Finally new tires

[Smokievol]

I'd just square it up with a nice 285/35/19 tire all around

So no rubbing issues on a 2008 with 285/19 ?? The 285 does look like a perfect fit with the original good years, I understand Nittos run a bit more narrow.

 

[Norm Peterson]

They were Pirelli Ferrari Challenge used slicks with 3/4 or better tread when I got them. ($125 ea) DH compound IIRC
Let me try to explain without a picture. Basicall looking at the tires the kinda went egg shaped. Not like a belt shifted or broke. They still rode vibration free.
So these have 5 wear dots across the tire. Started with 4 and a half dots evenly across the tires.
Outside I had 2 dots left, next moving in, 3 and a half dot, further in, bearly 2 dots. And finally, inside edge had 4 dots left. Make sense? If not, I can get a pic.

Sounds like second-rib wear, which involves where the steel belt edges are and on your inflation pressures and dedication to tire rotation. It's mainly associated with radial tires, but I think I remember some of the early bias-belted tires also being subject.


Norm

 

[Juice]

So no rubbing issues on a 2008 with 285/19 ?? The 285 does look like a perfect fit with the original good years, I understand Nittos run a bit more narrow.

Dont know for sure yet, but I believe it will not rub. 275 19s had plenty of clearance. I may need a small 5mm spacer in the front, but no more than that.
The wheels are Boss 302S rears on all four corners. 19x10.
I am waiting for a nice warm day to mount them and check fitment. We are still getting colder than seasonal weather.

 

[Aerofinz]

 

[Smokievol]

OK Aero, those look like the Goodyears, is that a 285 Square Set Up,
And how much is your stang lowered?

I have the Steeda Sport Springs with Koni Yellows..

Love the paint job:>

 

[MrAwesome987]

I have a 295 on my 10 in wheels and they look pretty good. This is the best picture I have right now. 295's square.

Here's a better picture of a 295 on an 18x10 wheel, for reference.

 

[Aerofinz]

OK Aero, those look like the Goodyears, is that a 285 Square Set Up,
And how much is your stang lowered?

I have the Steeda Sport Springs with Koni Yellows..

Love the paint job:>

Correct. They are new take-offs (stored 10 years) OEM 2010 GT500 wheels/tires, just as they came mounted from the factory. I had multiple sets and am running the rears (285's) from 2 sets to go with the square fitment. I am not sure of the total drop, but it's pretty significant, especially with the lower body kit. It rides on adjustable Eibach Pro-Street coilovers.

It's a bit lower in the front and quite a bit lower in the rear compared to Steeda Ultralites on another S197 I own. According to Steeda.com, your Sport Springs do not lower as much as the Ultra-Lites, meaning, you should have even more clearance than I do.

And thanks!

For comparison, the dark car is on Steeda Ultra-Lites, which are lower than your Steeda Sports (per Steeda.com). You can see how much lower the silver car with the square GT500 square set-up is, and I've yet to have any issues. YMMV.

 

[06 T-RED S/C GT]

Are those the "OEM" 18x9.5" wheels for the "10" GT500 vert or 19x9.5" wheels for the "10" GT500 coupe? If they're the 19x9.5" coupe wheels, I'm assuming the original Goodyear's are 285/35/19's ?

 

[Aerofinz]

Are those the "OEM" 18x9.5" wheels for the "10" GT500 vert or 19x9.5" wheels for the "10" GT500 coupe? If they're the 19x9.5 coupe wheels, I'm assuming the original Goodyear's are 285/35/19's ?

Coupe = 19". Good clarification!

 

[06 T-RED S/C GT]

Thanks for clarifying Aero, I'm currently running the 2007-09 GT500 wheels in 18x9.5" with the stock Goodyear's in 255/45/18 (front) and 285/40/18 (rear) Anyhow I'm considering between 285/40/18 or 275/40/18 as a square setup for my next tire set, but not quite sure as to which will clear the front suspension without requiring spacers. My front suspension is also lowered approx 1.2"-1.3" and rear suspension approx 1.5" with the Eibach Pro Springs along with Koni Yellow adj struts/shocks.

 

[Juice]

I have a set of 275/40 18s on 18x9 fr500 replica wheels, and those were listed for 94-04 mustangs when I got them. I think there was a C-hair difference in offset for 05up fittment.
Anyway, absolutely no clearance issues with those.
Just for.reference. Car is lower than stock, but I would not call it lowered. And an adjustable panhard bar is a must with this combo. Even the smallest amount of axle off center will be plenty obvious.

