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  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-

Need an Opinion

  • Thread starter Thread starter TinMan09GT
  • Start date Start date Jun 13, 2009
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walter

Founding Member
Aug 13, 1998
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Houston TX
Jun 18, 2009
#21
  • Jun 18, 2009
  • #21
Nice! they look like FR500's probably with a lot of brake caliper clearance.
 

kooldawg6

mine works really well and can take a fair amount
Aug 31, 2006
1,679
2
38
Central VA
Jun 19, 2009
#22
  • Jun 19, 2009
  • #22
walter said:
Nice! they look like FR500's probably with a lot of brake caliper clearance.
Click to expand...
Yeah! He's got 15 or 16" rotors up front and 14" rotors out back
 
T

TinMan09GT

New Member
Mar 23, 2009
11
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PA
Jun 22, 2009
#23
  • Jun 22, 2009
  • #23
how much if any is my speedomete going to be off going from 17 inch wheels to 20s?
 

walter

Founding Member
Aug 13, 1998
1,054
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46
Houston TX
Jun 22, 2009
#24
  • Jun 22, 2009
  • #24
TinMan09GT said:
how much if any is my speedomete going to be off going from 17 inch wheels to 20s?
Click to expand...

Not at all if you pick the correct tire size to compensate for the rim. As a safety note you should always bet within 4% of variance of stock size to ensure longevity of hubs and axle components.

Tire size calculator

Use that to help you out.

for example for a 235/55/17 tire the equivalent 255/35/20 also 275/35/20 is close too for a staggered setup.
 

darien87

Member
Jan 30, 2009
132
1
18
Bay area, California
Jun 23, 2009
#25
  • Jun 23, 2009
  • #25
Preston951 said:
The ride will be rougher than stock, but handling, road feel, and most importantly looks will all be improved. Why would companies like Saleen put 20" rims on their high performance vehicles if the wheels were bad?
Anyways, if you do suspension work, mainly related to springs/struts, the ride will get much better.

I'm making my decision based off of whatever I think will look best. My future plans involve more trips to car shows & meets than trips to the drag strip. I think that 20s really look great on the S197... But 18s look awesome as well. I'm undecided on which way I'll go. My biggest concern is that going from stock 17s to aftermarket 18s won't be that much of a difference & IMO wouldn't be worth it.
Click to expand...

When I went from my stock 18's to 19's, it was definitely a noticeable difference. When I went from 18's to 19's, the ride didn't get much rougher at all. Going up 2 inches would probably be more noticeable though.
 

Preston951

New Member
Nov 17, 2008
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Hot as hell, Arizona
Jun 25, 2009
#26
  • Jun 25, 2009
  • #26
darien87 said:
When I went from my stock 18's to 19's, it was definitely a noticeable difference. When I went from 18's to 19's, the ride didn't get much rougher at all. Going up 2 inches would probably be more noticeable though.
Click to expand...

I agree with all the above! 19 and 20" rims always have a more "full" look than 17 and 18s.

Going up 3 inches WILL be noticeable for me, should I go with 20s!
 

darien87

Member
Jan 30, 2009
132
1
18
Bay area, California
Jun 25, 2009
#27
  • Jun 25, 2009
  • #27
Preston951 said:
I agree with all the above! 19 and 20" rims always have a more "full" look than 17 and 18s.

Going up 3 inches WILL be noticeable for me, should I go with 20s!
Click to expand...

Sorry Preston, when I said 20's would be a more noticeable difference, I was talking about ride quality. I would think that with the short sidewall that you would have on a 20" rim, the ride might get a little rough.

I think 20's are a tad too big. It kinda depends on the wheel though. I've seen some Mustangs with 20's that looked completely ridiculous and some that looked pretty good. IMO, 19" is the perfect size wheel for the S197's. It just sucks that tire selection at that size is so lame.
 
H

HEAVYGT

New Member
Sep 14, 2006
241
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0
Elgin, IL.
Jun 25, 2009
#28
  • Jun 25, 2009
  • #28
18's look good with a deep dish...



 

darien87

Member
Jan 30, 2009
132
1
18
Bay area, California
Jun 25, 2009
#29
  • Jun 25, 2009
  • #29
HEAVYGT said:
Click to expand...

Mustang get-together at my house!!!

Nice.
 

Preston951

New Member
Nov 17, 2008
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Hot as hell, Arizona
Jun 26, 2009
#30
  • Jun 26, 2009
  • #30
darien87 said:
Sorry Preston, when I said 20's would be a more noticeable difference, I was talking about ride quality. I would think that with the short sidewall that you would have on a 20" rim, the ride might get a little rough.

I think 20's are a tad too big. It kinda depends on the wheel though. I've seen some Mustangs with 20's that looked completely ridiculous and some that looked pretty good. IMO, 19" is the perfect size wheel for the S197's. It just sucks that tire selection at that size is so lame.
Click to expand...

To be honest with you, I think 19" IS the perfect size! But like you said, there aren't many tire choices...

If there were more rims with 19" as an option, I'd go with them.

I'm aware the ride will get rougher. But hang on, wait a sec...

If 20s are so bad, then why does SALEEN put them on their Mustangs???

These are the wheels I want, if I end up going 20s.

http://www.muscularmustangs.com/images6/2009_saleen_dark_horse.jpg
And oh yeah, it's hard to argue with 295s in the back!
 

darien87

Member
Jan 30, 2009
132
1
18
Bay area, California
Jun 26, 2009
#31
  • Jun 26, 2009
  • #31
I think that part of the reason that Saleen goes with 20's is because they know that their customers are image concious. Let's face it, one reason people buy Saleen's is for the name and the cache that goes with owning a Saleen and bigger is always better right? Not always in my opinion. Another reason is that people who buy Saleen's know that they are buying a performance car, and thus, they're probably willing to sacrifice a bit of ride quality.

