Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: Aerocoupe on June 05, 2014, 11:33:38 PM
Post by: Aerocoupe on June 05, 2014, 11:33:38 PM
I think we get into several conversations a month over what wheels and tires will actually fit under the front fenders of the Cougars and T-Birds. One thing that has not been done or at least that I can find is a thread that people post wheel & tire combinations that fit under the front fenders as well as the front suspension makeup. What I think we need to do is post this information up so that a person can get a better idea as to what works and even what does not work but remember that pictures also help people get a feel for how it looks. I'll start with what I have on my '83 Bird.
Car Info - 1983 Ford Thunderbird LX 5.0 Base Model
Stock or Aftermarket K-Member - Griggs Racing (moves the tire forward 1")
Stock or Aftermarket Lower Control Arms - Griggs Racing Severe Duty Fox Mustang length (set to zero forward offset so that the total forward movement of the tires is still 1")
Four or Five Lug - Five lug conversion using the SN95 '96-'04 spindles per Griggs instructions (94-95 spindles move the wheel 3.1mm outward per side and the 96-04 spindles move the wheel 8.1mm outward per side)
Steering Rack Limiters - None
Rims - 17x8 Bullitt Style Chrome Replicas, 24mm offset with a 5.5" backspacing (I will measure this as I am not 100% sure but this may take a couple of weeks to get to)
Tires - Yokohama 245/40/17 AVS ES100 (no longer made)
Darren
Car Info - 1983 Ford Thunderbird LX 5.0 Base Model
Stock or Aftermarket K-Member - Griggs Racing (moves the tire forward 1")
Stock or Aftermarket Lower Control Arms - Griggs Racing Severe Duty Fox Mustang length (set to zero forward offset so that the total forward movement of the tires is still 1")
Four or Five Lug - Five lug conversion using the SN95 '96-'04 spindles per Griggs instructions (94-95 spindles move the wheel 3.1mm outward per side and the 96-04 spindles move the wheel 8.1mm outward per side)
Steering Rack Limiters - None
Rims - 17x8 Bullitt Style Chrome Replicas, 24mm offset with a 5.5" backspacing (I will measure this as I am not 100% sure but this may take a couple of weeks to get to)
Tires - Yokohama 245/40/17 AVS ES100 (no longer made)
Darren
Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: EFFalcon on June 09, 2014, 06:55:00 PM
Post by: EFFalcon on June 09, 2014, 06:55:00 PM
Car Info - 1983 Ford Thunderbird Heritage 5.0
Stock or Aftermarket K-Member - Stock
Stock or Aftermarket Lower Control Arms - Stock
Four or Five Lug - Five lug conversion using the Ranger 10" Rotors
Steering Rack Limiters - None
Rims - 18x8 Bonspeed Royal - Somewhere between 0 and +6mm Offset
Tires - Continental 225/40/18
Front Fenders rolled and pushed out a fair bit.
No apparent scrubbing
Stock or Aftermarket K-Member - Stock
Stock or Aftermarket Lower Control Arms - Stock
Four or Five Lug - Five lug conversion using the Ranger 10" Rotors
Steering Rack Limiters - None
Rims - 18x8 Bonspeed Royal - Somewhere between 0 and +6mm Offset
Tires - Continental 225/40/18
Front Fenders rolled and pushed out a fair bit.
No apparent scrubbing
Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: Haystack on June 09, 2014, 08:02:12 PM
Post by: Haystack on June 09, 2014, 08:02:12 PM
1987 thunderbird lx 5.0
Stock everything.
Mustang 10 holes.
235/60/R15.
Excellent replacement size. no rubbing of any kind.
Stock everything.
Mustang 10 holes.
235/60/R15.
Excellent replacement size. no rubbing of any kind.
Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: fast Ed on November 29, 2015, 04:44:44 PM
Post by: fast Ed on November 29, 2015, 04:44:44 PM
After searching a bit, figured this might be an appropriate thread to ask my question in ...
I'm looking at various aftermarket wheels for my 88 TC, and am wondering what you guys are doing for offset on the front with 8.5" or 9" wide to keep them in the fenders. Guessing that I would need at least 6" of backspacing, any comments? I do have some late SN95 arms to go on that will offer a bit more clearance at lock. Will also likely be adding some MM caster plates, and putting in additional negative camber ... maybe set around -1 to -1.25 degrees, which helps to tuck the top of the tire in the fender a bit as offer more front grip.
