Can we go to 17" rims and 45/50-series tires?

[studio460]

I really hope someone can help with this one . . .

I would really like to install shorter-series tires on my Marauder to lower its center of gravity a bit. I've got the swaybar, and now I plan on getting the Eibach front springs too. To complete the "stance" I'm looking for, I would really like to go with, say, 45-series tires in front, and 50-series tires in the rear (to maintain the "rake") and put them on 17" black rims (if I can find any that fit and still clear our brake work)! Our stock tires are 50/55, right? So 45/50 makes sense, yes? Going to shorter-series tires (as long as they're smaller in the front than in the rear) shouldn't ruin the car's handling geometry should it?

Any ideas, suggestions? Thanks.

[mm122]

I couldn't tell you about the clearance, but if you want to play around with wheel and tire combos, check out 1010tires.com. They have a tire size calculator. You can put in our tire size and compare it with others. It will show you the difference at 60 m.p.h.

[MMM2003]

Shooter try these thread. I posted a link to a tire size calculator. You can punch in our current size, get the overall diameter for front and rear and play with 17" in different width to get the same ratio and close to the same diameter.

Good luck

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3438&highlight=tire+calculator

In addition, I looked at these for the snow tire package. I know it's not what you are looking for, but there are possibilities:

"As for 17" tires, Michelin does offer a 215/60r17 Arctic Alpin for the front and 235/65r17 Pilot Alpin"

You might want to call Mitch at Discount Tire Direct. I have been working with him on tires and wheels for the winter. They are going to list 5 sets of 17" rims for the Marauder. He might be able to help.

Mitch S.
Product Specialist
Discount Tire Direct
1-800-589-6789 ext 352

[Crown Vic]

Maybe try a set of 2003 Crown Vic LX Sport rims and have them powder coated black. Only downside is they are 17x7.

[Tinaree]

17" Mustang rims fit. Don't know about ground clearance. 16" mustang rims will fit the back, and I know of a 15" rim from AR that will fit on it too (with offset backspacing, use them for slicks, not driving).

[SergntMac]

17" Mustang rims fit. Don't know about ground clearance. 16" mustang rims will fit the back, and I know of a 15" rim from AR that will fit on it too (with offset backspacing, use them for slicks, not driving). Would that be the '03 Mustang, or, the '05?

[Tinaree]

Sn95 94-04.

[SergntMac]

Sn95 94-04. Thanks. I'm asking because you resurrected a thread from 2003, and I've been looking through the Mustang collection to find a suitable 17X9 wheel for a set of MT drag radials in 275/40/17. Since these are the best drag radials on the market, I would like to try them, but I can't find the correct size for a Marauder.

Marauders need an offset between 35mm and 50mm, and all the wheels I have looked at to date are 24-30mm offsets. Any suggestions? BTW, the '05 Mustang wheels are not backward compatabile with older Mustangs due to their 41mm offset, but they will fit the MM. Any specific ideas?

[Zack]

I really hope someone can help with this one . . .

I would really like to install shorter-series tires on my Marauder to lower its center of gravity a bit. I've got the swaybar, and now I plan on getting the Eibach front springs too. Any ideas, suggestions? Thanks.

Eibachs suck, dont do it man.

[Tinaree]

Thanks. I'm asking because you resurrected a thread from 2003, and I've been looking through the Mustang collection to find a suitable 17X9 wheel for a set of MT drag radials in 275/40/17. Since these are the best drag radials on the market, I would like to try them, but I can't find the correct size for a Marauder.

Marauders need an offset between 35mm and 50mm, and all the wheels I have looked at to date are 24-30mm offsets. Any suggestions? BTW, the '05 Mustang wheels are not backward compatabile with older Mustangs due to their 41mm offset, but they will fit the MM. Any specific ideas?
I was actually looking at tire threads when I came across this and thought I would toss out some info.

On a track tire, aside from looking ghetto, too short a backspace doesn't hurt. Mustang is 6", marauder looks like 6.5". So any wheel that fits comfortably over cobra rear brakes should be fine for that. That would include the 16" "puffy" GT wheels from 96-98, and similar sizes. But 28x10x15s would probably be a better track setup, assuming chassis integrity; there is always the breakage issue.

[SergntMac]

On a track tire, aside from looking ghetto, too short a backspace doesn't hurt. Mustang is 6", marauder looks like 6.5". So any wheel that fits comfortably over cobra rear brakes should be fine for that. That would include the 16" "puffy" GT wheels from 96-98, and similar sizes. But 28x10x15s would probably be a better track setup, assuming chassis integrity; there is always the breakage issue. Ummm...I take it you're not a Marauder owner. That's fine, but it's getting obvious. You seem to know a lot of stuff, but I wish you had more 411 in your profile.

I have already tried the MT/ET Streets in 28x11.50x16, and there's no way I'm trying that again. The car gets strange at the 1/8th mile, and I'm not looking forward to investing in bias ply skinnys for the front end. Drag radial is the only way I will go, and while I favor the MT design and compound, the BFG in 295/35/18 on a set of 9.5 wide MM wheels I already own, will have to do for now. Thanks for your opinion.

[Petrograde]

where the hell has NBC Shooter been?

I haven't seen him post in a long time.

[Tinaree]

I've been kicking around some numbers and I may even play with this some this evening. These numbers don't reflect elastic displacement but it should still be apples to pineapples at least.

MM wheels = 18", or 458mm
MM stock sidewalls = 135 ea (270 total)
MM stock diam (on paper) = 728mm

17" Cobra wheels with 265/40 tires would probably match the contact area pretty good, and would be 652mm diam.

