Rear wheels for an 89 GT?

Blue Beast

New Member

Mar 2, 2002

17

0

1

NJ

Mar 8, 2009

#1

• Mar 8, 2009

• #1

I've got some decent engine mods but I'm looking for some help in getting the power to the pavement... any suggestions? Looking for the right setup of Weld Draglite and drag radial for the back end of my 89 GT... what backspacing works best? What width tire is the biggest I can go without rubbing?... can I get a decent size footprint without rolling the inside of the fender? Rims and tires are all new to me so I'm looking for some good advice.

Thanks

 

$uperstang

New Member

Jul 20, 2004

476

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Detroit, MI

Mar 8, 2009

#2

• Mar 8, 2009

• #2

Weld draglite 15x8 with 5.5" backspacing with a Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial 275/50/15

 

Blue Beast

New Member

Mar 2, 2002

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NJ

Mar 8, 2009

#3

• Mar 8, 2009

• #3

Yeah... I've read a lot of good things about the M/T ET Street Radial... 275's won't rub the quad shock or inside fender? I've read flipping the quads around can avoid rubbing... or is it better to remove them?

Thanks for the help...

 

Blue Beast

New Member

Mar 2, 2002

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NJ

Mar 10, 2009

#4

• Mar 10, 2009

• #4

I see that a lot of guys are split... some using 5.5 backspacing and others using 4.5 backspacing... what is the real difference and what can I expect from either?

again... wheels are not my thing, but I'd like to learn

 

dcurtis

10 Year Member

Jan 19, 2006

688

7

39

Mar 10, 2009

#5

• Mar 10, 2009

• #5

The 5.5 bs will just fit the tire inside the wheel well where the 4.5 bs will cause the tire to rub the wheel well if you go with the 275-50, is your car stock height or lowered? If lowered I would recommend the 5.5, if it is stock height you can get away with the 4.5, or you can even get the 15X9 weld wheels with 5.5bs and they will sit just like the 15X8 with 4.5bs.

 

Blue Beast

New Member

Mar 2, 2002

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NJ

Mar 10, 2009

#6

• Mar 10, 2009

• #6

Everything about the suspension is stock right now... I blew a lot of time and money on motor, drivetrain, and paint and body... then had a kid... got divorced... got remarried... had another kid... soooooo my last leg of the project kinda got put on hold... and the car sat for about 4 years (yeah I know... worst thing for it)... now that the kids are a little older, I'm trying to breathe some life back into my project...

It's back on the road now and running well except for one thing... I can't keep the ass end in line with the suspension and wheels I currently have.

Here is another question... since I now know the 5.5 will allow the clearance of the outside fender... will the 15x8 5.5 w/ a 275/50/15 rub on the inside? How much clearance will I have there? Will I need to remove the quad shock... are there any tips or tricks to making everything fit?

 

dcurtis

10 Year Member

Jan 19, 2006

688

7

39

Mar 10, 2009

#7

• Mar 10, 2009

• #7

You will probably need to pull the quad shocks off. My 235-60's only have about 1/2 an inch of clearance with them on.

 

L

Lawbreaker5.0

Member

Feb 20, 2009

543

2

18

Texas

Mar 10, 2009

#8

• Mar 10, 2009

• #8

add some lower control arms and ditch the quads.

 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta

Founding Member

Nov 22, 2001

3,501

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119

Motor City

Mar 11, 2009

#9

• Mar 11, 2009

• #9

I'd just get some 17X9 wheels with some Nitto's and be done. Nitto's are good upto about 450RWHP...then they spin right through 1st and 2nd gears. They do wonders on my 96 Cobra, with 408 to the wheels. I've heard they are gonna suck on my 04, but I'm still mounting them up because anything is better than F1's.

 

Blue Beast

New Member

Mar 2, 2002

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NJ

Mar 13, 2009

#10

• Mar 13, 2009

• #10

hmmm... interesting thought... though some may think the Welds have been played out... I do like the look of them... thanks for all the suggestions... they have been really useful