American Racing Torque Thrust 2 spec's to fit S197 Mustang

[RareMustang]

Earlier this year, I had American Racing build a custom set of Torque Thrust 2 wheels (VN215) for my 2007 Shelby GT to simulate the look of the 1966 Shelby GT350 (including the open center cap).

I deliberately went with a 17" wheel (instead of 18") and subsequent matched the appropriate tire height (to maintain speedometer accuracy) to maintain the look of a period GT350 in which the tire sidewall height is taller than today's restomod look of 20" wheels and 30-35 profile tires.

It took a lot of measurements by Discount Tire to get it right, but they look really cool on the car as the wheels now have a nice lip edge, still fit under the wheel arches, and just clear the brake calipers.

If anyone is interested, here are the spec's:

+32 offset
5 3/4 backspacing

 

[AHaze]

Looks good. What's the wheel width? The offset number doesn't mean much unless we know that.

 

[Iceman62]

Sexy skids & sweet snake - looks great!

 

[RareMustang]

Looks good. What's the wheel width? The offset number doesn't mean much unless we know that.

Sorry about the oversight in not publishing the wheel width: 8.5"

So the wheels are 17 x 8.5 (114.3 lug spacing)

 

[RareMustang]

The cost per wheel was $599 (much higher than the off-the-shelf VN215) -- but they are noticeably higher quality (I think made in the USA), when compared to the regular (offshore cast) Torque Thrust 2 wheel.

 

[MasterofDisaster]

Beautiful! One of the things I like best about my 08 is the wheels.

 

[Mustang Terlingua]

Gorgeous Wheels, love the stance ! My '67 Terlingua Racing Team Mustang with 15x7 & 15x8 TTD wheels

 

[Aerofinz]

Earlier this year, I had American Racing build a custom set of Torque Thrust 2 wheels (VN215) for my 2007 Shelby GT to simulate the look of the 1966 Shelby GT350 (including the open center cap).

I deliberately went with a 17" wheel (instead of 18") and subsequent matched the appropriate tire height (to maintain speedometer accuracy) to maintain the look of a period GT350 in which the tire sidewall height is taller than today's restomod look of 20" wheels and 30-35 profile tires.

It took a lot of measurements by Discount Tire to get it right, but they look really cool on the car as the wheels now have a nice lip edge, still fit under the wheel arches, and just clear the brake calipers.

If anyone is interested, here are the spec's:

+32 offset
5 3/4 backspacing

View attachment 84668

View attachment 84669

View attachment 84670

It's rare to see a 17" wheel look "right". You nailed it.

 

[Danny Paladino]

What size are the tires?

 

[RareMustang]

We originally put 255/45/17's (square) on the car but the speedometer/odometer calculation with off slightly due to the overall diameter being off by something like 5-6%. So I had to retreat to a 235/55/17 Continental Extreme Contract DWS06 to preserve the correct overall diameter.

While the DWS06 is not quite as grippy as the other Continental Extreme Contact models (or Michelin Pilot Sport 4 A/S) -- it did come at a nice price ($205/tire) and I've come to appreciate the tire as a good all around wet/dry option on the street. Whereas I only buy high-end tires for my Porsches, etc. -- this tire has worked out well with no real compromises.

 

[Jim O]

That looks fantastic. A look that I have always thought would be great on these cars.

 

[bullitt1011]

I put the oem 2003 Bullitt 17x8 rim on my 08 Bullitt and the offset is perfect with 255 50 17 nitto 555G2's

JJZ 109 1

• bullitt1011
• May 12, 2014

Size is correct for speedo as well. only tire choice are 255/50/17 Nitto invo or 555G2's

 

[Danny Paladino]

I put the oem 2003 Bullitt 17x8 rim on my 08 Bullitt and the offset is perfect with 255 50 17 nitto 555G2's

JJZ 109 1

• bullitt1011
• May 12, 2014

Size is correct for speedo as well. only tire choice are 255/50/17 Nitto invo or 555G2's

That looks really, really good - should have come that way from the factory

 

[bullitt1011]

I agree. I built the 08 to look as close to the 68 bullitt as possible. Rims Louvers cams and longtubes for lopey 60's idle. The car will never leave me.

 

[Danny Paladino]

I agree. I built the 08 to look as close to the 68 bullitt as possible. Rims Louvers cams and longtubes for lopey 60's idle. The car will never leave me.

You even have the same plate number! Sorry for the Hi-Jack OP

 

[MrBhp]

Very nice.

 

[Mark Zilio]

Man I love TTs. Have them on my 66. Those look amazing on a S197. I think Tim Allen had a similar set up on his Bullitt years ago.

 

[bullitt1011]

You even have the same plate number! Sorry for the Hi-Jack OP

Yup. That took 13 months to get but well worth it

 

[bullitt1011]

Tim had the real Torque thrust 17" on his I loved them but $612 Canadian vs 2003 Bullitt's OEM $159 and sand paper was a no brainer

 

[5am5tang]

I put the oem 2003 Bullitt 17x8 rims

Sorry about the necro post, I just wanted to be clear.
Do you mean the OEM rims that came with the 2001 Bullitt (New Edge) will fit as s197 wheels?

I just saw a set of these for 600 bucks, but I let them go because I didn't think they would fit.