Should mention that I really don't like to have the front wheels and tires hanging out the fenders as can happen quite easily with these cars. Am willing to run different front and rear sizes and / or offsets to keep them tucked in.
thanks,
Ed
I'm looking at various aftermarket wheels for my 88 TC, and am wondering what you guys are doing for offset on the front with 8.5" or 9" wide to keep them in the fenders. Guessing that I would need at least 6" of backspacing, any comments? I do have some late SN95 arms to go on that will offer a bit more clearance at lock. Will also likely be adding some MM caster plates, and putting in additional negative camber ... maybe set around -1 to -1.25 degrees, which helps to tuck the top of the tire in the fender a bit as offer more front grip.
Should mention that I really don't like to have the front wheels and tires hanging out the fenders as can happen quite easily with these cars. Am willing to run different front and rear sizes and / or offsets to keep them tucked in.
thanks,
Ed
Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: vinnietbird on November 29, 2015, 04:58:50 PM
Post by: vinnietbird on November 29, 2015, 04:58:50 PM
I run 255 40 17's up front, no rubbing. They are on 17x8 inch wheels. I was running the same size tire on a 17x9 inch wheel, but I swapped the wheel style.
The rears are 17x9 with 275 40 17's.
The rears are 17x9 with 275 40 17's.
Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: fast Ed on November 29, 2015, 05:35:20 PM
Post by: fast Ed on November 29, 2015, 05:35:20 PM
What is the offset or backspacing on those wheels?
thanks!
thanks!
Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: vinnietbird on November 30, 2015, 07:39:51 AM
Post by: vinnietbird on November 30, 2015, 07:39:51 AM
I'll see if I can find the info. They are wheels made for a Mustang, but, even on Fox Body Mustangs, backspacing can be different. On the 10th anniversary wheels I had, 17x9 up front, 17x10 out back, they fit perfectly. On the current deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, the 9's rub the struts, so, I went with 8's up front, and left the 9 in the rear.
Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: 1BadBird on December 05, 2015, 03:08:29 AM
Post by: 1BadBird on December 05, 2015, 03:08:29 AM
Sticky thread ?!?!?!
I'll post my info when this thread grows and I get my fenders back on more permanently.
I'll post my info when this thread grows and I get my fenders back on more permanently.
Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: thunderjet302 on December 05, 2015, 11:56:34 AM
Post by: thunderjet302 on December 05, 2015, 11:56:34 AM
Quote from: fast Ed;452643
After searching a bit, figured this might be an appropriate thread to ask my question in ...
I'm looking at various aftermarket wheels for my 88 TC, and am wondering what you guys are doing for offset on the front with 8.5" or 9" wide to keep them in the fenders. Guessing that I would need at least 6" of backspacing, any comments? I do have some late SN95 arms to go on that will offer a bit more clearance at lock. Will also likely be adding some MM caster plates, and putting in additional negative camber ... maybe set around -1 to -1.25 degrees, which helps to tuck the top of the tire in the fender a bit as offer more front grip.
Should mention that I really don't like to have the front wheels and tires hanging out the fenders as can happen quite easily with these cars. Am willing to run different front and rear sizes and / or offsets to keep them tucked in.
thanks,
Ed
I should note I have 03-04 Cobra A-arms on the front of my Thunderbird. They did not pull the wheels in at all as the SN95 arms are the same dimensionally as the 87-88 Thunderbird/Cougar A-arms.
Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: fast Ed on December 05, 2015, 03:39:17 PM
Post by: fast Ed on December 05, 2015, 03:39:17 PM
Yes, the SN95 arms are the same length as 87-88 Bird, but the 99-04 arms have a revised contour that allows more steering lock to be applied before the wheels will rub on the arms. I've got a set of 03 Cobra arms to go on mine as well.
cheers
Ed
cheers
Ed
Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: 1BadBird on December 08, 2015, 06:36:25 AM
Post by: 1BadBird on December 08, 2015, 06:36:25 AM
Quote from: fast Ed;452807
but the 99-04 arms have a revised contour that allows more steering lock to be applied before the wheels will rub on the arms.
cheers
Ed
I'm going to get rid of my front tubular LCA/coil-over setup and install 03' cobra arms & springs. That's why I'm going this route
Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: The Hawk on December 16, 2015, 01:43:40 PM
Post by: The Hawk on December 16, 2015, 01:43:40 PM
Quote from: fast Ed;452643
After searching a bit, figured this might be an appropriate thread to ask my question in ...