The difference (728/652) would change the effective final drive ratio by 1.12, so with the stock 3.55s you would be fairly close to a stock marauder with 3.98:1 rear gears.

Just a cursory browse shows Discount tire with Falken GR Beta FK-451s in 265/40ZR-17 for $120, and these are decent tires. Stock 17x8 mustang wheels are plentiful, should be able to score a pair for $100 or so. And the whole combo should shed some rear rotating weight. A few pounds at least. Cobra donut spares on the front and thats another 50lbs off the nose.

[Tinaree]

Ummm...I take it you're not a Marauder owner. That's fine, but it's getting obvious. You seem to know a lot of stuff, but I wish you had more 411 in your profile.

I have already tried the MT/ET Streets in 28x11.50x16, and there's no way I'm trying that again. The car gets strange at the 1/8th mile, and I'm not looking forward to investing in bias ply skinnys for the front end. Drag radial is the only way I will go, and while I favor the MT design and compound, the BFG in 295/35/18 on a set of 9.5 wide MM wheels I already own, will have to do for now. Thanks for your opinion.
????

If you got squirrely you have other problems. I did mention the breakage factor, and I assume you are choosing DRs as an intelligent compromise. I just told you what I know will fit (because I have both sitting side by side in the garage) and if you ever want to explore options about suspension and traction, both at launch and downstrip, I'd be happy to share. For instance, front skinnies will not help if you are running those MTs tubeless; that was your problem, I'd bet a margarita on it.

[SergntMac]

If you got squirrely you have other problems. I did mention the breakage factor, and I assume you are choosing DRs as an intelligent compromise. I just told you what I know will fit (because I have both sitting side by side in the garage) and if you ever want to explore options about suspension and traction, both at launch and downstrip, I'd be happy to share. For instance, front skinnies will not help if you are running those MTs tubeless; that was your problem, I'd bet a margarita on it.
Hehehe...You owe me two Maragaritas, one left and one right.

Thanks for your help, Tin, but I must explore my present options, and your numbers ^ there do not match mine. If you find the particular Mustang wheel with the offset I need, please post a resource?

[maraudernkc]

I agree. Way to stiff.


Eibachs suck, dont do it man.

[Tinaree]

Then what were you running the MTs on?

These would work and look pretty decent, I think. This was just a quick browse, I'm not endorsing anything other than the dimensions:

AFS wheels on Ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=43958&item=7988126458&sspagename=WDVW)

They have a standard backspacing that is about 3/4" less than what you need but I don't think they will look bad. A standard 17x8 Cobra with 245/45s doesn't stick out, these won't be much further with your 295s. I guess it also matters if you are a pit tire changer or a run-watcha-brung type of racer; one doesn't care so much about looks while the other has to make the whole visual thing work. .

[AzMarauder]

If NBC Shooter changes to 17" wheels but keeps the same dimensions as the OEM tires... then he is going to have a smaller rim in the same size external dimension. This would be a taller sidewall... going the opposite direction from what he said he wanted.... a lower stance... and better handling.

[Tinaree]

Here's another for Mac;

ATS lightweights from discount tire (http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findWheelDetail.do?wd=18&pc=65286&rw=10&bp=5-114.3)

Again, I'm only choosing these for the dimensions, not endorsing them otherwise. The offset is 40mm. which for a 295 tire I think would be perfect. I worry about that shock clearing on hard cornering.

There are plenty of wheels that fit the marauder. And 40mm offset is very common for an 18x10 because the trucks use it. That should set your backspace about perfect with something around a 12" tire (305mm).

[SergntMac]

I appreciate all your suggestions, Tin, but I HAVE 18X9.5 wheels for the 295/35 BFG drag radials. Got this covered, dude.

What I am looking for is an inexpensive 17X9 wheel for the Marauder with a 35-50mm offset, to mount MT drag radials, ehich I believe are better tires.

You're right though, appearance is secondary to function, the drag radials are not used on the street.

[Tinaree]

Oh, okay, I got confused between what you had and didn't have. My bad. Yes, 17x9 is hard to come by.

[RoyLPita]

17" Mustang rims fit. Don't know about ground clearance. 16" mustang rims will fit the back, and I know of a 15" rim from AR that will fit on it too (with offset backspacing, use them for slicks, not driving).

15" rims will not fit on the MM since Ford went to 16" rims in 1998.

[Tinaree]

15" rims will not fit on the MM since Ford went to 16" rims in 1998.
It depends on the wheels. Some will. I know of at least one AR style that works well without spacers. With spacers and long studs, most anything can be made to fit.

[huot5]

It depends on the wheels. Some will. I know of at least one AR style that works well without spacers. With spacers and long studs, most anything can be made to fit.
I think since Ford rotor/caliper combos have evolved 15" RIMS may not have sufficient clearance. 15's on an MM might look lilke 13's in this day and age. remember those? :D

[Tinaree]

I think since Ford rotor/caliper combos have evolved 15" RIMS may not have sufficient clearance. 15's on an MM might look lilke 13's in this day and age. remember those? :D
American Racing Outlaw II's 15x10.

They will fit the calipers, but on the MM it is that shock that gets you so you have to live with the 4" backspace. I wouldn't recommend it for looks or stability though, that's for sure. But it would let you run a 15" tire if you wanted slicks. Lateral G-forces at the dragstrip are not really a concern, and usually an indication that something isn't going well ;)