s197 wheels on a sn95 chassis

[thewrongguy]

Hi.

I've searched i swear, most of it said the same thing, but the one or two that had a conflicting opinion scared me a bit.

Ok Looking to stick s197 17" bullit wheels on my sn95 2002 mustang. As i understand it the bolt pattern is the same but the offset is different so i'd need some wheel spacers. eBay just has ridiculous deals on factory take-offs and i like bullits and need a new set of tires anyways.

This is where it gets strange, i hear you need 2 pairs of wheel spacers, some say 1 pair only of the rear. Some say 1/4" spacers, some say 1/2".

Can anyone kind of give me a gospel on what i'd need?

 

[97speedster]

Why not just buy the right wheels for the year you have. I don't think the look is that much different. Anyone else care to chime in on the differences in the 2?

 

[Gearbanger 101]

According to the sources I've found, you need a 13mm (roughly 1/2") spacer for the '05-up factory 17x8 wheels to off set the same as the early 17x8 wheels on the SN95 chassis.

 

[Smokeurhonda]

Not sure about the backspacing you need. But I do know that you can get a brandspankin new set of bullits made for you car in any color for $400 bucks. Ebay also has a ****load of 02 GT bullit takeoffs for sale. Just keep looking

 

[thewrongguy]

Not sure about the backspacing you need. But I do know that you can get a brandspankin new set of bullits made for you car in any color for $400 bucks. Ebay also has a ****load of 02 GT bullit takeoffs for sale. Just keep looking

I've seen those as well, but the takeoffs for the '05+ come with new tires as well so i'm potentially saving around 60-90 bucks a corner.


So sn95 take offs
So 400 wheels + 300 tires (4X75$)

vs

450 Wheels and Tires + 45 bucks spacers

(Ill say s&h is the same between the two so thats a wash)

700 vs 500 isn't a huge savings but i'm a relatively young guy 200 bucks is money i can spend on the car elsewhere like gears.

maybe my math is wrong, ill be the first to admit it isnt the strongest. i just think the 05+ are a better value since they come with tires as well.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

94-04 17X8 FACTORY wheels have a 30mm offset

05+ 17X8 FACTORY wheels have a 30mm offset. I have been told different, but I took 05 Bullit wheels that came in on a 06 Mustang I bought, and I put them on an 01 Mustang with the 01 style Bullit wheels and they sat the SAME way on the axle. They did not go further in. They were for sure 05+ wheels because they have a slightly different look than the older ones.

05+ 17X9 wheels you see on sites like American Muscle etc...carry a 44mm offset. This means the wheels will sit inward 14mm. That is rougly 1/2".

With standard Mustang lugs, do not put 1/2" spacers on. There is not enough thread left to SAFELY drive around. 1/4" is the max you should go per wheel. If you want to go 1/2" but extended lugs.

 

[mustang50v8]

ya but the 05 "bullit" wheels are not quite the same design and i dont think they look nearly as good.

plus the stock 02 gt wheel comes with a 245/45/17 tire where the 05 17" wheels are only 235/55/17. so you get less tire width and a taller tire, throws off your speedo, and affects handling a little bit.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

ya but the 05 "bullit" wheels are not quite the same design and i dont think they look nearly as good.

QUOTE]

I agree, they do not look nearly as good.

 

[thewrongguy]

94-04 17X8 FACTORY wheels have a 30mm offset

05+ 17X8 FACTORY wheels have a 30mm offset. I have been told different, but I took 05 Bullit wheels that came in on a 06 Mustang I bought, and I put them on an 01 Mustang with the 01 style Bullit wheels and they sat the SAME way on the axle. They did not go further in. They were for sure 05+ wheels because they have a slightly different look than the older ones.

05+ 17X9 wheels you see on sites like American Muscle etc...carry a 44mm offset. This means the wheels will sit inward 14mm. That is rougly 1/2".

With standard Mustang lugs, do not put 1/2" spacers on. There is not enough thread left to SAFELY drive around. 1/4" is the max you should go per wheel. If you want to go 1/2" but extended lugs.

thanks thats the information i was really looking for. I agree they don't look quite as good either, possibly saving a couple bucks was overwhelming my common sense. Thanks again.

 

[mransr]

don't forget the 05+ use a taller tire than the 99-04...they have 235/55-17s that are about 1 1/2" taller than the ones that fit your car

so not only would they probably look odd, they'll mess up your speedo and may hit stuff too

 

[Gearbanger 101]

94-04 17X8 FACTORY wheels have a 30mm offset

05+ 17X8 FACTORY wheels have a 30mm offset. I have been told different, but I took 05 Bullit wheels that came in on a 06 Mustang I bought, and I put them on an 01 Mustang with the 01 style Bullit wheels and they sat the SAME way on the axle. They did not go further in. They were for sure 05+ wheels because they have a slightly different look than the older ones.

05+ 17X9 wheels you see on sites like American Muscle etc...carry a 44mm offset. This means the wheels will sit inward 14mm. That is rougly 1/2".

With standard Mustang lugs, do not put 1/2" spacers on. There is not enough thread left to SAFELY drive around. 1/4" is the max you should go per wheel. If you want to go 1/2" but extended lugs.

Great info, but I'm afraid it's wrong. The factory '05+ 17x8 wheels have a 45mm offset (6.295" backspace). You were right however about the SN95 17x8 wheels having a 30mm offset (5.72" backspace), which is why they aren't a direct swap. As I stated before, you need the spacers in order for them to sit properly on an SN95......1/2" as I stated above. You'll also need longer wheels studs, but that should come as no surprise the first time you try to bolt them on.

You don't need to take my word for it, take a look at the specs for the wheel widths for the particular wheels in question in the FRPP cataloge.....pages 56 and 57 will tell the tale.

http://www.fordracingparts.com/download/catalogs/2008-pp.pdf

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Great info, but I'm afraid it's wrong. The factory '05+ 17x8 wheels have a 45mm offset (6.295" backspace).
http://www.fordracingparts.com/download/catalogs/2008-pp.pdf

I just checked your site and I see that's what it says, but when I put them on the 01 GT, they sat the same, so that's why I have a hard time believing that.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Is it possible that they were earlier SN wheels you had? There's one way to know for certain.....pull out the old ruler and flat edge and measure the backspace.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

They were definately new 05 wheels. I sold them a few days later to a guy with an 01 Ranger. I wish I still had them here. It is possible I over looked the 14mm. I think I might order 17X9 05+ wheels to go on my 81, because with the 01 axle each wheel is 1-1/2" further out than it should be. I need every mm I can can so it will sit inward. Either that or Pony R 17X9 with the 44 or 46mm offest.

 

[Bad92GT]

i had 18" polished prems from a 06 gt on my 98.. 1" spacer out back.. 5/16" up front

they fit.. only rubbed on the front, but its about the same rub i get with 275's on 95 cobra R's