I'm looking at various aftermarket wheels for my 88 TC, and am wondering what you guys are doing for offset on the front with 8.5" or 9" wide to keep them in the fenders. Guessing that I would need at least 6" of backspacing, any comments? I do have some late SN95 arms to go on that will offer a bit more clearance at lock. Will also likely be adding some MM caster plates, and putting in additional negative camber ... maybe set around -1 to -1.25 degrees, which helps to tuck the top of the tire in the fender a bit as offer more front grip.
Should mention that I really don't like to have the front wheels and tires hanging out the fenders as can happen quite easily with these cars. Am willing to run different front and rear sizes and / or offsets to keep them tucked in.
thanks,
Ed
87 TC
stock crossmember
stock control arms
'95 SN-95 spindles/Cobra brakes
18 x 9 wheels w/ 6.5" BS
255/40-18 BFG KDW II
-1.5* camber
Back when I ran the 17" Cobra Rs I used the M179 up front and the R58 out back. The M179s had a 6.42" BS. I ran 255's on those as well and same camber.
With both setups I would get some scrubbing on the inner fender liner (it crosses over the top of the tire at a steep angle compared to a Mustang) under HARD cornering but even that went away after swapping out my control arm bushings. Under normal driving and spirited they never rubbed. Keep in mind though I run very stiff springs up front . Never had issues of hitting the actual fenderlips.....only the stupid liner due to how Ford designed it.
Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: fast Ed on December 16, 2015, 09:01:47 PM
Post by: fast Ed on December 16, 2015, 09:01:47 PM
Thanks Glen, that's what I was looking for. I remember you mentioning some of the stats when I saw you in the summer, but could not recall the specifics.
cheers
Ed
cheers
Ed
Title: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: fordguy545 on December 22, 2015, 12:39:02 AM
Post by: fordguy545 on December 22, 2015, 12:39:02 AM
1988 Ford Thunderbird (started out as a 5.0 so that K member)
Stock or Aftermarket K-Member - Stock 88 with spring perches and whatever else is sticking out at the top cut off.
Stock or Aftermarket Lower Control Arms - MM Fox 3/4" forward tubular arms delrin bushings
Four or Five Lug - Five lug conversion using the 04 mustang spindles. Crash Bolts in Both Holes in strut. Limited adjustment for caster and camber with MM Caster camber plates.
Steering Rack Limiters - None but should probably have a couple put it. Occasionally hits stuff in a spin on track.
Rims - 18x10 Mesh XXR 521, +25 offset with a 6.48"backspacing
Tires - 315/35/18 Hoosier A6 Required rolling the fenders quite a bit(always remember to unbend the second bend on the fender lip before attempting the rolling)
Stock or Aftermarket K-Member - Stock 88 with spring perches and whatever else is sticking out at the top cut off.
Stock or Aftermarket Lower Control Arms - MM Fox 3/4" forward tubular arms delrin bushings
Four or Five Lug - Five lug conversion using the 04 mustang spindles. Crash Bolts in Both Holes in strut. Limited adjustment for caster and camber with MM Caster camber plates.
Steering Rack Limiters - None but should probably have a couple put it. Occasionally hits stuff in a spin on track.
Rims - 18x10 Mesh XXR 521, +25 offset with a 6.48"backspacing
Tires - 315/35/18 Hoosier A6 Required rolling the fenders quite a bit(always remember to unbend the second bend on the fender lip before attempting the rolling)
Title: Re: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: mcb82gt on May 14, 2019, 03:22:13 PM
Post by: mcb82gt on May 14, 2019, 03:22:13 PM
I'll see if I can find the info. They are wheels made for a Mustang, but, even on Fox Body Mustangs, backspacing can be different. On the 10th anniversary wheels I had, 17x9 up front, 17x10 out back, they fit perfectly. On the current deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, the 9's rub the struts, so, I went with 8's up front, and left the 9 in the rear.
Hey Vinnie, What 8" wheels are you running up front. I'm trying to find some decent 4 lug wheels that fit and I like. :smile:
Title: Re: Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
Post by: vinnietbird on May 16, 2019, 08:05:22 AM
Post by: vinnietbird on May 16, 2019, 08:05:22 AM
Pretty much anything for a Fox Mustang will fit. I use the Saleen SC wheels. !7x10 rear, 17x8 front. Black with a polished lip. I never have liked black wheels before, but with my green car and all black trim and tinted windows, they fit the look of the car very well.