 

[06 T-RED S/C GT]

The offset for the 2007-09 GT500 wheels in 18x9.5" are 45mm. Not quite sure what the offset is for the 18x9 FR500 replica wheels listed for 94-04 mustangs, but as you mentioned, there more than likely just a C-hair difference between offsets lol. First thing I did after the Eibach Pro Springs was adding the BMR adjustable panhard bar to re-center the rear axle which as you also mentioned is most definitely a must. Anyway, the only reason I'm considering 285/40/18's over 275/40/18's is the 285/40's are exactly 27" in diameter, the same as stock, where as the 275/40/18's have a slightly shorter sidewall of 26.7" diameter. However, if the 285/40/18's would require spacers in order to clear the front suspension? then I'm hoping the 275/40/18's would clear the front suspension without having to add spacers, as I'm not a huge fan when it comes to wheel spacers, to begin with anyhow

 

[Aerofinz]

Thanks for clarifying Aero, I'm currently running the 2007-09 GT500 wheels in 18x9.5" with the stock Goodyear's in 255/45/18 (front) and 285/40/18 (rear) Anyhow I'm considering between 285/40/18 or 275/40/18 as a square setup for my next tire set, but not quite sure as to which will clear the front suspension without requiring spacers. My front suspension is also lowered approx 1.2"-1.3" and rear suspension approx 1.5" with the Eibach Pro Springs along with Koni Yellow adj struts/shocks.

I've gotten the bug to run square. I'm also running a 20" square setup (275/35 - not GT500 wheels) on another Mustang. The GT500 wheels are a good choice being the same width F&R, even though the OEM tires were staggered from the factory.

 

[Juice]

The offset for the 2007-09 GT500 wheels in 18x9.5" are 45mm. Not quite sure what the offset is for the 18x9 FR500 replica wheels listed for 94-04 mustangs, but as you mentioned, there more than likely just a C-hair difference between offsets lol. First thing I did after the Eibach Pro Springs was adding the BMR adjustable panhard bar to re-center the rear axle which as you also mentioned is most definitely a must. Anyway, the only reason I'm considering 285/40/18's over 275/40/18's is the 285/40's are exactly 27" in diameter, the same as stock, where as the 275/40/18's have a slightly shorter sidewall of 26.7" diameter. However, if the 285/40/18's would require spacers in order to clear the front suspension? then I'm hoping the 275/40/18's would clear the front suspension without having to add spacers, as I'm not a huge fan when it comes to wheel spacers, to begin with anyhow

Could you find one used tire just to mount on one wheel and check fitment? Like free from a .tire shop in the recycle pile?
There are some drastic ACTUAL tire size differences between tire brands w/same #s for size.
Im finding pure slicks tend to be smaller than a street tire of the same size. And the 285 R888Rs i have appear huge next to the 275s I have. 10mm, less than a half inch numerical difference, These look an inch wider!

 

[06 T-RED S/C GT]

I've gotten the bug to run square. I'm also running a 20" square setup (275/35 - not GT500 wheels) on another Mustang. The GT500 wheels are a good choice being the same width F&R, even though the OEM tires were staggered from the factory.

I also prefer to run square as I like having the option to rotate tires. Prior to making the switch to the current GT500 wheel setup, my previous setup was Steeda Spyder 20x9.5" wheels mounted on Nitto G2's tires in 275/35/20" on all 4 corners. I still have them in fact sitting in storage lol. My main reason for making the switch, is the 18's provide an overall smoother ride quality over the 20's which have a taller sidewall for absorbing road imperfections better. I definitely agree with the GT500 wheels being a good choice as they have the same width both front and rear despite the OEM tires being staggered from the factory. Personally IMHO they should've came with 275/40/18" tires square on the 2007-09 GT500 which is the ideal size for a 9.5" wheel. For the 2010 GT500 coupe, either 285/35/19 or 275/35/19 would've been the ideal choice from the factory as a square setup IMO.

Could you find one used tire just to mount on one wheel and check fitment? Like free from a .tire shop in the recycle pile?
There are some drastic ACTUAL tire size differences between tire brands w/same #s for size.
Im finding pure slicks tend to be smaller than a street tire of the same size. And the 285 R888Rs i have appear huge next to the 275s I have. 10mm, less than a half inch numerical difference, These look an inch wider!

