Tires & Wheels Woes!

horseballz

10 Year Member
Sep 30, 2009
824
20
49
Las Vegas, NV
Hi Folks,
Well, upon getting my pony rolling a few years back, I went out and installed a set of 15" x 8" Cragar SS wheels and a set of BFG 235/60/15 Radial TA's and have loved the look!


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Ever since starting to drive the car, I've had vibration issues and been trying to track them down to engine, drivetrain, rear axles, etc, etc! I've even been back to the tire store several times to have all "RE" road force balanced and still no pleasure! Here's a clue: The wheels are "Multi-Fit/Vari-Fit" that are completely lug-centric in a very p!$$ poor way!

Well, a friend who works at Scott Drake and buys/sells 3 or 4 classic Mustangs per month just bought a set of tires/wheels for photo shoots for cars for sale and suggested I give them a try. Even though the tires are absolutely squirmy pieces of crap, the car now drives as smooth as could be all the way up to 120 mph!
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I guess on the plus side, tracking down any and all other vibration causing issues has paid off, in the long run!
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My quandary is that I changed both the tires and the rims, so it's difficult to determine if it was just one or the other. I've got low miles on the combination along with a full warranty on the tires and I plan to beat the dealer up as hard as I can get away with to make this right. Obviously, the Cragar "Multi-Fit" setup is part of the problem, but I'm wondering if the radial TA's are known to have balance/out of round issues as well? Any and all tips, comments, etc. would be appreciated.
Thank You,
Gene
 
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I had similar issues with multi fit or often called uni lug Cragar wheels in the 1980's on a 65 mustang and haven't used them since, its a pretty cheezy system to mount a wheel. While I suppose anything's possible with tires these days but I never had a vibration issue with BFG's and would tend to lean toward the wheels just due to the mounting method. Vibration issues aside, it sure looks like you don't have nearly enough backspacing on those front wheels, from the pictures it looks like the tires would rub the fenders like crazy up front and possibly in the rear too.
 
Thanks 4 The Reply,
Yeah, I mis-wrote, the pics show the 235/60/15's but I did need to downsize one size to 225/60/15, as they did rub a little. The 225's have been on there for a while with no rubbing (except a good dip turning into a driveway or...) after a wheel lip rolling. Good thing is that the occasional rub is against a smoothly rolled edge, so no damage to tire or fender. Yep, that mounting system is lame! I'm pretty ticked off at the dealer for giving me those (and at myself for not knowing any better at the time) when the direct drilled were available at the same price!
Thanks Again,
Gene
 
The only problem i had with BFGs is that they would crack between the thread way before the tires would wear out .I have been told the rubber compound has been changed though .I have a set on my 35 Ford pick up that has been there since 2000 and no problems . Never had a vibration problem and it is my tire of choice ...even though i have never worn a set down . I would have to say it is probably the uni lug rims .

Is that your new hood ornament :nice:
 
Is that your new hood ornament :nice:

No, instead the new knob for my shifter!:p Yeah right, I wish!:rolleyes: You can bet that would require a much higher level of maintenance than a whole fleet of Classic Hot Rods!:eek:

Yer right though, likely all in the wheels. If they were truly the old style Ansen/ET style "UniLugs" like these:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/ET-slotted-a...834ef0&vxp=mtr

they'd probably be okay, but these aren't even close! Instead, they are like these:

Cragar s s 15'' Wheel Rim Center Cap Set of 1 | eBay

the washer just sits between those little nubs and the shank of the nut does the supposed locating!
Thanx 4 The Reply,
Gene
 
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