OK, so I've done some of the performance mods I'd planned, and I am already feeling the difference. Put on a set of LCAs to help with the wheel hop, but still spinning them pretty bad. I'm still running the stock 18" rims, but they need some new shoes!! I've read alot about the Nitto 555Rs, I think thats the direction I should go. SO two questions....

Wheres the best place to get them from?

I'm like a wider looking stance, especially in the rear. What sizes should I be looking at?

Thanks in advance...

Al

 

I think the widest you can "safely" go on the stock 18 x 8.5 Bullitts is 255/45/18. I have heard of some guys running 275/40/18, but I think that's pushing the safety envelope a bit. I am in a similar boat, so I will probably end up getting some 18 x 10 Bullitts rear and 18 x 9 front. With that setup you can run up to 295s safely in the rear and 275s in front.

 

I personally went with new tires and wheels. 18x9 Bullitts front and 18x10 Bullitts rear. Went with 255/45/18 on fronts and 285/40/18 rears because diameters were almost identical to stock 235/50/18 and to each other. Got the wheels from American Muscle and the BFGoodrich KDW NT's locally at Discount Tire.

Downsides is the inability to rotate tires as the sizes are different and the tires are directional, but in 8 months I have 3,000 miles on car and 1,000 of those were in first month.

Positives. Everything else.

 

When are you spinning?

 

Well, it all starts when I drop the brick at the end of my leg on the pedal???

Seriously though, I know alot of it has to do with my driving habits, but there must be a way to gain some more traction for the times I want to really punch it.

 

My toyos stick like crazy. 285/rear, 255/front

 

I went with 18x19's up front and 18x10's in the rear. I got the stock 27" diameter up front but some nasty *** 305/45/18 nitto 555R's on the back. They are 28.8" diameter and with my 1.5" drop are right maxed for clearance. It gives the car a really badass raked stance. I need to take some **** pics... The nitto's work great compared to the sumitomo hwhatever rzII's I had on there. From most I've talked to the mickey thompson et streets grab even better but for having 1.5 times the life the nitto's work just fine for me. (I've grown attached to the raked look as well, the et streets would have been half of an inch shorter diameter than my fronts and even tho you wouldn't think that would be noticible it sticks out BAD and looks like absolute crap.)

 

Thanks for the responses guys, looks like I'm gonna have to pull the trigger on new rims to get the look I want.

Oh well, looks like I should gear up for another thrashing form my wife.

For those with the staggered setup, did you consider moving up to 20s as well when you got your new setups? I mean, if I'm going to invest in new rims, maybe I should consider going up as well...

 

Looked at 20's but didn't like look on old school Mustang, was concerned about added wheel weight, and many said ride would be rougher. Would have gotten 19's if they were more available in wheels and tire sizes.

 

Thats sort of how I felt about them, and even though they are polished, always been partial to the old cragar look on muscle cars. I like the rims I've seen on americanmuscle.com, any other places you'd recommend looking?

 

I looked long and hard at tirerack.com, tons and tons of wheels.

 

Personally I think 20's look stupid. They are TOO big. The problem is with the mustang not the wheels. They made the wheel wells too big. 19's fit the best cause you can still have some rubber on there but hard to find decent rubber and rims in that size. And even that is only cause the wheel wells are too big. Personally I think 20's not only look too ghetto ,but the extra weight and loss of ride quality because of way less sidewall = no good as far as I'm concerned. 18's have tons of rubber and wheel options and are a lot cheaper. My wheels are from americanmuscle.com I am very happy with the price, and quality.

 

OK, so I think I've come to a final decision. Like others here, I like the idea of sticking with 18s. 20s are too big for me, and I also considered the added weight.
I'm looking at a set of rims from americanmuscle.com, 18x9 and 18x10.
Gonna go with a set of Nitto 555Rs as well.

One question I still have though, will I run into any issues in the future if/when I decide to lower the car?

 

No problems with lowering, only problems will be getting TPMS onto new wheels.
If you ever wanted to upgrade brakes, big brake kits probably won't work on the 18's.

 

Nope you'll be fine. Like I said I have a 28.8" overall diameter (stock is 27") rear wheel and my car is lowered 1.5" and I'm fine. MAXED OUT but fine.

I wouldn't suggest going with this combo I have unless you get a really stiff suspension setup when you drop it cause it is close. Here's a pic.

 

Thanks for the info, looks like I'm heading in the same direction you went. How do you like the FRPP suspension stuff? Any reason you went with them and not the Eibach route everyone else went with? Oh, and not that I'm trying to hijack my own thread, but I;ve been looking at the FRPP shorties and x-pipe. How do you like the setup?

 

Its all good except the dampners. They are too stiff and make the ride rougher than it has to be. I've thought about swapping the dampners out for some d-specs. I went with the frpp handling pack/drag pack cause I made a deal with my dealership if I bought it from them they would only charge me straight time in the install of that and a bunch of other stuff.

I like the sound of my exhaust setup but If I did it again I would go with a set of long tube headers and an offroad x-pipe with no cats. I plan on eventually getting a complete ceramic coated setup from headers all the way to the mufflers from www.stainlessworks.net .

 

Sounds like a great plan. Unfortunately while I can go with long tubes, I have to have cats. Looking at a set of Kooks customs with hi-flow cats so I can stay legal and still get the long tubes I want. I was looking at the frpp package because, well, it's a package... But it sounds like peicing something together would end up making more sense in the long run.

Thanks for all the feedback, really appreciate it.

One last question if I can, your sig shows 305/45/18s, are u running then on the front and rear??

 

Yea you'll get more gains from the Longtubes over the shorties so it's worth it in the end. If I could do the suspension over again I would get a complete package from steeda that comes with the d-specs.

LOL 305/45/18 street slicks on the front? Maybe if I was a front wheel drive ricer. I guess it is kinda hard to tell in that pic. The giant fatties are on the back.

 

i have the LT's and im not going back any day soon!!!

i love them, as do all the other guys i have heard from on here