New Rims and Tires

[not a gt]

Well, today got my new stuff. Had on the car 17 x 8 American Muscle Black Bullitt with 245 40/17 BF Goodrich:



Now Have 17 x 9 Black Chrome Bullitts with 275 40/17 Nitto N555 all around




Boy learned a hard lesson: Spin the tires on the lift. Left garage and made it about 500 Ft and heard a awful grinding sound. Stopped in the middle of a turn lane and had guys come with my old rims and mounted. Got back and when we looked at a BRAND new rim, there was a nice groove cut from the fins on the top of the caliper, just the passenger side. Wind up taking a grinder and grinding some of the ridges down to stop the scrape. Rim isn't really damaged, but was wondering if anyone else have this happen to them? (Rims were for my year and said front or rear and all four had the same offset) I am running 33 psi all around, but to me car wants to float, but I may have to just get used to the wider rubber up front. Any recommended air pressure? Thanks for the great help I get here, also put the shorter pinion snubber in while it was up in the air.

[perezmach1]

Dam those rims give it a real nice look. Got the same color Mach and you got me thinking about my rim choices. Nice job on your mustang. As for what happen with the caliper I have not heard of that problem. Sucks that it happen

[not a gt]

The pics really don't do it justice, it is alot less chrome looking than the pics, we put on the car and everyone just came saying how it just fit the muscle car vibe, along with my paint mods, just do it and thanks for the comments!! Can't figure out why the pics posted so freakin big?? My avatar is the old rims and tires! Oh, and I notice the center caps aren't on right, dude must have just popped on, have to fix that.

[not a gt]

Has anybody else ever had an issue with 17 x9 rims with a 24 offset (that is what the box said, all I knew was the rims said front and rear), rubbing on the raised fins on the top of the front caliper? Seemed real bad on one side more than the other? Also for DD, would really like some input on tire psi for the 555's, I have my Strange shocks set on 5, just seems like the car wants to go all over the road, is this just something I need to get used to or with the wider rubber should I get the toe checked thougfh I had no issue with the 245's? Sorry so many questions, new ground for me, please PM if you don't want to waste other members time reading this stupid post

[not a gt]

Bump above, no one has had an issue with caliper rubbing on rim on size I stated? PSI recommendation?

[006]

Nope, have not come across that issue either. Seems the manuf of the rims built them to a different spec.

Did you measure the rims to make certain they were 9" wide?

I run 17x9 OEM 03-04 Cobras and the tires are 275/40/17. I don't have any floating issues whatsoever.

You might want to talk to AM and see if you sense a common complaint on these wheels.

[not a gt]

Originally Posted by 006

Nope, have not come across that issue either. Seems the manuf of the rims built them to a different spec.

Did you measure the rims to make certain they were 9" wide?

I run 17x9 OEM 03-04 Cobras and the tires are 275/40/17. I don't have any floating issues whatsoever.

You might want to talk to AM and see if you sense a common complaint on these wheels.

Thanks for reply, they came from wheelreplicas.com, the specs said 17 x 9, +24mm offset, 5.95" backspace. AM doesn't have these in black chrome, said will fit front and rear of 94-04 Mustang, Mustang GT and Cobra. Only severe problem was on passenger side, drivers side just scraped enough we ground that caliper as well. I am so pissed since I went by product description and year, don't know a lot of rim lingo, I tried to ask about here first but hard to get a response. The floating I was talking about is the new Nitto 275, what I meant was the car seems to track the road, that is why I wondered if it was me having to get used to going from a 245 to a 275 and with 33 psi, is that a good air pressure????. So NOONE has ever had to grind on the cooling fins looking things on the top of the rotor?? I did have complete brake job done awhile ago, does our stock caliper have the fins I am talking about? Wonder if I need to order another rim, it is got a groove scraped but not real deep. Thanks 006.

[not a gt]

I sent an email to the company, they want me to take a pic, said they have a guy there with a Mach who had no problem, so see what will happen, don't expect a new rim, just be nice to see why I had to grind a perfectly good caliper!! Have a good night everyone, and when you can give me a tire pressure for the Nitto 555!!

