Am I the only one who?

[ultrastang]

My '68 coupe originally came with factory 14" chrome styled steel wheels (like these)

http://www.geocities.com/mustangs68.geo/gtc-stripe.jpg

That was ok back when I had the factory drums on the front. Back around 1984, I put a set of Cragar S/S 5-spokes on the '68. --in style then. Very outdated looking now. In 1990, I swapped out the front drums for some '75 Granada 11" front discs.

I've had various factory and aftermarket wheels on my '68 during my 24 years of ownership with it, but since 1995, I've had 15" x 5" Weld Draglites on the front and 15" x 8" Welds on the rear;

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/349/68mustang004ev5.jpg

However now, I'm adapting '94-'04 Cobra brakes on the front with 13" rotors, and those skinny, small diameter stock 14" wheels would not fit over the later model brakes, nor will the 15" Welds fit. In this instance, you are pretty much limited to late model factory 17" wheels, or an aftermarket wheel that is designed to fit a late model Mustang with this larger disc brake setup.

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4221/g2con68006ks6.jpg

This is the 17" Heritage wheel off my '03 Mach 1 that I put on my '68 to "check things out" with. This is just a modern version of the '69-73 Magnum 500s;

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/2374/heritagewheelonrearof68002af1.jpg

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/9412/mach1wheel002vh4.jpg

From past experience with different types of wheels, the 17" Mach 1 wheels definitely "fill" the wheel wells better than any of the stock offerings from any of the '65-'73 models.


www.ultrastang.com

 

[CochinoFilipino]

Am I the only one who:

-Thinks this topic belongs in TalK?

 

[69gmachine]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'm 45 and while I think 15" rims can look OK, it's just so much easier to get better performance from a 17" rim (not to mention fitting big disc brakes), I wouldn't consider going back in time. For the combination of price and functionality, I'm quite happy with the look of my 17" late model Mach 1 rims. Are there better looking ones? Maybe, but form follows function. The deep dish helps reduce the scrub radius. There is also diminishing returns going to an 18" rim, and IMO, they do look out of place.

I didn't build my car to win a people's choice award. I also don't take public opinion polls when I design parts. My suspension will hold it's own against anybody's out there. I designed my coil over front suspension/disc brakes/rack & pinion to take advantage of 17" wheels and modern tires. I'll pit my suspension design against anybody's: TCP, Unique Performance, Mustang's Plus... anyones. I'm not saying it will spank them, but it will hold it's own. A coil over design is so nicely balanced, you can have your cake and eat it too. It's got a full interior, and except for the wheels and seats, looks very stock, but it handles incredibly flat. I don't think the early design with all the tricks you can throw at it (roller spring perch, shelby drop, 600lb springs) are even a fair comparison. Now that's just my opinion, and I'm not saying that to offend anyone. If someone is close enough, and we can have a good natured contest, I would be willing to do a road test comparison... on your car!

 

[ultrastang]

I would have to agree, I'm not crazy about the flatnes of the lake model rims. I like a nice deep dish. I'm also not crazy on the large rims either I'm kinda old school I guess I'm running 15's. 16's are ok 17's boarder line. Anything larger to me just doesn't have enough meat to the tires.

Late model Bullitts in "deep dish"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/18-1...019QQitemZ290029387310QQrdZ1#ebayphotohosting

Cobras in deep dish;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/17-9...019QQitemZ290029387293QQrdZ1#ebayphotohosting

Chrome Bullits, deep dish;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/17-9...019QQitemZ290029416737QQrdZ1#ebayphotohosting

 

[Great68]

So are we not talking about all big rims, or just modern Mustang rims on classic cars? Because I didn't read the original post as a criticism of bigger wheels, just factory ones.

You read it exactly how I meant it.

I don't mind larger rims, I have 16" Centerlines on mine which I KNOW a lot of people on here hate. But, they look like they are sized right for the car (With a good offset and some dish) and if I lowered the car they'd fill the wheel wells right up.

My dad even likes bigger rims, just look at his Astro Van:

 

[zookeeper]

They may look nice but they are simply not that great of a tire considering how far tire technology has come. They are horrible in rain and that is when you need a good tire in my opinion.

Horrible is bit over-dramatic don't you think? Also, could you tell me specifically at what speed you found the set you had on your car to be unsafe in the rain? I don't make a habit out of driving my car in the rain, let alone at speed, but I have been caught in the rain in the past and found them to be just fine. If you want to get realistic for a moment, everything you claimed could easily be applied to any vintage Mustang couldn't it? They look nice, they're not that great of a car considering how far auto technology has come, and they're not by any means my first choice in wet weather. But I'm not quite ready to trade my lowly '68 or it's horrfiying tires in on superior technology to appease self-proclaimed experts just yet.

