Big Decisions, Tire size, Wheel size 70 Boss Mustang

[4MuscleMachines]

Hi, really need some feedback for my 70 Boss Mustang. Finished the body, paint, mechanical side of it. Now ready to make the choice for some wheels and tires. It has a roller 302 Boss motor, blueprinted, Bud-Moore intake, 447 crank HP, richmond six speed, TCP coilovers front and rear, Wilwood six-piston 13", ect.. You get the picture. I have spent alot of time and money and now I need to get the wheel and tire choice right.

I like the tire pattern and price for the YOKOS as seen in the first pic. They come in 245/40/17 for the front and 275/40/17 for the rear. I am worried the tire size is too small in diameter, the front being 25" and rear 25.6". There is a limited tire selection and these sizes are the best choice for YOKO's.

On the second pic with the Nitto 555's, I would go with 255/40/17 front and 285/40/18 rear. Too much tire for street and some track use? More bling than function?

What do you guys think?
Thanks and any input, whether good or bad, is appreciated.

 

[4MuscleMachines]

Here are a couple of pics of the car, you can see the 245/45/17's on the rear look small and whimpy. Those wheels are on only for measurement.

 

[70vert]

I'm trying to stuff big rubber too

If you're building a Trans-Am style Boss, why not copy the tires? here's what the '70 Trans-Am Boss Mustang had:

http://www.carmemories.com/cgi-bin/viewexperience.cgi?experience_id=298

11.5" front=292mm

12" rear=304mm

You've got flared fenders there, IIRC. I've yet to hear a good explanation why the Trans-Am Boss could fit wider tires than a stock Boss 302, maybe Bud Moore knows. ;-) If you wait maybe 2 weeks, I can tell you if a 275/40/17 will fit on the front of a non-flared or rolled fender on a '70. I'm waiting for my wheels to come in and I'm going to try to mount the wheels/tires on front first. 4.5 bs, Unique front coilovers like your TCPs, and reduced turning radius from an R&P kit.
Here is a pic of some 245/45/17s and 275/45/17s on a '70, you can be the judge if a 40 will look OK. I would kind of rather have a 45 myself, but the Bridgestone RE750s I wanted at Costco were only in 275/40/17.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/734230/1

what wheels are you planning on?

 

[4MuscleMachines]

Nice car there! Like the Paxton very much! Settled on these wheels at www.dpengineering.com and I really like the tread pattern on the YOKO's but they are only available in 40series. How did you get a 275 on the 8" Edelbrocks? Looks like you still have plenty of room for more? Do you think steering performance/ride quality will suffer with 275's on front?

 

[bnickel]

how about a set of 17x8 mini-lite style wheels like these http://www.team3wheels.com/ac/ scroll to the bottom.

i think these wheels would absolutely awesome

 

[4MuscleMachines]

Hey Bnickel, I was looking for those in at least 17's and never found them, thanks for the link! They were my first choice if I found them in 17's. I wonder if they come in 18's or how different they would look with a spinner?

 

[70vert]

that isn't my car

but thanks. I think the guy's email is in the Cardomain description. A number of guys on this forum have said you can get 275s on an 8" rim. I understand that there will be a little slower turn-in as the sidewall flexes, but it should still be crisper than a taller tire with a smaller wheel. The tire could wander a little bit on freeway grooves and might be a little noisier, but that's all I can think of in terms of ride quality . . . but it will be an experiment, that's for sure. I wouldn't recommend really wide fronts without upgrading your suspension and steering gear up front - the stock stuff wasn't meant for something that wide. Oh, and make sure you're moving before you turn the wheels. ;-)

Nice car there! Like the Paxton very much! Settled on these wheels at www.dpengineering.com and I really like the tread pattern on the YOKO's but they are only available in 40series. How did you get a 275 on the 8" Edelbrocks? Looks like you still have plenty of room for more? Do you think steering performance/ride quality will suffer with 275's on front?

 

[70vert]

dang, those are nice

and they're local to me. too expensive for me, though, but if I were doing a trans am style boss that's what I would do. those minilite style are great, and the custom offset will do it for ya. I would go that way. Thanks bnickel!!

how about a set of 17x8 mini-lite style wheels like these http://www.team3wheels.com/ac/ scroll to the bottom.

i think these wheels would absolutely awesome

 

[bnickel]

you're welcome. only catch is that if you get 'em you owe me a ride

 

[70vert]

tell you what

if you buy wheels and tires I'll be happy to break them in for you - free delivery from San Leandro to Lubbock, TX! How about it? I'll give you a full ride report.