Why did Ford change bolt circle

[BAMALASER01]

I read on this forum I believe a while back that the new Mustang would not have the typical 5 x 4 1/2 bolt circle. This might be the reason the new Bullit style wheels look bad compared to those of previous years. Did Ford do this for a particular reason? Maybe to not allow other wheel sizes from previous car be able to be used on the new 05?

 

[slegos888stang]

the bolt pattern is the same the back spacing is deffernt to use old wheels on the new stang you would need to use wheel spacers but the new wheels wont fit on the older stangs becasue of the back spacing!!!

 

[jayguy]

Actually slegos888stang, it's the other way around. There's more backspacing on the new wheels, so if you wanted to use the old ones they would stick out more on the '05. If you put '05 wheels on an older 'stang you would need the spacers. It went from 20-something (25?) to 45mm, a little over 3/4 " difference.

Jay
Waiting on the 18" fanblades