 

[stangonline]

I don't think age has much to do with it. Late model wheels just don't fit right on classics, that's why they look funny. It's not the style of the wheel or even the OD, it's the offset that is all screwed up.

They can be made to "fit". I question is, do you like the look? It is personal preference. I was just curious to see if the older gentlemen prefered the older wheels...which is how I thought it would be, but who knows?

 

[stangonline]

Horrible is bit over-dramatic don't you think? Also, could you tell me specifically at what speed you found the set you had on your car to be unsafe in the rain? I don't make a habit out of driving my car in the rain, let alone at speed, but I have been caught in the rain in the past and found them to be just fine. If you want to get realistic for a moment, everything you claimed could easily be applied to any vintage Mustang couldn't it? They look nice, they're not that great of a car considering how far auto technology has come, and they're not by any means my first choice in wet weather. But I'm not quite ready to trade my lowly '68 or it's horrfiying tires in on superior technology to appease self-proclaimed experts just yet.

I'm sure he didn't mean it to that extreme. I would agree that with advances in tires (which don't drastically change the look of your car by changing brands), there are definately better ones out there - and tires do make a difference.

Tiger Paws are not your friend

 

[Ronstang]

Horrible is bit over-dramatic don't you think? Also, could you tell me specifically at what speed you found the set you had on your car to be unsafe in the rain? I don't make a habit out of driving my car in the rain, let alone at speed, but I have been caught in the rain in the past and found them to be just fine. If you want to get realistic for a moment, everything you claimed could easily be applied to any vintage Mustang couldn't it? They look nice, they're not that great of a car considering how far auto technology has come, and they're not by any means my first choice in wet weather. But I'm not quite ready to trade my lowly '68 or it's horrfiying tires in on superior technology to appease self-proclaimed experts just yet.

Hmm, I did not realize you were sleeping with your tires. Sorry dude. Radial TAs of any flavor are mediocre tires at best. Sorry if you don't like the truth. Should I refer you to a good friend of mine who works for Michelin, who owns B.F. Goodrich....who makes these tires? He will tell you the same thing. They are an OK tire and I have run them in the past because they were decently priced and common for the rim size but I was never happy with their perfomance. They still make these tires because they are extremely cheap to manufacture and there are plenty of older cars around that people like to put them on. The Pirellis I had on my Shelby were far superior and no more expensive.

BTW, my Shelby was always a "daily driver" option when I was driving it. I put over 50K miles on it and I have driven it in the rain many times because I was out and it rained and I was not going home just because I was in the Shelby. Wet weather performancse is important and Radial TAs lack it. I usually had Radial TAs on the car until I switched over to Pirellis for a change.....a short time driving and I never went back to a Radial TA.

 

[66Runt]

Not all period correct wheels had a deep dish

Look at the picture of the 10 spoke Shelby wheel.

http://www.nvsaac.com/auctions/Sports Car Market/SCM_2001/SCM_66_2017/66_350_2017.htm

Definitely not a deep dish. While this is not a great picture, the Shelby 10 spoke (IMO) is a nice looking wheel.
It would seem to me that it comes down to taste and attitude.
There are so many Mustangs out there with Torque thrust wheels that, (IMO) it's nice to see different wheels. I still like the looks of a T.T. wheel, but I like to see other combinations as well.
When the entire car is put together as a packaged theme, even flat discs can look stunning.

Scott

 

[zookeeper]

Hmm, I did not realize you were sleeping with your tires. Sorry dude. Radial TAs of any flavor are mediocre tires at best. Sorry if you don't like the truth. Should I refer you to a good friend of mine who works for Michelin, who owns B.F. Goodrich....who makes these tires? He will tell you the same thing. They are an OK tire and I have run them in the past because they were decently priced and common for the rim size but I was never happy with their perfomance. They still make these tires because they are extremely cheap to manufacture and there are plenty of older cars around that people like to put them on. The Pirellis I had on my Shelby were far superior and no more expensive.

BTW, my Shelby was always a "daily driver" option when I was driving it. I put over 50K miles on it and I have driven it in the rain many times because I was out and it rained and I was not going home just because I was in the Shelby. Wet weather performancse is important and Radial TAs lack it. I usually had Radial TAs on the car until I switched over to Pirellis for a change.....a short time driving and I never went back to a Radial TA.

