Narrowest tire on set of 18x9? - 2003-04 Mach 1 Registry Owners Club

Rockends · 06-13-2003, 05:36 AM

I just got a set of the 18x9's from AFS on ebay ($280!

). I'll end up putting 275's in the back I imagine, or bigger if someone recommends, but what do I do about the front. I imagine I want the narrowest tire possible there but I'm not sure how narrow I can go safely on that rim. Anyone have any suggestions?
If it hadn't been such a great price I would have thought about it more

Thanks

richtor · 06-13-2003, 05:40 AM

get some pictures up when you decide on the tires. 18x9 nice. :THUMBSUP:

Totoland Mach · 06-13-2003, 05:58 AM

I'm looking at either the AFS black centered Bullitt wheels or the black Halibrand custom wheels with polished edges. Question is: why 18"? I can see some going 18 in the back and 17 up front (but that's always a hassle at tire replacement time). Any benefits from 18's?

Thanks

Ralph Greene · 06-13-2003, 06:27 AM

I'm using 18X9 FR 500 wheels on this car. Since I don't have a traction problem, I didn't have to worry about wide in rear, and I didn't want wide in front. Didn't want them to stick out too much. And I also know from experience the wide look comes from the wheel as much as the tire. I also wanted to be able to rotate on this car, and wouldn't mind if they were a tad taller than stock to take out some of the 4X4 look. But not too much taller.

From various tire company web sites, I discovered 255 was the best size for handling for 18X9 wheel, was in the middle of recommended sizes, and was available from a few tire companies in 255X40X18, which is 26.1" in diameter. Thus helping with 4X4 look, and not messing up speedo. (although i do have a SpeedCal to correct speedo, if necessary, if I do gear and tire size change).

So I bought some Michelin 255X40X18. The wider wheels make them look considerably wider than the stock 245's. Also I don't feel i have to lower the car now, because the wider wheels sit different (out), and a little taller, than the stock ones.

The only problem, and something for you guys to look out for is, these FR 500 have a wide lip on outside of wheel to attach alignment equipment and weights to (I used stick on's), and this lip makes wheel appear wider than it really is, and makes tire look a little narrow, when in fact it is perfect fit.

On a previous car I used BBS RK wheels in 18X8.5 and 18X10 with 245X40X18 and 285X35X18 tires, so have been down this road before. However, the BBS wheel didn't have a lip (had to borrow friends wheels to get alignment). But they were a perfect size for our car, didn't stick out in front, was flush in rear, etc. But couldn't rotate. FWIW

Rockends · 06-14-2003, 01:54 AM

Thanks for the help. Ended up going with some Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position
255x40x18 in the front and
275x40x18 in the back.

I'll try to post some pics when I get them on, hopefully sometime next week.

Kevin · 06-14-2003, 03:02 AM

Potenzas huh? I got a set of 275/35 18 on the back and 265/35 18 on the front. There Kumho MX's and are about half the price of other tires like Bridgestones, but just as good or better performance. If you haven't gotten the Potenzas yet I would cancel that order and get some Kumhos.

bkeen · 06-14-2003, 03:23 AM

Hey Ralph, how about some pics of your wheel setup?

:THUMBSUP:

06-13-2003, 05:36 AM	#1
Rockends Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chatsworth, CA Posts: 65	Narrowest tire on set of 18x9? I just got a set of the 18x9's from AFS on ebay ($280! ). I'll end up putting 275's in the back I imagine, or bigger if someone recommends, but what do I do about the front. I imagine I want the narrowest tire possible there but I'm not sure how narrow I can go safely on that rim. Anyone have any suggestions? If it hadn't been such a great price I would have thought about it more Thanks __________________ 2003 Mach 1 Torch Red w/IUP VIN: #390119 Pic #1 Pic #2 Pic #3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Black Bumper Inserts Visus Rear Window Louvers Window Tint (the illegal kind) Machined 18x9 Mach 1 Rims 255-275/45/18 Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Positions Flaming Front Grill Pony Flaming Fuzzy Red Dice

