03 Cobra max rim width.

[beaubie]

Hey all,
Got a quick question. How wide of a rim can I stick under the front and back of my 03 Cobra Convertible?
It's got the IRS, stock suspension all around.

Font:
Can I fit a 17x10 in front? maybe 9.5?

Rear:
It's IRS so I don't know the clearance issues associated with it.
(I've had an 03 GT solid rear axle for years with F-17x9 - R-17x10.5's on it
wearing F-275/40 R-315/35 respectively.)

I saw an ad in Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords for Maximum Motorsports that shows Chris Griswold's ride and it looks like it's got 10-11in wide FRONT rims.... I wanna do that.... lol

Does MM's K-member and A-arms make more room for rim width?

I want to run this thing in the Silver State Classic, since I live 2 hrs away from that part of Nevada. So, I want supreme handling, supreme grip, supreme stability. Which...is...hard in a convertible.

Anyway... ideas? Suggestions? (besides a whipple/fuel system upgrade...I know)

 

[Uncle Meat]

Can't really say about the front. Most 03/04 owners stick with the stock 9-in wide rims up there. On the back you can put 10.5-in wide as long as you run some 3/8" spacers (or larger) and extended lugs.

U.M.

 

[beaubie]

??

3/8 spacers and long studs?.... nahh... just get the rims with the right offset.
On my 03 GT, I have 10.5's out back with a 27mm offset. No spacers needed.

Is that the same for the IRS?

 

[Uncle Meat]

No, and that's the problem you see. Unless you are ordering custom made rims and willing to pay the additional cost for custom backspacing, you'll have to deal with what's available. The IRS on the Cobra makes installing wider rims more difficult than the GT's. In order to ensure the IRS bolts don't eat up your sidewalls you have offset the rim some.

Also, I said extended LUGS as in lug-nuts, not studs.

Are you staying with the stock 17" size of rim or will you go with something larger in diameter? This too makes it easier to get around the IRS, but limits what tires are available.

U.M.

 

[TheDukeOfEarl]

I run 11's front and rear. I run 335-30-18 rear and 305-30-18 front. I do not have fender liners any more. I also have MM K and A's up front. I do space out both front and rear 1/2 " Hub centric with 3" studs.

 

[beaubie]

excellent

That's great, just what I wanted to know.
I love MM's stuff. Got their CC plates and rear lowers on my 03 GT. Good stuff.

Any other info you could give me on your road race setup is what I want to know. Nice times, by the way.

I am eventually going MM all the way as $ permits.

But today, I'll just try to get the 11's on,
May I ask, what's your offset? 18x11 w/offset?
I'm trying to avoid the spacers. I want the center of the rim 11's I choose to be in the center of the original rim's 17x9in so as to not throw suspension geometry off alot.

Thanks for the inspiration.