My new wheel spacers
 

I developed a crack in one of my cheap spacers and ordered and received a set of spacer from motortech. I had 20mm all around. I went wider this time. I went with 25mm in the front and 23mm in the rear. Now I see why everyone likes this set up, it looks perfect. Here are a few pics
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...0b30608800.png
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...12b4d0a61c.png
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...c7acb63535.png

Looks nice, great idea!

Looks good.
One recommendation: With the way the front tires are now gonna be flinging little rocks rearward, I'd suggest you look into getting some of that clear 3M (or whatever other high-quality brand) film for the area in-between the back of the door and the front of the rear wheel opening.
That area flares out and is really prone to stone chips, even with stock wheel set-ups.
More so when the tires are further outward.


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I agree with Gabe. I have quite a few chips as it is with stock setup. I don't fancy spacers for that reason plus the suspension geometry is affected.

I used xpel film on my car. I've had the full front done, inc wing mirrors. Would be a good idea now that you have spacers to have it added to the rear where the stones will target.

Would it kill Ford to just release the car with wheels with a proper offset from the factory? :doh: :nice:

They do have proper offset from the factory, the engineers got this all figured out,and they are "supposed to be" set inside the fenders a little bit. With the spacers they seem to be sticking out a hair; looks like they could be in danger of rubbing when the suspension travels up, or very close to it.

If you like them that way that's great, personally I would not push them out that far if it was my car, too much rock damage on the side among other potential issues.

Part of the reason the wheels are usually so much inward is to minimize stone-chip damage to the paint.
At least I read that somewhere on the internet, so it's most likely true.


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:agree:

:rofl2:

But back to the topic, did you also replace the wheel studs with longer units? I would worry about stripping threads with the factory length studs in place particularly during hard cornering. You have an inch less stud that the nut is grabbing in the front.

The OE units aren't forged, are they?

Yeah yeah, take a look at the Performance Package Level 2...

Here let me help out. Also, see GT350/GT350R...

"Proper offset"

Exactly lol. No reason they couldn't come with a 19x9 +30 and 19x9.5 +35 factory on the PP 1

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Minimum rim width for a 305 tire is 10.5" :dunno:

I mean there is a performance reason to have wide sticky tires. There is no reason to stick your skinnier tires out more so they damage your paint.

I'm saying if they'll put wider wheels and tires on a performance car that's going to get tracked, no reason why they couldn't put narrower wheels and tires but with a lower offset, to give the look of the higher end model.

You are always better putting wider wheels with the correct offset than adding spacers, unless they are to correct an offset on an aftermarket wheel. I'm already seeing plenty of Mustangs being lowered and spaced here in the UK. For me, that moves the Mustang into a Euro look rather than a muscle car American look, but that's just my perspective. Back to mechanicals, it affects handling no end. Ford engineers released the car with the correct geometry. I've had spacers on my Audi TT. It was also lowered on coilovers but it invited a lot of fast suspension and tyre wear even after a 4 wheel alignment.

Adding spacers to 'skinny wheels' alters the geometry that Ford setup. Scrub radius is increased, along with king pin axis. These affect toe characteristics and steering stability under braking. The spring weight changes at the wheels also due to the leverage increase which it turn affects the bearing life and suspension components.

I say this but I did do it on the TT. It needed it though as the wheels were lost in the arches. I got through front suspension bushes in 4000 miles. Personally I like the stock look on the Mustang, I've always thought the American car wings, or fenders, always look aggressive when they come out at the top. Just my opinion anyway.

I feel like I just watched an episode of Wheeler Dealer ^^^^

Lol ... Right on, cheerio! :)

LOL, yeah glad we "got that all sorted"! Cheers!

Anyway if you like the look then by all means push them out . . . just be aware there are drawbacks. Personally I would not do it on my car for all the reasons discussed above. When I went to 275's on the front of my car (on GT500 wheels with factory offset) I noticed a lot more rocks pinging off the side of the car and I would not want any more. But again your car is your car.

I'm surprised to see the GT350's out there like that; but that's because they are huge, and I imagine the original centerline is maintained.

I believe 315/30s?

The PP2 front wheels have more than 1" of inner clearance. This is per Vorshlag who recently had one in their shop and did some measuring.
Kinda seems like Ford still can't get the offset "right" as far as the enthusiast is concerned.
They're sticking out a bit, "poking" as some people call it.
Personally I don't like how they fit, but I love the look of the wheel itself.
Expecting American Muscle and LMR to soon be offering replicas of the PP2 wheel.
Hopefully then we'll see some width/offset options that might fit well on the S197, but I'm not holding my breath. Fully expecting more of the "20x10 with 40mm offset" fitment ... something that fits like crap on the back, with a 305/35/20 tire. And yes, I know the 305/35 really should be on a 10.5-11" wide wheel. That's partly what I mean when I say I want different width/offset options. I'd love to see the PP2 wheels in a 11" width with a 56-59mm offset.


To me, this isn't "proper fitment":

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/951/2...548d044f_o.jpg

Haha touche, yeah that actually does stick out quite a bit. I wish Michelin made a 305/35/20. They only do 305/30 which stretches a bit on the 20x11. I hate the look. Even a 315/30 would be good.

I think I might try the M/T DRs in 305/35 and Streets in 285/35 next time I need tires, which will be early next year.