I would like to find Bullet Rims at the 255-55 like my old GT for my new one As well as new tires for same.

The car has a great growl, but you will lose it on the first hi-way exit that you used to hit at 55mph. I want my claws back!!! :notnice:

edited comment: The turn off speed warning sign something like 25mph.

 

your kidding? This car kills my '03 mach 1 in handling and ride.

 

I also have my '05, and it handles better than anything I have ever driven. Putting 255's on in place of the stock 235's isn't going to do that much for handling. And anyway, you can put up to 275's on the stock wheels. No need to get new wheels, that's for sure.

 

It should handle at least as well if not better than the current Cobra from what we've heard.

But from a looks standpoint, this car would rock with some 17or 18x9 with 255-275. Come next fall, I'll be getting her some new shoes.

 

:scratch:

You must have a problem. M/T said that the '05 GT Mustang posted a faster time in their slalomn test than ANY prior Mustang except the 2000 Cobra R. That's correct FASTER than the '03-04 Cobra and Mach 1.

 

Yah, but what do they know...... they only have instrumented testing and professional drivers.

Amazing, only the R was faster. Thai-Tang must be grinning from ear to ear.

 

I want to stick 285 or 295's in the rear.

 

315s

 

I WANT MEATS

 

I'd love meats as well, but the cost of the rims/tires as well as not being able to rotate them has made me decide not to do it.

Basically, you cut your tire life in half or more by not rotating them. Plus, the added cost of the wider tires.

So, if you can afford that sweet look, do it. I've decided to stick with some nice 18x9 with 255 or 275's all around.

 

Werd

 

Ya, same here too. 18X9's with 255's, all the way around!

 

I like to take turns as fast as I can and my new tires do not give me the same feel as the Goodyears that came on my 03 Vert. It almost seemed that I could make 90 degree turns at speed. Illusion, I know.

While the car does not hop. And the rear end does not seem to break loose as much. It still rides differently enough to make me concerned about sharp turns at higher speeds.

 

Acadian,

I heard that I can keep my rims from you on this thread and from some motorhead buddies of mine. I wonder how safe this is at higher speeds?

If it is safe then when the summer hits, I will go buy some 255s for my ride and cruise down the coast.

 

No doubt that 255's will be ok on the 17x8 stock wheels... 275's might be pushing it.

 

Werd [/b][/quote]
dayum i wish i was selling u ur tires. Ka-Ching!

 

having autocrossed my old 99 v6 with stock tires and wheels, i find it hard to believe the p-0 pirellis do not give excellent handling, check your tire pressure. on an autocross course against the clock, the faster your time, the more grip you have. also you may consider going with the 245/45 17's rather than the 235/55 17's, the lower sidewalls will give you less roll.

 

Speed and the illusion of speed can sometimes be 2 vastly different things.

That is a slow car with unstable handling can make you think that your are going fast when you really are going pretty darned slow.

Specifically, I own a 2001 Mustang GT with those Goodyears on it. The Goodyears have pretty darned good grip (at least on dry pavement they do). It's a good thing though, as compared to other, faster and better handling cars my 2001 GT can be a handful.

ALL Mustangs from 79 to 04 have what I would call very "twitchy" handling. They have a pretty quick turn in feel, which is probably due to their short wheel base. But they are also what I would call somewhat unstable. The ffront roll center on the Fox & SN-95 generation Mustangs is very low, too low in fact. The rear roll center is very high. This creates that unstable "twitchy" feel which can create the illusion of "turn on a dime handling" when in reality you have to actually be going VERY slow to make a sharp turn with a 79 - 04 Mustang.

If you want proof, just go to an Autocross event and watch the poor stinkers who try running any of these Mustangs with stock suspension. They are embarassingly slow on an Auto-X course.

 

245/45R17 = 25.68 inches tall (doing the math, actual dia may differ)
235/55R17 = 27.18 inches tall (ditto)

section width x aspect ratio / 25.4 x 2 + rim dia = over all dia.


27.18 - 25.68 = 1.5 difference in Dia (or about 6%)


One thing to consider with this sort of mod isn't so much the change in indicated speed, but the load the tires have to carry, the smaller diameter tire will not be able to support the same load at the same air pressure and may not be able to support the same load even at its maximum air pressure. Typically this means the tires run hot all the time and you experience significant wear, at worst it could mean a tire failure at a critical moment which depending on how you react or your level of skill could be disasterous.

Although more expensive a 255/45R18 might work better at 27.05 inches tall.

4.51 inch tall sidewall vs. 5.09 inch tall sidewall with about an inch extra rubber.

However load contraints still apply. My advice would be to find somebody with experience in the matter (fitting custom rims and tires to vehicle apps) and the first question you need to ask is; "Do you know how to reference a load & inflation table", If not walk out.

Also if you can find a rim/tire combo that is lighter weight compared to the original tire/rim combo, this will improve ride comfort and handling (reduced unsprung weight).

 

Did some additional checking, on load vs. inflation for 235/55R17's vs. 245/45R17's.

Passenger tires do not gain any additional load carrying capacity beyond 36 psi (despite most perf tires being branded for 44 psi max). A 245/45R17 cannot be sufficiently pressurized to accomadate the load capacity of a 235/55R17 although a 255/45R18 can at a slightly higher pressure IIRC. Or a switch to 275/40R17's will also do the trick.