure out how much, and what tire, and think to myself if it's worth it.
I do want to run THESE wheels though. I've loved them ever since i saw my first '01 cobra with them on. It's just a question of leaving as is with 245's...or going wider.
A 275/40-17 typically will fit on a wheel anywhere between 9 and 11 inches wide, and a 315/35-17 will fit 10-12", so you could split it and do a 10 or 10.5" wheel, and have the option to run either a 275 or a 315. Run a 275, then if you ever tub it you could fit a 315 easy; no wheel changes.
I have a set of those wheels that I had on my car before i went with 17x9 / 17x10 combo on my coupe, I always thought they were one of the best looking wheels ford ever put out.
I vote for widening them on the rear. I had a 95 rear in my car and they sit just perfect, then I swapped over to fox width before I got my 17x10's and they did not look as good on the rear. I figured you could go 17x10 easy with a 275 or 285 tire
To be honest with you, if I had saw an idea like this before i went to fox width rear end I would prob send mine off and have them widened and go that route
I vote for widening them on the rear. I had a 95 rear in my car and they sit just perfect, then I swapped over to fox width before I got my 17x10's and they did not look as good on the rear. I figured you could go 17x10 easy with a 275 or 285 tire
To be honest with you, if I had saw an idea like this before i went to fox width rear end I would prob send mine off and have them widened and go that route
You make some good points, and i've thought about them prior to this as well.
Right now, i have 245's out back with rolled fenders. I also have mach 1 springs, so i'm not that lowered. My tires don't contact anywhere right now.
So, any widening i do would need to be to the inside of the wheel? How much can I do? 9? 9.5", 10" Unsure yet. Need to get under the car and do some measuring. More than likely i'll need to keep the sidewall of the tire pretty flush with the edge of the rim - no bulge in other words. So i might be limited to a 275/285 or so on a 9.5" or 10" rim.
I could also have 1/8" machined off the hub flange a bit to pull the wheel inwards slightl.
So i *could* end up spending $400 to be stuck with a 9" wide wheel and 275's...or i might be able to make it work and put a larger tire under there.
So i really need to put some thought into this before I do it. I think I want to widen them, but need to figure out how much, and what tire, and think to myself if it's worth it.
I do want to run THESE wheels though. I've loved them ever since i saw my first '01 cobra with them on. It's just a question of leaving as is with 245's...or going wider.
I don't think any amount of calculating is going to give a 100% accurate depiction of how they are going to fit or behave when you are driving.
May narrow it down a little, but i've tried alot of widths and mixing and matching tires over the years. My most recent oversight was the fact that under corning the rear does move alot, more than i expected.
An 8 inch rim should probably take a 265 series tire. Little bulge but it shouldn't be too noticeable.
I'd buy a crappy ass used tire in that size, mount it on the rim and test fit it.
For the record, i run a 275 series tire on an 8.5 rim. Bulges a bit, not excessive though.
But they are bfg drag radials and the run a little on the wide side of things.
FWIW, I've held in my hands BFG 275s DRs that were ran their entire life on a 17x8 rim, all the way until belt was showing. It was very obvious that the narrow rim was distorting the contact patch, all the wear was on the inside. Belts were showing in the middle, but the tire still had tread left at the outer edges of the contact patch. Now this could have been partially due to overinflation, but it forever convinced me not to run tires on a narrower rim than they are rated for.
FWIW, I've held in my hands BFG 275s DRs that were ran their entire life on a 17x8 rim, all the way until belt was showing. It was very obvious that the narrow rim was distorting the contact patch, all the wear was on the inside. Belts were showing in the middle, but the tire still had tread left at the outer edges of the contact patch. Now this could have been partially due to overinflation, but it forever convinced me not to run tires on a narrower rim than they are rated for.
I've had mine for at least 4 years now, unknown mileage but i work them hard, i check them now and then, wear pattern is pretty even.
With my 18 inch wheels i don't have many drag radial choices. I was going to downsize to the 265's, unfortunately they don't exist anymore.
The issue you speak of sounds more like inflation anyway.
For years people ran bfg 16 inch drag radials on pony rims, and they were 255's on a 7 (i think ponies are 7's). Now that was a bulge.
I run 10.5" rims on my car with a 315 tire with stock fox track width. Hard corners and the bottom of inclines = rub. I would widen to 9.5 or 10 make and run a 275 or 285 tire.
I would never tub it. That's just ruining the car IMHO for what I want to do with it. It's just a street car.
I figure right now, as it sits, my car with 245's and the 17x8 '97 cobra wheels on there sits flush with the fender lip. Hit a bump and it moves past and makes no contact.
If i were to put a 275 on the 8" rim, the bulge would be equal on both sides and the rubber would get closer to the lip
Now, if i take the same 17x8's and widen them to 9.5" or so, now the 275 is stretched inwards away from the fender lips.
My question is how far inwards I can go
Widening SN95 wheels on Fox's is not common. I have yet to see it done. Poking my head under the cars ass, i do have clearance to the inner fender liner.
I guess all i can do is think really hard about it and decide from there.
ALl my buddies own Sn95's, so maybe one has a 275DR mounted on a 17x8 i can test fit. Maybe i'll try that
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