Actually I could try just taking off one of the rear wheels and moving it up front to check fitment, as the rear wheels have 285/40/18" tires and the fronts have 255/45/18" tires mounted staggered on the same 9.5" diameter wheels. Damn! why didn't I think about this much sooner

 

[Juice]

I also prefer to run square as I like having the option to rotate tires. Prior to making the switch to the current GT500 wheel setup, my previous setup was Steeda Spyder 20x9.5" wheels mounted on Nitto G2's tires in 275/35/20" on all 4 corners. I still have them in fact sitting in storage lol. My main reason for making the switch, is the 18's provide an overall smoother ride quality over the 20's which have a taller sidewall for absorbing road imperfections better. I definitely agree with the GT500 wheels being a good choice as they have the same width both front and rear despite the OEM tires being staggered from the factory. Personally IMHO they should've came with 275/40/18" tires square on the 2007-09 GT500 which is the ideal size for a 9.5" wheel. For the 2010 GT500 coupe, either 285/35/19 or 275/35/19 would've been the ideal choice from the factory as a square setup IMO.



Actually I could try just taking off one of the rear wheels and moving it up front to check fitment, as the rear wheels have 285/40/18" tires and the fronts have 255/45/18" tires mounted staggered on the same 9.5" diameter wheels. Damn! why didn't I think about this much sooner

DOH
Probably fit no problem.

 

[Aerofinz]

... My main reason for making the switch, is the 18's provide an overall smoother ride quality over the 20's which have a taller sidewall for absorbing road imperfections better...

I ran 20's for 7 years, finally caved and went to the 19" setup for the same reason. Life is so much better!

Damn! why didn't I think about this much sooner

LOL Been there done that all too often.

 

[Gabe]

Lol.
I've been running 2010 GT500 convertible 18x9.5 wheels on-and-off for about 6 years now.
They're currently wearing Continental DW tires on the front, size 285/40/18. Running a small ~5mm spacer just to get it away from the strut a bit, but there was no rubbing before the spacer got installed.

 

[Norm Peterson]

I definitely agree with the GT500 wheels being a good choice as they have the same width both front and rear despite the OEM tires being staggered from the factory. Personally IMHO they should've came with 275/40/18" tires square on the 2007-09 GT500 which is the ideal size for a 9.5" wheel.

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that Ford had intended the early-year S197 GT500 to run a 'square' tire setup, but couldn't get that arrangement to meet some internal standard or other. I don't think any mention of tire size or wheel dimensions was made, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it might have been 255/45-18's all around, likely on 9" wide wheels.

Adding half an inch to the wheel width would have still permitted the use of 255/45's up front, and opened up the possibility of running 285/40's out back (essentially the same diameter).

A lot of speculation there, but keep in mind Ford's very conservative philosophy in choosing tire sizes at the time ("regular" GT's didn't get anything beyond 235-wide tires in 17" initially, according to a MVMS document).


Norm

 

[06 T-RED S/C GT]

DOH
Probably fit no problem.

After test fitting one of the rear tires up front, the good news, it does fit. The bad news, the tire does make contact at the front strut assembly when at full lock turn. Therefore I would not recommend running 285/40/18" tires up front without first adding spacers.

LOL Been there done that all too often.

Same here and I'm sure it's happened to us all at some point in time lol.

Lol.
I've been running 2010 GT500 convertible 18x9.5 wheels on-and-off for about 6 years now.
They're currently wearing Continental DW tires on the front, size 285/40/18. Running a small ~5mm spacer just to get it away from the strut a bit, but there was no rubbing before the spacer got installed.

Gabe, did you ever check to find out if they cleared the front strut when at full lock turn without the 5mm spacers? Also when you added the spacers, did you need to get longer wheel studs? My understanding is wheel spacers 5mm and above require longer wheel studs

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that Ford had intended the early-year S197 GT500 to run a 'square' tire setup, but couldn't get that arrangement to meet some internal standard or other. I don't think any mention of tire size or wheel dimensions was made, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it might have been 255/45-18's all around, likely on 9" wide wheels.

Adding half an inch to the wheel width would have still permitted the use of 255/45's up front, and opened up the possibility of running 285/40's out back (essentially the same diameter).

A lot of speculation there, but keep in mind Ford's very conservative philosophy in choosing tire sizes at the time ("regular" GT's didn't get anything beyond 235-wide tires in 17" initially, according to a MVMS document).


Norm

Also keep in mind that a wider diameter tire is recommended out back when running a FI application. This more than likely could've also been another contributing factor behind Ford/SVT deciding against a square tire setup with the possibility of 255/45/18's all around, likely on 9" wheels. They could've also considered the possibility of 275/40/18's all around on the existing 9.5" SVT wheels which would be right at the measured rim width according to manufacturer specs along with providing enough width out back to keep the rear tires planted when running a FI application