06-13-2003, 05:40 AM	#2
richtor Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: wine country Posts: 512	get some pictures up when you decide on the tires. 18x9 nice. :THUMBSUP: __________________ 03 MACH 1 DSG, 5 speed, IUp ordered: 7-7-02 delivered: 1-18-03 stock dyno test: superflo dyno 2-3-03 w/ 1000 miles 290.0 rwtq @ 4263 rpm 278.8 rwhp @ 5982 rpm modifications set of bfg kdw's, flowmaster catback k & n airfilter, raised shaker 1/4 inch

06-13-2003, 05:58 AM	#3
Totoland Mach Wax-a-holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,436	Dumb question from Totoland I'm looking at either the AFS black centered Bullitt wheels or the black Halibrand custom wheels with polished edges. Question is: why 18"? I can see some going 18 in the back and 17 up front (but that's always a hassle at tire replacement time). Any benefits from 18's? Thanks

06-13-2003, 06:27 AM	#4
Ralph Greene Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Longwood Fl Posts: 3,724	I'm using 18X9 FR 500 wheels on this car. Since I don't have a traction problem, I didn't have to worry about wide in rear, and I didn't want wide in front. Didn't want them to stick out too much. And I also know from experience the wide look comes from the wheel as much as the tire. I also wanted to be able to rotate on this car, and wouldn't mind if they were a tad taller than stock to take out some of the 4X4 look. But not too much taller. From various tire company web sites, I discovered 255 was the best size for handling for 18X9 wheel, was in the middle of recommended sizes, and was available from a few tire companies in 255X40X18, which is 26.1" in diameter. Thus helping with 4X4 look, and not messing up speedo. (although i do have a SpeedCal to correct speedo, if necessary, if I do gear and tire size change). So I bought some Michelin 255X40X18. The wider wheels make them look considerably wider than the stock 245's. Also I don't feel i have to lower the car now, because the wider wheels sit different (out), and a little taller, than the stock ones. The only problem, and something for you guys to look out for is, these FR 500 have a wide lip on outside of wheel to attach alignment equipment and weights to (I used stick on's), and this lip makes wheel appear wider than it really is, and makes tire look a little narrow, when in fact it is perfect fit. On a previous car I used BBS RK wheels in 18X8.5 and 18X10 with 245X40X18 and 285X35X18 tires, so have been down this road before. However, the BBS wheel didn't have a lip (had to borrow friends wheels to get alignment). But they were a perfect size for our car, didn't stick out in front, was flush in rear, etc. But couldn't rotate. FWIW __________________ Ralph Greene SOLD 03 Mach 1 (Torch Red) 5 Speed Manual Real Ford FR 500 18X9 Wheels 255X40X18 Michelin Tires Steeda Sport Springs (isolators in) Tokico HP Struts/Shocks Steeda 4 bolt CC Plates Poly Offset Steering Rack Bushings Steeda TriAx Shifter Magnaflow X/Cats Bassani Catback with Removable Baffles

06-14-2003, 01:54 AM	#5
Rockends Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chatsworth, CA Posts: 65	Thanks for the help. Ended up going with some Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position 255x40x18 in the front and 275x40x18 in the back. I'll try to post some pics when I get them on, hopefully sometime next week. __________________ 2003 Mach 1 Torch Red w/IUP VIN: #390119 Pic #1 Pic #2 Pic #3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Black Bumper Inserts Visus Rear Window Louvers Window Tint (the illegal kind) Machined 18x9 Mach 1 Rims 255-275/45/18 Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Positions Flaming Front Grill Pony Flaming Fuzzy Red Dice

06-14-2003, 03:02 AM	#6
Kevin Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Home Posts: 69	Potenzas huh? I got a set of 275/35 18 on the back and 265/35 18 on the front. There Kumho MX's and are about half the price of other tires like Bridgestones, but just as good or better performance. If you haven't gotten the Potenzas yet I would cancel that order and get some Kumhos. __________________ My name is John "Kevin" Rutledge

06-14-2003, 03:23 AM	#7
bkeen MACH ON Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 518	Ralph Greene Hey Ralph, how about some pics of your wheel setup? :THUMBSUP: __________________ 1. 1968 GT Fastback 2. 2001 GT Coupe 3. 2003 Mach1 Red 5sp. w/IUP VIN#340685 Build Date 11/7/02

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