The price looks good, but the backspace selections will probably not work. The 17x7 or 18x7 with 4.5" backspace would probably fit, but I wouldn't want to put a 255 on it.
The 20x8.5 with 5.25" might also fit, but... It would look poor in my opinion. Not enough side wall on such a big car. Ride quality would also probably suffer, not to mention pot holes!
Joined: Sun Oct 22 2006, 09:26PM
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 74
Done some checking, the wheel I want also comes in 17x8, 9, and 10. You know that a knucklehead like me GOTTA try to get those 10's in da back!!! It's a sickness...
We measured and measured and decided on 4.5" backspace for the 17x8's. We were WRONG! Actually, it would have been OK with a 235 rear, but not a 255 or 275. The 255's rubbed on the fender lip in hard turns, and they hit on the top with big bumps. The 275's flat wouldn't mount! Even after we got the wheels, but before the tires were mounted, everything looked good.
We fixed it with a 68 Roadrunner rear axle, the extra 7/8's on each side did the trick.
So, I would reccomend you consider a 5" or 5 1/2" backspce with an 8" or 9" rim. Oh, and Measure, Measure, Measure!
Joined: Sun Sep 24 2006, 10:33PM
Location: Lisle, Ill.
Posts: 168
I went to the local pick 'n' pull the other day to get a wheel off a Mustang for some test fitting. I think they have 5.7somethin backspacing, and with an 8" wheel and a 225/45-17, it BARELY clears the spring, but leaves plenty of room on the outside. Pehaps a 1/2" spacer will do the trick...
Joined: Sat Apr 22 2006, 11:01PM
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 77
Keep in mind, If you are running drum brakes... if and when you upgrade to discs it will change the offset. After upgrading to front and rear discs on my 66 VIP, it changed the offset and pushed my 15 in. wheels further out, making it impossible to fit a larger tire than what I had 225/70-15. I took it to the wheel shop to get measured for new TQ II's and tires, hoping to fit 285/40-18x10 in the rear and 245/45-18x8 up front. Judging by the measurements, they said it wasn't a problem. If I remember correctly, I had about 12.5 in. of clearance in the rear. And the rear wheels ended up going from a 4.5 in. Offset to 6.5
<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Wed Dec 20 2006, 03:22AM ]</span>
The 94-04 Mustang 17x8" wheels are 5.68-5.72" backspace (30mm offset), and they're what I'm running on my Valiant. Those Discount Tire wheels should be available in a range of backspace/offset options, usually in 1/2" increments or so. A 1/2" spacer is probably the least desirable, as you can't get one with built-in studs when it's that thin. That shouldn't be a problem if you can tinker with the offset in the wheel, though.
I'm HOPING that the 4.5" backspace on my 16x8's will work on my Fury. I tried a 15x7 cop wheel (4.25" BS), and that worked, so adding 1/4" on the inside and 3/4" on the outside SHOULD be OK with a 27" tire rather than a 28" tire (255/55 vs. 275/60). Fingers crossed for a while...
Just for fun, I bought a Magnum R/T 18x7.5 wheel on ePay the other day, so I'll see what those look like, too.
I installed 17X8s in the front and 18X11s in the rear of my 73 Fury III and they look great. Got a lot of positive reviews from young guys and old sticklers alike. Had to get a custom offset of 5.5" for the rears. The Furys have a bit of a wheel well flare so your car might need a larger offset. Beware, the seller talked me into the big n little look with 17s and 18s, but these large front wheel wells really need 18s, not 17s.
!thumb