That wheel you're looking at is a nice looking wheel, it just looks a tad too big. But that's just my opinion.
 

Preston951

New Member
Nov 17, 2008
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Hot as hell, Arizona
Jun 26, 2009
#32
  • Jun 26, 2009
  • #32
darien87 said:
I think that part of the reason that Saleen goes with 20's is because they know that their customers are image concious. Let's face it, one reason people buy Saleen's is for the name and the cache that goes with owning a Saleen and bigger is always better right? Not always in my opinion. Another reason is that people who buy Saleen's know that they are buying a performance car, and thus, they're probably willing to sacrifice a bit of ride quality.

That wheel you're looking at is a nice looking wheel, it just looks a tad too big. But that's just my opinion.
Click to expand...

Ahh... I see!

Well, for only an inch between our rim choices... I'm surprised at your opinion! I think looks are nearly as important as performance (as I'm sure you do!). I think Saleen puts 20s on their cars because they look excellent, offer better road feel, and offer better handling. Very similar to what 19s offer!

BMW puts 20s on their high end cars.
Oh yeah, so does Porsche!
And Lamborghini.
Oh yeah, and a lot of other brands too!

I think anyone who puts aftermarket rims on their Stang is "image conscious". After all, the stock 17/18" wheels were perfectly acceptable, right?

The difference between 19s and 20s are unbelievably minuscule. Same with 16s and 17s... And 17s and 18s... And 18s and 19s... etc.
 

darien87

Member
Jan 30, 2009
132
1
18
Bay area, California
Jun 26, 2009
#33
  • Jun 26, 2009
  • #33
Preston951 said:
Ahh... I see!

Well, for only an inch between our rim choices... I'm surprised at your opinion! I think looks are nearly as important as performance (as I'm sure you do!). I think Saleen puts 20s on their cars because they look excellent, offer better road feel, and offer better handling. Very similar to what 19s offer!

BMW puts 20s on their high end cars.
Oh yeah, so does Porsche!
And Lamborghini.
Oh yeah, and a lot of other brands too!

I think anyone who puts aftermarket rims on their Stang is "image conscious". After all, the stock 17/18" wheels were perfectly acceptable, right?

The difference between 19s and 20s are unbelievably minuscule. Same with 16s and 17s... And 17s and 18s... And 18s and 19s... etc.
Click to expand...

Hey watch it there mister! Me, image conscious?!?! Well, maybe a little.

I never said that putting 20's on a Mustang was necessarily bad. I just think it looks a little weird. IMO 19 is as big as you need.

I wouldn't call the difference between 19's and 20's miniscule at all. To me, a 19" rim looks perfect and a 20" rim looks too big. Just like when I went from 17's to 18's on my 95. That one inch definitely makes a difference. (That's what she said).

And comparing a Porsche or Lambo with 20's on it to a Mustang isn't really a fair comparison. I guaran-damn-tee you that Porsche and Lambo are spending a lot more on their suspensions than Ford does. Thus they can engineer out the road harshness with suspension components.
 

Preston951

New Member
Nov 17, 2008
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Hot as hell, Arizona
Jun 27, 2009
#34
  • Jun 27, 2009
  • #34
darien87 said:
Hey watch it there mister! Me, image conscious?!?! Well, maybe a little.

I never said that putting 20's on a Mustang was necessarily bad. I just think it looks a little weird. IMO 19 is as big as you need.

I wouldn't call the difference between 19's and 20's miniscule at all. To me, a 19" rim looks perfect and a 20" rim looks too big. Just like when I went from 17's to 18's on my 95. That one inch definitely makes a difference. (That's what she said).

And comparing a Porsche or Lambo with 20's on it to a Mustang isn't really a fair comparison. I guaran-damn-tee you that Porsche and Lambo are spending a lot more on their suspensions than Ford does. Thus they can engineer out the road harshness with suspension components.
Click to expand...

Haha understood man! By the way, please don't take any of this discussion the wrong way ~ I'm enjoying it!

I'm definitely not signing off 19" rims - It's just I'd rather go with something you'd see on a production Mustang than on any car (i.e. FR500s, Saleen, Roush... etc).

But we'll see!

And by the way, I'm planning on stages 1 & 2 of the Steeda Club Racer suspension packages --- Once the wallet recovers from wheels!
 

darien87

Member
Jan 30, 2009
132
1
18
Bay area, California
Jun 29, 2009
#35
  • Jun 29, 2009
  • #35
Preston951 said:
Haha understood man! By the way, please don't take any of this discussion the wrong way ~ I'm enjoying it!

I'm definitely not signing off 19" rims - It's just I'd rather go with something you'd see on a production Mustang than on any car (i.e. FR500s, Saleen, Roush... etc).

But we'll see!

And by the way, I'm planning on stages 1 & 2 of the Steeda Club Racer suspension packages --- Once the wallet recovers from wheels!
Click to expand...

No problem dude. No offense taken at all.

Be sure to post pics when you get the suspension done.
 

Preston951

New Member
Nov 17, 2008
95
1
0
Hot as hell, Arizona
Jun 30, 2009
#36
  • Jun 30, 2009
  • #36
darien87 said:
No problem dude. No offense taken at all.

Be sure to post pics when you get the suspension done.
Click to expand...

Call me a hypocrite...


Anyways, yesterday at work I mounted a 20 inch rim... And it was a PITA! The head mechanic looked at me and said "Don't ever get 20s", mainly because of how much it pissed him off mounting the tire on it! He didn't know about my future plans either...

I look at that as fate... LOL!

I think I'm gonna go with 18s... Possibly 19s. Maybe even 18s in the front and 19s in the rear??? That could look sweet.

We'll see.
 
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