As a former mechanic at a place that also sold and installed tires, when I see tires/rims like you have described, I can’t help but wonder what it must be like trying to mount or dismount those rubber bands! I guess tire machines have come a long way. The old Coates 20/20 or whatever it was could NEVER handle the likes of the donk stuff!
P.S. On the rims/tires, whatever you like is good brother! I agree with both you and Todd that red/grey is a fine combination. I guess being an old school Cragar SS guy, bling is something I am pretty comfortable with. Rims that won’t turn into a peely mess in a couple of years (like SS’s do), even better!
The last ones are very similar to mine. I wanted the grey center due to the future paint sceme plus I got these really cheap off a desperate broke guy who spent too much on his 69 Mustang.
Well, there is no turning back now. I ordered them last night. I got the grey ridlers with tires for under 1200 shipped. I saved a coyple hundred by getting a couple of the goodyear supercar (gt500) tires on clearance for 99 each for the rear. I got the Nitto 555’s for the front at 140 each. I will still have to get them mounted and balanced for another 60, but it still came out way cheaper going that route. I will just work on tearing the engine back apart while I tear the car apart for body work and primer. Will post pics when I get and have them mounted.
Thanks Bob, she is a sweetheart most of the time, and definately way out of my league. That is my favorite picture of her to date. I even printed it off in an 8x10 and had Larry sign it for her, it is now hanging on my office wall. It reads “To Helena, the prettiest girl with 800 horses between her legs, Larry Knight”. He sure took a shine to her, and I am convinced the only reason he was in the picture with her was so he could have a hand on her, lol.
Anyway, the wheels. Fronts are 18x8 with 4.5" back spacing and 245/40/18. Backs are 18x9.5 with 5.5" back spacing and 285/40/18. I was going to go with the Nittos for the back too, in a 285/35/18, but the supercars were so cheap I couldn’t pass them up. Plus the car sits about 1 1/4" higher in the front, so between the extra half inch of lift from the rear tires and the Shelby drop that I an going to put back in place since I will have taller tires, it should level out pretty good.
The 5.5" should put me right where I need it wont it Bob? If not I could always get a 1/4" spacer if needed.
9" rims (what I have) are good with 5.25" BS, so 9.5" should be equally good at 5.5", I forget which side had more clearance but I want to say the inside, so you would not want a spacer for that scenario, you would want the opposite, which ain’t happening. I think you’ll be fine.
LOL on your comments on your better half and nice that you feel that way, I think.
