Need wheel and tire size help 66 mustang

[rhurley]

Need a little help on Fitment.

1966 mustang Stock front suspension and fenders (lowered 2 inches). Tubbed rear with factory rear end width.


Looking for 18s. I am thinking i can fit a 18X10 in the rear but no clue on offset??

and no idea what i can fit up front. Looking for the widest tire possible as she will be on the track.

[gswartz]

The major obstruction is the leaf springs. Wheels will hit the leaf springs a inch before hitting the inner fender. I ran 17X8 with 4.5 inch of backspace running a 245 tire with no issue.

I am now running 17X10.5 with a 295/45/17 wheel. I am running 6.7" of back spacing. I am also running a mustang 8.8 rear end with a four link conversion with a total length of 59.5. Once I removed the leaf springs and installed the four link I got the spacing I need. In order to get the stance I needed with hopeful no rubbing I rolled the inner fenders.

The harder issue I am chasing is the front wheels on my car. I am trying to run a 17X9 with a 245 tire and a low stance with no rubbing.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/2DCE6712AFDE4806854FDBE8E3A814AD_zpsszaj-1.jpg

[rhurley]

The major obstruction is the leaf springs. Wheels will hit the leaf springs a inch before hitting the inner fender. I ran 17X8 with 4.5 inch of backspace running a 245 tire with no issue.

I am now running 17X10.5 with a 295/45/17 wheel. I am running 6.7" of back spacing. I am also running a mustang 8.8 rear end with a four link conversion with a total length of 59.5. Once I removed the leaf springs and installed the four link I got the spacing I need. In order to get the stance I needed with hopeful no rubbing I rolled the inner fenders.

The harder issue I am chasing is the front wheels on my car. I am trying to run a 17X9 with a 245 tire and a low stance with no rubbing.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/2DCE6712AFDE4806854FDBE8E3A814AD_zpsszaj-1.jpg


Thank you!.

I am tubbed and have EPS-Hane skinny leafs..... i believe they save you an inch of width.......

I have no idea where to start...... tire size or wheels first??

[rustomatic]

Measure three times, and know that your axle is going to push sideways, and as it moves up (under compression), while pushing sideways, the space diminishes . . .

There's fitting a tire, and then there's fitting a tire that will function while allowing you to actually enjoy driving your car (in anger, even).

[rhurley]

Measure three times, and know that your axle is going to push sideways, and as it moves up (under compression), while pushing sideways, the space diminishes . . .

There's fitting a tire, and then there's fitting a tire that will function while allowing you to actually enjoy driving your car (in anger, even).

Very good point! Damn, i could have totally missed that.

Thank you

[funbnme]

Have you made any progress on picking wheels?

I rented a wheelfit tool and am trying to work out my wheel dimensions now. I have Moser 9" rear axle and I think it's a hair wider than the stock rear axle (but not sure). Last night on the back of the car, I put a 245/45/17 tire with an 8" wheel 4.75" backspace setting and the edge of the tire rubs the inner flare. I don't think it would fit even if I bent the flare as close to the edge as I could. Going to see what room I can get with a 225 tire.

I think I might be able to fit a 235 without issues, but I only have these 2 in my garage now for testing.

[rhurley]

Have you made any progress on picking wheels?

I rented a wheelfit tool and am trying to work out my wheel dimensions now. I have Moser 9" rear axle and I think it's a hair wider than the stock rear axle (but not sure). Last night on the back of the car, I put a 245/45/17 tire with an 8" wheel 4.75" backspace setting and the edge of the tire rubs the inner flare. I don't think it would fit even if I bent the flare as close to the edge as I could. Going to see what room I can get with a 225 tire.

I think I might be able to fit a 235 without issues, but I only have these 2 in my garage now for testing.

Made ZERO progress with wheels.

I am all over the board, and cant afford to mess up fitment.

[funbnme]

I wound up only being able to fit 225/45's on my car with stock wheel tubs.
I'll still have to trim the wheel lips just a bit because I want to run the car real low and don't want any wheel rub at all (even on big bumps).

I could probably have squeezed in a 235 with some work on the fenders and if I kept the ride height just a bit higher (but still lower than stock). Like you, I just didn't want to take the risk because my wheels were only offered with one backspace option.

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

These cars are a bear to fit a decent tire in! I did a 17x9.5 with a 275/40 out back, and a 17x7 with about a 235 or 245 up front. The front was stock suspension, but I wanted to tuck the tire a little, so 17x7 was all that I could fit. The rear was stock leaf springs and tubs, but I flared the wheelwells slightly and went outwards. I started my figuring out what tire I could fit out back first (I try and keep a few different sizes around), then went with the appropriate wheel width in the deepest I could go, then I measured my WMS to WMS with the wheels installed and narrowed the rear to fit. In your case, I'd do what I've also done, and mockup the tires where they need to be in the wheelwell, and go through all the measurements to figure out the wheel offset. If you don't have a wheel simulator, you can get creative with some straightedges and a tape measure.

And as stated above, allow plenty of clearance! Even with the flares, it was super tight with the 275/30R17's. If would rub a touch inside, then if I shimmed it slightly, it would slightly touch the lip. I did this one tighter than ideal... but I really wanted a 275 on there.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/blazinred87/media/66%20Mustang/0920141456j_zpsd07iqk19.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/blazinred87/media/66%20Mustang/0920141456f_zpsamysnlkp.jpg.html)

[funbnme]

I wound up renting the Wheelfit tool for $50. They do charge for the full price of the tool, but refund all but $50 when you send it back.
http://www.1320wheels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=334

I went to a local place and bought two used tires (225 & 245 sizes). The stuck those in the wheel fit tool to try out the specs for the wheels I wanted. If I had just gone off recommendations from other guys cars, I probably would have bought 245's...I would have wasted a lot of money. So the money I spent to confirm it all (about $100 total between shipping the wheelfit tool back and the 2 used tires) was well worth it.

[rhurley]

These cars are a bear to fit a decent tire in! I did a 17x9.5 with a 275/40 out back, and a 17x7 with about a 235 or 245 up front. The front was stock suspension, but I wanted to tuck the tire a little, so 17x7 was all that I could fit. The rear was stock leaf springs and tubs, but I flared the wheelwells slightly and went outwards. I started my figuring out what tire I could fit out back first (I try and keep a few different sizes around), then went with the appropriate wheel width in the deepest I could go, then I measured my WMS to WMS with the wheels installed and narrowed the rear to fit. In your case, I'd do what I've also done, and mockup the tires where they need to be in the wheelwell, and go through all the measurements to figure out the wheel offset. If you don't have a wheel simulator, you can get creative with some straightedges and a tape measure.

And as stated above, allow plenty of clearance! Even with the flares, it was super tight with the 275/30R17's. If would rub a touch inside, then if I shimmed it slightly, it would slightly touch the lip. I did this one tighter than ideal... but I really wanted a 275 on there.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/blazinred87/media/66%20Mustang/0920141456j_zpsd07iqk19.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/blazinred87/media/66%20Mustang/0920141456f_zpsamysnlkp.jpg.html)

so a 275 fit with stock leafs and stock tubs?? I think i could fit that no prob.


I like what you say about fit tires first, and then get the wheel that works with that......