New Wheel choice...opinions?

[Big House]

Good people, I would like you opinions on the attached wheels. Both sets selected are 18x8.5 and 18x9.5. I am going for the staggered look. Looking to run 245/40's up front and 285/50's in the rear. they both have 35mm offsets, and according to a few read sources, our cars are safe down to 35mm offsets. Let me know what you think.

[rayjay]

I think you are going to be doing a lot of PITA wheel cleaning. I had ten spokers on my last car. If I had to choose, I like the 1st one.

[Big House]

I think I counted 16.

[Bluerauder]

Good people, I would like you opinions on the attached wheels.
I tend to prefer the look of the stock wheels. :rolleyes: However, given the choice of the two that you show ... I lean toward the ones shown on the right -- they seem "beefier" than the split spokes. :D Think I would have to see 'em on the car to make a final judgement !!!

Changing the aspect ratio to 40's in front and 50's in the rear may introduce some different handling characteristics. Don't know whether we have seen anyone's experience on that yet !! :dunno:

[merc]

The offset needs to be around 40+. The non-forged wheels wiil leave you looking for a tow truck on I 295 and the mantainace will be high. Plus the wheels are down right fugly. Check these out on tirerack. You can get them in 18x9 in the rear and that means wider rubber to the pavement.:drive:

http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/ssr/swap/ssr_gt10_ci3_l.jpg

[Brutus]

The offset will be different for a given width. This means that a 35 mm offset will be different on an 8.5 in wide wheel vs a 9.5 in wide wheel.

[huot5]

The offset needs to be around 40+. The non-forged wheels wiil leave you looking for a tow truck on I 295 and the mantainace will be high. Plus the wheels are down right fugly. Check these out on tirerack. You can get them in 18x9 in the rear and that means wider rubber to the pavement.:drive:

http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/ssr/swap/ssr_gt10_ci3_l.jpg
These are very nice IMO.

[SergntMac]

Sorry, I don't care for the wheels that much, but you got your measurements and sizes down right. I would suggest you stick with a 40mm offset for the rear if you're going to run a 285/50.

[BK_GrandMarquis]

Good people, I would like you opinions on the attached wheels. Both sets selected are 18x8.5 and 18x9.5. I am going for the staggered look. Looking to run 245/40's up front and 285/50's in the rear. they both have 35mm offsets, and according to a few read sources, our cars are safe down to 35mm offsets. Let me know what you think.Those look cool but I'm a little biased. :D
Different manufacturer but very similar style. Mine are 19's with the same width. The tires are 245/40/19 and 285/35/19.

[Big House]

BK_Grand,

I like the mesh look myself. It looks good on your car.

Merc,

Those wheels aren't classy enough for our cars but thanks for the opinions.

Mac,

Good looking out. After I drop her I thing the 40's and the 50's on a staggered set-up is going to look pretty nice.

[jgc61sr2002]

I also prefer the stock wheels. :) It's your ride, do what you like.

[BruteForce]

:down: :down: :down: :down: :down:
Those wire spoke lookin' thingies belong on a Cadillac. merc's would look nice on a Mustang.

[merc]

Unless you are going for bling, performance tires and wheels are the way to go. Take a look at the SSR construction process. You may find this article informative and thought provoking.


http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/ssr/ssr_info.jsp

FYI; your stock rims are forged one piece construction. Anything less then this is going backwards. :twocents:

[Joe Walsh]

I think you are going to be doing a lot of PITA wheel cleaning. I had ten spokers on my last car. If I had to choose, I like the 1st one.


OH YEAH!!!

I've got black 'mesh' spoked ENKEIs on my black '85 Mustang and they are a MAJOR PITA to clean. As much as I love the look, I will never buy 'many spoked' rims again....
I'll stick to '5 spokers' from now on.

P.S. Bighouse, the rim on the left DOES look sweet! Very similar to what Sean Hyland put on there test mule Marauder....
check out his website for an idea of how those rims would look on a MM.

www.seanhylandmotorsports.com

[Big House]

Here is another one 18x8 with a 45mm offset. i think this is the nicest one of them all.

[Big House]

Joe,


That is where I got the inspiration to go mesh. SH wants a lot more for a set though.

[BruteForce]

Here is another one 18x8 with a 45mm offset. i think this is the nicest one of them all.

Agreed. :up:

[Big House]

SergntMac,

Got a question, seeing is that you have the pulse on this offset thing and proper tiresize, you sugested a 40mm off set witha 285/50. Considering I am leaning towards the mesh looking wheel, the only available offset is 35mm. if I reduce the size of the tire to a 265/50, should I still encounter the same problems? Thanks,

Big House

[SergntMac]

SergntMac, you sugested a 40mm off set witha 285/50. Considering I am leaning towards the mesh looking wheel, the only available offset is 35mm. if I reduce the size of the tire to a 265/50, should I still encounter the same problems? Thanks, Big House A 265/50 tire on a 18X9 wheels with a 35mm offset will fit just fine. In fact, rather badazzed, IMHO. However, what are your going to run on the front?

[Big House]

Mac,

That will be a 245/40 on an 8.5 x 18. The rears are 9.5 x 18.

[BillyGman]

You asked for opinions....here's mine....I also think that the factory Marauder wheels look a lot better than the ones in any of those pics. But it's your car. Good luck.

[SergntMac]

Mac, That will be a 245/40 on an 8.5 x 18. The rears are 9.5 x 18.IMHO, Big...that's too steep of a difference, you may have some ABS problems.

245/40/18 fronts are 25.76" tall, and 265/50/18 rears are 28.43" tall, a difference of almost 3", and your ABS won't like this difference.