[fordCRZY]

I have the same set up as you with nitto 555s. The cold max PSI marked on the tires is 44 PSI. I run 38 PSI with no problems.

[not a gt]

Thanks and welcome to the Mach 1 registry, what ride you have?? 38 seems high for the street, going by the door jam psi for 245, but hey, I will try it since you responded, have a good day and pics please!!

[not a gt]

Just an update, I have been sending emails back and forth with JB from wheel replicas concerning the gouge the caliper cut in my new rim and having to grind down the caliper, the offset says 24 for 17 x 9, something I noticed was on the back side of the rim it has a channnel where I think that would line up with the caliper, but it is sticking to far out past the caliper so the caliper cut into rim. I will post a pic so you all can see what I mean and maybe some guys with rim knowledge can help since I am clueless and only went by what THEY said it would fit. So, I sent pics, see what they come back with, next is to call Nitto for recommended tire pressure for N555 since I only had one response here.

[not a gt]

Well got a call today from Jeff at Wheelreplicas. They still maintain they have a guy running rims on his Mach 1 with no issues, supposedly they are getting with the manufacture to put more offset or roll or something so doesn't hit caliper. The blame game really sucked on this one:

Wheel Installer Shop: You brought us the rim, not our fault it wasn't the right one, no comment on spinning the rim on the lift, all I can say is NOT all customers are as nice as me, some people get hurt over stuff like this.

Wheel Replica's: Never had a problem, you sure your caliper's are tight? Why didn't the installer spin the wheel on the rack to see if it rubbed? Have a guy here with a Mach 1 with no issues.

So, bottom line supposedly there will be a change in the next 45 to 60 days on the rim, I don't really believe that, that is alot of calls to China to change the design. Rims were $144/piece, they are sending me 2 for $186 delivered to the front door. Hell, I can use them now , already ground the crap out of my calipers. Well, the two on the car now will have my drag radials mounted on them so when I go down the track I may not be a blur, but my wheels will match Just heads up if anybody looks at rims from this company

[not a gt]

Just wanted to share a pic of one of the brand new rims and what happens when shop mounts,and gives you the car without spinning fitment check, ******** Just got tracking number for two new ones, these will make drag radial mounts. Pic is inside black lip of rim and gouge caused by caliper. Thinking of changing lug nuts to neo chrome!!

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/...psde7b767c.jpg

[Stopsign32v]

I can't see pic in post above. Even the link wont open for me.

[not a gt]

[not a gt]

You don't see that pic above? If anyone can see the pic of the damaged rim, please respond!!

[not a gt]

http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/Ma...b767c.jpg.html

[Stopsign32v]

Looks like a bolt came loose on your caliper bracket and when you hit the brakes the caliper moved.

[not a gt]

Will have to check that when new rims come in, brakes were done over 2 years ago, why now? And after grinding down, shouldn't it keep moving?? Will verify but seems strange as soon as I go from a 17 x 8 to a 17x9 this, rim height didn't change, just width right???

[Stopsign32v]

A quick look will tell what happened. But I had better caliper clearance than that with 15" wheels.

[not a gt]

I know, sure hope those fins on top of the caliper weren't to important, they barely only half as tall now , but you have me curious , will know soon enough, thanks for your input, if a bolt was loose wouldn't there be other indications, plus it did it to the other rim, just scraped near bottom of caliper, I think this is a case of you get what you pay for... a $144 rim from China!!

[Stopsign32v]

Jack the front up and turn the wheel completely to the inside and you should be able to see what is going on.

[not a gt]

http://i.imgur.com/Jnsh5fe.jpg

Will do, one more, this is straight on and you can see the dust shield at the bottom, will update when I check it out, good night everyone!!

[not a gt]

Update: STAY AWAY FROM WHEELREPLICAS.COM. They sent my two new bullitt rims opened box and this what one of them was:




Now have to go thru return, reship hassle, what a nightmare!!