I don't want to let this petty arguement get any farther out of hand than it already is, sooooo let me summarize my reasoning and leave it at that. I never once claimed that Euro T/A's were the last word in tire performance, or that there wasn't a better tire somewhere. I was merely responding to the question about no decent quality tires available for 15" rims. I have a set, I'm very happy with them, and posted exactly that. Why you chose to belittle my opinion is beyond me, but it's my opinion and I was honest in my experiences. I live in an extremely rainy area with twisty two-lane roads and have driven enough miles to know that my tires are no better or worse than pretty much any DOT-legal tire in the rain. I don't run shaved tires or Comp T/A's, nor do I drive anything in the rain without using common sense, after all rain does lessen grip, right? The bottom line is, you run tires you like and I'll run the tires I like, but don't post condescending trash or suggest I'm so brand-loyal that I'm too ignorant to know better.

 

[stangkid88]

I like it old school too. Torq Thrusts, Cragers, Draglites, Magnum 500s, etc. I hate seeing 17 or 18 inch rims from newer stangs adapted onto a classic. I am a fan of some bigger rims, but only if the car is a full on custom restomod, not just a mainly stock car with big wheels.

 

[347Fastback]

Guys this is a debate that will go on forever. I like the 17s on my cars and I repsect the old style look also.

I am 41 and I like the pro-touring look. Enclosed is a pic of my 65 fastback with 17s. I just bought 17s for my 66 fastback also. I just take my time and get the right offset etc.

 

[347Fastback]

The cost on the wheels for the 66 fastback in 17 X8 with 4.5 inch backspacing was $472.00 to my front door... You have to shop for a good deal...

 

[zookeeper]

Man, that's a great looking fastback! The stance and wheel/tire package look outstanding! Makes me wish I still had my '65 FB, it was black as well, but nowhere near as nice as yours.

 

[stangonline]

Here's BIG MACs car - stupid nice. I USUALLY don't like 18s, but I wouldn't go with anything less than a 17. This car looks damn sexy, if you ask me.

http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20874&highlight=mustang

 

[347Fastback]

Yes!!! Big MAC hit a home run with this one... I luv the style of this ride.. There is nothing to argue about...but we all know there will be haters...

 

[Penguin]

I'm 23, and it depends on the car for me. I like classics with 14-18", sometimes 14 can look bad, sometimes 18, it just depends on how the wheels go with the rest of the car.

I personally wouldn't go over 18" for either of my cars. Right now I have 14" chrome reverse rims on my '66, and I like the way they look. If I ever get new rims, I'll be looking at 15-16" dd classic 5-spokes of some sort. My '01 has the factory 17x8 rims and I will probably just go with 17x9's.

 

[GNN60GT500]

Well I am running 18s on the back and 17s on the front of my 66-

I am actually putting a set of 17s back on it this weekend (07 Mustang GT take offs with spinners)


I put 18s on the back of my 66 with 235/40/18s and to be honest the tires are a little to rubber band for me-

The 05 wheels have an even bigger offset so I can fit a 235/55/17 on the back- hopefully- we will see tomorrow-
So I do like big wheels, but the aspect ratio of the tire has to be right on an old Mustang-

With the 8.8 rear end in my car- I have to run a modern wheel because anything with less then 6" of back spacing will stick out the side of the car-

 

[Pakrat]

Well FWIW and to the point of the original post, the only stock modern Mustang type rim I really think looks correct on a classic is the 03' Mach 1's. I am in the process of installing the Mustang Steve 13" Cobra front disc kit to my car in place of the stock drums but leaving the rear drums as is, for now at least. I always liked my SSW original rims but I have no choice but to go to 17's with this conversion. My original intention was to go with a set of 03' Mach rims as they can be found used for a a very decent price. Few things wrong with them though, 1) I am personally not a big fan of running spacers even though I know many of you do without issue, 2) with rear drums there is too much open space in the centers, the front discs will look fine but I fear the rear just won't and 3) while they look good I do miss the lack of dish on them for a classic car. I finally have opted for (or at least to date that is )the 17" Billet Magnum 500's, to me it is the best compromise of classic look with modern sizing and a custom back space for perfect fit. Affordable, eh, not exactly but at this stage with the money I am spending on fixing the car I am not about to cut corners on the rims and my hope is they will enhance the mods I am doing and not retract from them.