Don't feel bad Hammy, it is far better to ask about something you don't know then to pretend that you understand it.

Here is a quick explaination of how tire sizing works.

Example Tire P235/55WR17 - the standard tire for the 2005 Mustang GT

235 = tread width in mm

55 = the sidewall aspect ratio, that is the sidewall is 55% of the tread width
. . . so .55 X 235 = sidewall width of 129 mm

W = Speed rating of the tire

R = Radial

17 = wheel size in inches.

Now please don't ask me to explain why the tread width is expressed in mm and the wheel size in inches, because I don't have a clue. [/b][/quote]
Boy you said it!

And sometimes people make mistakes, apologize for it and move on.

 

I finally got off my lazy butt and looked up prices. 17's in a typical Mustang size (Tire Rack was my source) are around $110 a tire. 18's in a decent brand name performance tire are running $180 or more. I'll stick with 17's.

 

Yup.....and times 4 tires is a bit of extra change. Plus the extra cost of the rims themselves. Plus the fact you will replace the tires at least two times or more in its life. Its an expensive was to go.

I for one have always been obsessed with my car having nice looking wheels/tires. It can improve the look of the car tremendously IMO. For my personal taste, I'd love some 18's with 255's and am willing to spend the extra cash to have them. For someone else, they may go with 17's but won't compromise on the Shaker 1000 etc. To each his/her own I guess.

 

Very true...we all have our favorites...

 

I am still not a big fan of the optional 17" polished rims for the GT. I prefer the stock ones. Then again, I will be buying aftermarket rims once we know what the bolt pattern and offset are.

 

35 or 40 series tires are ideal for good handling. On the new tire diameter, that would equate to 19" wheels. 275/35-19 on the front, 295/35-19 on the rear for me...maybe wider if possible.

Prices will come down as more cars use larger wheels. 20 years ago I was paying $180 ea for 15" tires.

 

You think 18's and tires are expensive. Wait till you go to 19" or 20" plus the cost of tires.

 

I'm sure I would find this on the option paperwork posted elsewhere, but forgive me, I just started a temp job proof-reading Jr. Hi. academic placement exam questions eight hours a day, so my brain is mush....

The stock GT will come with 17 inch Bullitts, right? Are they all bright chrome or are dark, gun-metal gray available?

 

Here ya go...

 

Someone on Stangnet just posted a link to some 2005 Stang photos that has a good shot of a the 2005 Bullitt wheel. It's apearance is very similar to the 2001 - 2004 Bullitt wheels, that is the rim lip is machined and finished at bright aluminum and the spokes are painted dark gray.

I would give you the link, but StangNet Forums are down this AM. You can take a look later today when it is back up. Go to stangnet.com - Forums - 2005 Mustang Forum - New 2005 Photos topic. Here there is a link to about 40 photos, many of which I had not seen before including more photos of the bottom, the first photo I have seen of the V6 exhuast from underneath and the first good photo of the standard V6 wheel (w/o machined rim lip and w/o spinner).

 

Does anyone know of a good web site to look up tire and rim prices??

 

I've ordered some from here before:
The Tire Rack

 

Thanks for the site F1.

 

Im too lazy to look, it's in the Cincy pic post, or videos, i believe

 

They're painted aluminum...they just look normal color. No other colors available.

As for the bolt/offset:

 

I think the offset on the current mustang is 24 mm, so old wheels will be hanging way out of the fenders(I think), you can also tell by looking at the new bullitts, and the current bullitts.

 

Can anyone confirm what the offset of the 99-04 wheels are. I had the # somewhere, but I can't find it. 24mm does sound about right, though.

If you closely compare the 01-04 Bullitt wheels with a good shot of the 05 Bullits, you can see that although they look similar, the shapes are different and you can see the different offsets.