Wheels

[Reaper948]

All right guys, I know this has sort of been a repeated subject. But I need to confirm if I'm going to get a new set of wheels and I need your guys' expertise.

Do the rear and front wheels have the same offset and width?

Can I just get wheels that have the same offset all around? Would that be bad?

Because I'm finding wheel and tire packages which have the same offset AND width all around, and I'm pretty sure that they're cheaper than getting thinner up in front and wider in back. Although I need you guys to tell me if it's better for some reason to have wider rear wheels.

Thanks, sorry it's been brought up again...

[cyclone03]

All four wheels are the same.
The tires are different sizes.

[darebren]

all 4 wheels are 18x8 with 50mm offset. confirmed by Trilogy, Kenny Brown, and Steve Babcock mentioned it too I think. you can always take all off to measure to be convinced.

There needs to be a 5% tire height difference to avoid potential traction control and abs issues. I think Dennis, chip can be programmed to remove this restriction if you want to go with all the same size tires..waiting for confirmation from him via email still.

personally, there is room to increase the offset (keeping the new wheel, especially if wider) so it does not stick out any further.

On stock wheels I know that Pirelli 255/50/18 rear tires and 255/45/18 front tires will work fine. and is your only option in those heights.

Alternatively you can go to 255/45/18 rear tires and 255/40/18 front tires and your options increase for tire models slightly.

Since Lidio widened his rear wheel by at least an inch...that makes a 18x9 wheel with a 63mm offset work just fine. With a 9 inch wide wheel, you can consider the 275 or 285 widths (assuming you can still solve for the front/rear height difference)

http://toy4two.home.mindspring.com/offset.html

knowledge I've picked up along the way, would be happy to be corrected where appropriate...

[Reaper948]

Thanks for the response, darebren,

Although I don't understand how the ABS and traction contral would be affected.


Also, If I were to get wider diameter wheels, wouldn't the mileage and speedometer also be affected?

[darebren]

yes mileage and speedo would be a little off with different height tires. can be fixed with chip reprogram.

abs and t/c have sensors that might get confused, since it knows the rear is taller than the fron tire, if all of a sudden the rear tire is revolving as fast as the front tire because you made them all the same height, it might think the rear of the car is passing by the front of the car, and might cause itself to trigger trac control, or under extreme stopping might confuse abs?

these are still questions i have as well, but the above is my current rationalization of the problem.

this might not apply if you have a 300A without t/c as many have run 16" snow tires and wheels without problem.

[prchrman]

If I am hearing this right the issue with same size tires is related more to the TC than the ABS?...is that correct?...seems like I saw several posts that stated there were no problems with same size tires on non TC 300A models...I am thinking of going the same size tire route for rotation purposes...

[Thomas C Potter]

If you can get slightly greater than stock 50mm offset, say 55, that would be safer, especially if you plan to use 255 tires and if you ever need to decrease camber due to tire wear issues. Not all 255 will be the exact same width. My MM with T/C, now has 26.9 dia tires at all 4, and TC does come on at 40 mph, simply turn off TC. ABS lite does not come on!!! ABS seems to perform fine and I've asked several folks at dealers, and electrical engineers, who all say if ABS lite is off, ABS is working fine. Make sure the new wheels have counterbores to clear the rotor mounting clips/rings, they do serve a purpose.

TP

[CRUZTAKER]

Many of us run 16" wheels throughout the winter....it has NO EFFECT on the ABS.

Wider wont change anything, might rub in the front when you crank the wheels, and track like a MF'r on uneven roads, but won't cause any issues with speedo or anything.

Size....Dennis can fix with software....unless the Reap gets those 20's he wants so bad....nothing can fix that! :lol:

Kidding Reap!, I'm sure the unique look will be appealing :up:

[Reaper948]

always giving me a hard time cruz...
You know it's real hard trying to get 20's

[darebren]

Should have been at the Trilogy Open House, they had some 20"s there with rubber on them. They say they fit, but I think American Racing let them borrow them for display, and they might not look to good on the MM, very heavy, you'd need a super charger just to get out of the driveway. They had a 40mm offset, so I think they would stick out a tad.. they might have been 20 x 9 too I forgot. I took pictures of them....will post eventually

[Reaper948]

went to a big rims dealer 10mins from me, Rayco II

They had these Black HRE Rims. with a chrome outer lip....

$6500!!! must be crazy
Should I buy from the internet to prevent mhyself frmo getting ripped off from these guys??!

[RCSignals]

Wheels are a personal choice. I like the Marauder wheels. They are well made, forged aluminum, and quite lightweight

[nhinterceptor]

Here's a couple of choices...

Elite Alloys (http://www.elitealloys.com/app_guide_results.php?year=200 3&make=Mercury&model=Marauder&B1=Submit)

Kaotik (http://www.kaotikstreetalloys.com/app_guide_results.php?year=200 3&make=Mercury&model=Marauder&B1=Submit)

Niche (http://www.nichealloys.com/app_guide_results.php?year=200 3&make=Mercury&model=Marauder&B1=Submit)

Didn't Elite Alloys make the wheels on the first prototypes ?

-Dan

[Reaper948]

Originally posted by nhinterceptor
Here's couple of choices...

Elite Alloys (http://www.elitealloys.com/app_guide_results.php?year=200 3&make=Mercury&model=Marauder&B1=Submit)

Niche (http://www.nichealloys.com/app_guide_results.php?year=200 3&make=Mercury&model=Marauder&B1=Submit)

Didn't Elite Alloys make the wheels on first prototypes ?

-Dan

Coooooool wheels, but the offset of the elite wheels seem kinda small?.....

http://www.jessejameswheels.com/
What do u thinka bout THOSE?!

[Reaper948]

What does it mean when the offset is +16? instead of 50 or 45

[Reaper948]

Originally posted by CRUZTAKER
Many of us run 16" wheels throughout the winter....it has NO EFFECT on the ABS.

Wider wont change anything, might rub in the front when you crank the wheels, and track like a MF'r on uneven roads, but won't cause any issues with speedo or anything.

Size....Dennis can fix with software....unless the Reap gets those 20's he wants so bad....nothing can fix that! :lol:

Kidding Reap!, I'm sure the unique look will be appealing :up:

Would the change in diameter for both rear and front wheels be strange for the computer to handle Cruz? I just wanna know what'd be different after I get the new 20s

[LincMercLover]

To be continued here... http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3638