However, a 255/45/18 in front (as I have on 18X8) are 27.04" tall. They will not trigger an ABS alarm, and will look ultracool badazz in relationship to the rear. You're front to rear "rake" will have some added splash.

Your comments lead me to suspect that you believe that wheel width will impact tire height. Not today, my friend, not anymore.

There was a time that we could play with overall tire height by increasing/decreasing wheel width, but today's tires do not respond that way anymore. Height is height, width is width. Widen (or narrow) the wheel width, and all you change (or, create) is a reaction from the sidewall.

Bulge is better understood as "too much sidewall" on hand, like your tires have "love handles." This is dangerous in hard cornering. Max out your wheel width specs and you'll get too much bulge. Hard cornering causes sidewalls (inside and outside) to "pinch" and breakdown from "no where to go but out." Sidewalls will shread, and you have a blow-out.

When the wheel spec is too unforgiving (too narrow of a wheel), the opposite is true. Sidewalls pull upright, tuck in towards the center, stretch and break away from the bead. Again, a sudden loss of PSI, and you face the same "blow-out" possibility.

However, a 255 wide tire is safe on 8.5" wide wheels, and a 265 wide tire is safe on 9.5" wide wheels, so, you're good on both of your're selections in wheels, but still a bit narrow on your 245/40 tire.

Bump it, to 255/45 Big, and you're good. Safe, and with expected wear tables, with proper inflation.

Happy motoring!

[Big House]

True to the advice I have already recieved on here, Mac comes through with flying colors. Thanks alot.

[2004mercuryman]

i like the first rim myself

[prchrman]

You asked for opinions....here's mine....I also think that the factory Marauder wheels look a lot better than the ones in any of those pics. But it's your car. Good luck.

^^^^concurrence^^^^...willie

[Big House]

Thanks for the opinions and keep them coming. Keep them constructive though.

[Big House]

Mac,

Got another one for you. 265/50's don't exist in passenger cars. What do you think of 255/50's on each corner. I have an '03 300A without traction control so the equal size is not a problem there. Tireack suggests the rear tire be a 245/55. I think 10mm wider and 5mm shorter shouldn't hurt much, but I am asking you. Let me know. Thanks.

William

[SergntMac]

Mac, Got another one for you. 265/50's don't exist in passenger cars. What do you think of 255/50's on each corner. I have an '03 300A without traction control so the equal size is not a problem there. Tireack suggests the rear tire be a 245/55. I think 10mm wider and 5mm shorter shouldn't hurt much, but I am asking you. Let me know. Thanks. William I don't know which brand you're shopping, but...

My Kenny Brown came with 255/45/18 fronts and 255/50/18 rear, Pirelli P Zero Assymetricos. I love these tires, very sticky and perform well in the 1/4 mile too. You can run them to bald, they'll still stick, ask Cruztaker, he's got my old tires. However, sticky means outrageous wear, and I cannot suggest them to folks who have mileage/longevity concerns, they will not wear well. I'm on my third set now. But, I drive hard and I don't complain.

I upgraded to 285/45 rears last year, mounted on Lidio's 18X9.5 MM wheels. No fitment problem at all, and just this past April, I ran a 12.4x on BFG drag radials, and a 12.6x on the Pirelli 285 street tire. Now that's sticky! But, too expensive to race on. Pirelli's are typically 50 to 75 bucks more than other in the same size.

You ask about sizes, Big, and now you know not all sizes are available from all manfacturers, in 18". Yes, you can run same size on all 4 corners, our friend Ross here has done this, maybe others with 300As have too? But, IMHO, the 255/50 has a bit too much sidewall showing for a front tire, and you'll affect your factory rake. I have another combination in mind you may like. 245/45/18 front, 255/45/18 in the rear, and you don't need to oversize the wheels. 18X8 will work for both sizes.

[Big House]

Mac,

I saw those but I am a long hauler so tread life is important to me. I guess the only other thing was I want the staggered fit. I have 8's on the back now. I think the wider 9.5 is going to look quite nice back there. I think I am going to go with the 245/45 up front and the 255/45 in the rear. I will adjust the rake after I lower her. I won't drop the rear as far to keep her raked about right. Thanks alot and appreciate you taking the time to guide me through this. If you ever roll through DC look me up, the first few rounds are on me. :beer:

Big House



I don't know which brand you're shopping, but...

My Kenny Brown came with 255/45/18 fronts and 255/50/18 rear, Pirelli P Zero Assymetricos. I love these tires, very sticky and perform well in the 1/4 mile too. You can run them to bald, they'll still stick, ask Cruztaker, he's got my old tires. However, sticky means outrageous wear, and I cannot suggest them to folks who have mileage/longevity concerns, they will not wear well. I'm on my third set now. But, I drive hard and I don't complain.

I upgraded to 285/45 rears last year, mounted on Lidio's 18X9.5 MM wheels. No fitment problem at all, and just this past April, I ran a 12.4x on BFG drag radials, and a 12.6x on the Pirelli 285 street tire. Now that's sticky! But, too expensive to race on. Pirelli's are typically 50 to 75 bucks more than other in the same size.

You ask about sizes, Big, and now you know not all sizes are available from all manfacturers, in 18". Yes, you can run same size on all 4 corners, our friend Ross here has done this, maybe others with 300As have too? But, IMHO, the 255/50 has a bit too much sidewall showing for a front tire, and you'll affect your factory rake. I have another combination in mind you may like. 245/45/18 front, 255/45/18 in the rear, and you don't need to oversize the wheels. 18X8 will work for both sizes.