Well the keep the cost of the car down by being frugal in certain areas - I've already said that I figure the reason the 17 Bullitts were the standard wheel on the car is because they had a surplus left from the 04s and better to USE them up and save a few bucks in the first few years.... I bet they had a deal on the tires too...

 

Isn't the offset different between the '04 and '05? If so, the '05 Bullitts can't be leftovers from '04.

 

Ahhhh very good point - well then maybe it was just easier for them to adjust the offest in manufacturing than to retool for 18 inch ones right off the bat - again I remember all this being cost related.....

 

The 05 and 04 bulits look much different around the center part as well. The 04 and earlier are much thicker around the lug nuts.

 

What I really would like to know then is what size tires they used on the show car? [attachmentid=22796]

 

Only one way to solve this tire dilemma.

- Hope you get your 2006 Stang in time for the summer. Put your orders in now kids. I know I am!!

- Make the most of the 235s. Don't forget rotatation after the first 2 weeks.

- By the time winter comes along you'll be in need of new tires...perfect time for those Blizzacks. ANd why not get some steelys...you can put away those FanBlades for now.

- Next summer...obvously you can't ride on your winters. You'll need to get yourself some spanking new 255s!!

Hopefully they will last for another summer!!!

 

 

thanks brad!

 

Has anyone had any luck with the dealer giving them credit for new/unused tires and having them put on tires you want, with you paying the difference? If not, what about a national tire outlet store. How much am I likely to lose by swapping the 235s for 255s?

 

Which summer are you talking about? No one will have a 2006 Mustang by this summer.

 

Before i took delivery of my 05 GT, i had the dealer install the BF Goodrich KDWS 255/50/17s. They would not give me a dime for brand new 235s.

Fritz, Silver "05" GT Coupe IUP and everything ...

 

255/45/18

 

Just confirmed it. The dealer will not give me credit for the new P235/50's; they recommended I go to a tire retailer and try there. Oh well, it was worth a shot.

 

I stand corrected guys!!!

Check out this car on Mustang World.com, it has 18X8.5 inch wheels with 235/50/ZR18's on it. The car is lowered but look how nice the tires fill out the wheel well and come out to the edge of the rim. Make sure you check out the rear view of the car to see how far out the tires come vs the 17 inch Bullitts.




It has a nice tight look to it, not too fat and the wheels/tires stick out just far enough. If the 18 inch Fan Blades with the 235/50/18's look like this I'll be one happy camper!!!!


Here's the rest of the pics:


Mustang World


Oh and if this is your car, very nice!!!! I likes!!!

 

I think the idea of the 18" rims is to fill up the wheel well and those pics look great!

A much better look IMHO.

 

Load carrying capacity of 235/55R17: 1422 lbs @ 30 psi (27.3 x 9.3)
Load carrying capacity of 235/50R18: 1481 lbs @ 30 psi (27.2 x 9.5)
Load carrying capacity of 255/45R18: 1488 lbs @ 30 psi (27.2 x 10.0)

hmmm.... doesn't look like a load issue? although (this is using the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tire specs for size and a general inflation/load table also assuming the 05+ stangs are using 30psi for air pressure) I see the 255/45R18's are 1/10 of an inch lower and 1/2 of an inch wider? Didn't they say that the 235's were on the car due to winter chain use? Could be the reason why they stuck with the 235/50R18 for the 18 inch wheel, then again Ford might be reserving the wider tires for SE and SVT models.

 

It's b/c Ford knows all you're going to do is burn rubber for the first 3 months so why tear up a good tire when you're going to have to go right out and replace them immediately.

 

Pontiac only puts 235's on the 18" wheel option for the GTO. Which makes no sense at all since the standard 17" wheel comes with 245's.