Anyone like small wheels?

stv_huff

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I love the s197 but I don’t like how people build them. Big wheels, body kits, plastic lips, LED lights, big muffler tips...

It’s not my style.

I am wondering if anyone knows of builds that use 16” or 17” wheels and classic muscle styling or something more unique.
 

Juice

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For daily dury, the stock gt 17s with stock size Zoen RS3A tires work well.
My current track tires are 285/35/19s on boss 302s rear wheels (squade setup).
For me, 17 minimum, 19 max on wheels.
 

Sky Render

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I run 18s because I need the 4-pot Brembos and anything smaller than that looks like shit on the S197, unless you're running 15s in the back with slicks.
 

tjm73

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I used to prefer the look of the larger wheel/rubber band tire kinda deal. But I am more on board with 18" wheels on Mustang these days. I don't drive on perfect roads and I don't drive show cars. I live in the real world and need my car to survive the real world. 18 or 19 inch wheels are plenty big enough IMO.
 

Norm Peterson

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I love the s197 but I don’t like how people build them. Big wheels, body kits, plastic lips, LED lights, big muffler tips...

It’s not my style.

I am wondering if anyone knows of builds that use 16” or 17” wheels and classic muscle styling or something more unique.
16" and 17" wheels seriously limit your tire choices, both in terms of size availability and performance intent.

I'm not the least bit crazy about the big wheel trend either, and can't ever see myself getting into 20's. 18" is still a good place to be for tire choice, although a lot of the really good performance tires in Mustang-suitable sizes seems to have moved up to 19" (305/30-19 in particular).


A road course oriented build is still a different enough path from what most people take to fit most definitions of 'unique'. And a subtle or stealthy take on the mode themselves is good, too (the opinions of all those people who don't spot what you did really aren't worth a whole lot now, are they?).

Not sure what you mean by 'lip'. There's an aerodynamic mod for the front of a car known as a 'splitter' in real aerodynamics and race car language, and a Gurney flap/wickerbill that goes on the trailing edge of a rear spoiler.


Couple pictures of my work in progress (it does see road course time, but other than the wheels and tires that are wider than you probably think, there aren't any obvious "give-aways" that it does).

On BMR GT500 handling springs (rear shimmed, web).jpg

Sneak Preview 800x600 web.jpg

T5.jpg

Norm
 

Juice

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Reminds me of the days of past, with my 91 and factory 16" wheels. There was literally three tire option left for factory tires. Had to call the tire store back in those days. The response after you told the guy the size: Oh, you have a mustang. lol
Bought a set of 17x9 4 lug wheels at that time.
 

MrBhp

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So you're saying you wouldn't like this?

 

Riptide

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Currently I run the stock 18s with an M&H 275 drag radial. I have a set of 17" welds sitting in the garage just haven't got them back on the car yet. Been in storage so need a good polish.

Also not a big fan of the 19"+ look. It's popular though.
 

Buzz

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I am running 17x8s in front and 17x10s in the back. My biggest problem has been tire availability, as mentioned by Norm above. No one really makes a good street tire for those rears at the right height. I am running 305/45-17 Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S. It is a little bit taller than stock, but I like the fit and the performance. However, they wear out extremely fast. I didn't check how many miles were on the car when I mounted them, but I've only had them on for ~10 months (probably less than 2k miles) and they're about done... I'll probably have to get new ones for the summer.

2019-06-16.jpg
 

Woodtrucker

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I am perfectly happy with my stock wheels. I did scuff/tape and painted them satin black. I absolutely love how they turned out. I like the 17” look. It’s more retro in my opinion so if it fits the car well. I wouldn’t mind a wider rear wheel so tears don’t sit too far under fender but I’m happy just the way my mustang is.
I may go 18 some day but not in the near future.D1BA2AE1-52EB-4EE0-8067-902F7845FD1C.jpeg
 

Juice

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There needs to be a certain amount of tire sidewall for the right look IMO. But I see the the effect on handling and ride comfort as wheel size increases.
17" wheels, more sidewall has a more comfort biased ride. Vs 19" I have, more direct steering, a little harsher ride.
18" are right between the .
 

ghunt81

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Snapchat-1293915702.jpg I ran my factory 17's for several years until I decided to upgrade to Brembos...and then I went with 19's because you can get nice looking oem 19's for super cheap. I got these ones with almost new tires for $1000. Ride isn't really any worse than when I had Nittos on my 17's, honestly.
 

Norm Peterson

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There needs to be a certain amount of tire sidewall for the right look IMO.
I suspect that there's more than one "right look". No flame intended, I'm just curious. Traditional muscle, serious drag-race, road-race, and strictly for shock value could all be "right looks" depending on individual preference.

I do think that there's a practical limit to how short sidewalls should be taken, though.


Norm
 

Norm Peterson

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So I looked at some of the cars in my driveway . . . straight-on side view evaluations not considering tire width at all.

The tires on our WRX are 245/40-18, and with around 2-3/4" of sidewall visible outside the wheel flange they're admittedly right down at the 'short' end of my personal appearance preference.

The tires on our daughter's Accord are 215/55-17 and with almost 4" of visible sidewall are noticeably too tall. Too "SUV/CUV-ish".

Current tire sizes for the Mustang (285/35 and 265/40) have about 3-1/4" to 3-1/2" of visible sidewall and look about right to me. Probably a bit too short for some of you guys.


Norm
 

1 Alibi 2

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I love the s197 but I don’t like how people build them. Big wheels, body kits, plastic lips, LED lights, big muffler tips...

It’s not my style.

I am wondering if anyone knows of builds that use 16” or 17” wheels and classic muscle styling or something more unique.
.
Unless you're swapping parts, brake size decides what you run.
This set up, 17's & 15's, wouldn't fit my 14 because of the brakes, so they went with the car when I sold it..
.
 

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