Wheel and tire combo

[78 Mach1]

I’m getting to the point of choosing my final wheel and tire combination. When I built this car, it was built with mini tubs to house 15x12 wheels and a 28.5x12.5x15 tire. Here’s how she looked with the original build.

Above pictures are with 15x12 weld wheels and 28.5x12.5x15 rear tires.

I ended up putting the wheel and tires off of my son’s Foxbody on just to drive this summer.

These are 15x10 rears with 275 tires.

But I tried Magnum 500s off of my sons 1973 Mach 1 and thought they looked pretty good.

I’m trying to decide which direction to go. Anyone got any opinions or other options that would look good?

 

[LILCBRA]

I think I like the Magnums followed by the Welds. The 5 spoke looks good too, but I think it may be the rears not sitting like they should that detract from it. In any event, I like the Magnums the best - especially if you're able to fill the tubs!

 

[2Blue2]

The Magnum 500s are a good look and could see em on mine.
But with the tunnel ram and mini tubs gonna need some 15x12

Mini lights, torque thrusts, 5 slot hole mags all look good this body style
The welds are racy
Come down to the intended style you want , because wheel and tire set the intended usage.

Do not let mere whim stand in the way of more contact patch!
And your my hero for the week!, for this great photo shoot!

Tubbed and tunneled Mustangs Twos Rule!

built with mini tubs to house 15x12

 

[78 Mach1]

And your my hero for the week!, for this great photo shoot!

Thanks 2blue2.

I’m liking the Magnums the best so far as well. The car is intended for daily fair weather driver and occasional car show. No racing in its future. So the Magnums will fit that use nicely. I still had about 2” of inside clearance in the rear with the test fit of the magnums. I had to use a 1” spacer to get the wheels to clear my rear disc brakes. I need to see if they sell a set of Magnums in 15x12 that will also clear the disc brake calipers.

I’ve also been searching the internet for pictures of other wheel combos. Trying to see if I want to go larger diameter wheels.

 

[LILCBRA]

Just a personal opinion, but I don't think larger wheels look good on them. 15s look about perfect, 16s - maybe..... 17s I think are a little too big in most cases. The reason is that I think these cars look better if there are some sidewalls, so 17s are a little too low profile for my liking unless the car has been modified to suit. If you haven't already, you could always browse through our thread in the sticky section....

7

Wheels-Tires Thread 'Wheel/tire Combos Known To Fit'

Sep 19, 2003

I thought it would be helpfull to have a list of combos that users have personally tried and know work

Beware all IIs are slighly different and may have different fitment issues than yours

Fox 4-cyl polyglass with 185-70R14 slight rub @ full lock
Fox 14x6 steel wheels with 205-60R14 no rubbing

• 77sleeper
• Replies: 225
• Forum: 1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech

Just perused through, quite a few older pics aren't available anymore. But here are a couple examples from that thread:

15s

I know some of you have wondereed about the new American Racing Ansen Sprint wheels, well I bought some from Tire Rack (they had to special order them because they do not stock them. Anyway I cot the 15X7 wheels with BF goodrich raised whit letter T/A's in 205/60/15 in front and 245/60/15 in the rear. I will post a few pics below.

CHRIS

16s

16x8 Cobra Rs 15mm offset, 215/40-16s Front, 245/45-16s Rear, 1.5" spacers all around.

17s

255/45/17 front 274/40/17 rear. spacers on rear and the granada brake swap on the front. Rear fender lips are removed but there is room for a little more. 17X8 GT wheels.

(Edit: I just noticed I pasted the wrong link.... )

 

[Noobz347]

Go big or go home...

 

[2Blue2]

Magnums do look good!

 

[Blackhawkxx]

Like others said, Magnums 15 x 12 (not a taller or thinner wheel) but also love the Weld. If Magnums are steel, can be widened but I have no idea of cost.

 

[78 Mach1]

Well. It’s been a while. But I’ve been playing with different options and getting different opinions. I know I’m going against the grain on this one. And quite honestly against the original intent of this build. I originally wanted an old school vibe with this one. Hence the tunnel ram and other mods. I totally respect and appreciate all the advice I’ve received on this thread. And honestly I may even agree with it. But I was talked into going with a more modern wheel and tire combo.

Here’s where we are so far.

My back tires came in. They are massive 335/30/18.

 

[78 Mach1]

Here they are mocked up for getting exact wheel measurements. The shiny insert is just cardboard with duct tape on it and was attached to my back spacing tool just to get a real view of how it might look

 

[78 Mach1]

With that mock up. I can run an 18x12 wheel with a 5.5” backspacing and have plenty of clearance and no rub issues.

 

[78 Mach1]

I ordered the wheels and they should be here tomorrow. Here is the wheel I went with. Obviously mine will be 5x4.5 bolt pattern. But otherwise this exact wheel.

Fingers crossed they look as good as I think they will.

 

[LILCBRA]

Looking forward to seeing it! I'm sure it's gonna look kick-ass and will set itself apart from any other II you may run into.

(As if the Cleveland and mini-tubs wouldn't.... lol)

 

[Noobz347]

Finally! Somebody with a tunnel ram on a II


--and--


This guy needs a [Progress Thread].

 

[Blackhawkxx]

What size wheel and tire did you decide on for the front?

 

[2Blue2]

Man those are some meats!
I'm digging it!

 

[78 Mach1]

Wheels arrived.

 

[78 Mach1]

What size wheel and tire did you decide on for the front?

Rears are 335/30/18

Fronts will be most likely 225/30/18 or 225/35/18 depending on the overall diameter. I haven’t bought the fronts yet. But my goal is to have the front overall diameter to be slightly smaller than the rears.

 

[Blackhawkxx]

Rears are 335/30/18

Fronts will be most likely 225/30/18 or 225/35/18 depending on the overall diameter. I haven’t bought the fronts yet. But my goal is to have the front overall diameter to be slightly smaller than the rears.

And the width and back spacing of the front wheel? They look great.

 

[78 Mach1]

Front wheels are 18x7 with a 4.5” backspacing. I wanted 18x8” wheels but I couldn’t get the correct backspacing to fit properly. With the 18x7 with 4.5” backspacing I have roughly 1.5” clearance to the fender (my fenders are rolled so a factory car would have approximately 1” less clearance) and roughly 1” clearance in the rear from the sway bar at full lock.

My front suspension is mostly stock with exception of tubular upper control arms, willwood disc brakes, and 2” lowering spindles.

But the wheel placement should be mostly stock location.

I will eventually go with adjustable coilovers to get the fender to tire gap perfect. But It’s a work in progress. I need to get it rolling on tires to make some cruises and shows this year.