1991 SHO Wheel Upgrade

[darylfesta]

I recently ordered a new set of wheels and tires from Carid. On their selection tool they tell you which tire and wheel packages have guaranteed fitment and they will guarantee fit if you select one of the packages. I ended up selecting the package suggesting an 18x8.5" wheel with 245/45R18 tires. When I went to install the first tire on the rear, when the lugs were tightened, the center cap popped out. It turns out the dust cap for the rear bearing protrudes too far and pushes the center cap out. I took the tire back off and ordered 3mm spacers. When I installed the tires with the spacers the center cap had enough clearance to stay in. When I had all 4 installed and lowered the car down, the rear fenders actually rested on the tires. They were actually touching. I took them all back off and reached out to Carid, they said the car is either lowered or the springs are worn out and they refused to take them back. The car isn't lowered and the springs are new. I just bought the car and it had belonged to an 80 year old man who recently passed away. He had done a $38,000 restoration on the car and showed it (crazy right). It has all new spring and shocks as around. With the factory 16x6 wheels, the tires are actually tucked up behind the fenders. The new ones protrude too far and the tires stick out beyond the fenders and it is more than the 3mm spacers. I don't see how these could ever fit. Am I missing something? Carid has been miserable to deal with by the way. Interested in any thoughts.

 

[luigisho]

You are not missing anything. The GenI cars have a tight width fit in the rear. I tried to roll the fenders on my '90 to get wheels to fit and that did not go well. Looked like a$$.

Personally, unless you have great experience with getting this to fit, I don't go bigger than 17 x 7.5 in a gen I and even that can get tricky. The rear Gen I is a PITA for wheels vs many other vehicles.

I think you are correct about Carid. Everyone (including me) likes shopping the interwebs for more choices and better prices. The downside is returns-- and people are less likely to give you the brush off face-face.

Research everything before going to buy parts. Do not trust their (any company's) database

 

[zoomlater]

Post some pics of the car. I thought others had managed to get 18's to fit, but depends on the wheels

 

[darylfesta]

Here you go.

 

[luigisho]

You're just going to f-up the metal with those. Take them off

 

[darylfesta]

I took them off right away. It would have damaged the fenders to even move it.

 

[luigisho]

Yep. You can't even exchage for credit and get a different size?

 

[luigisho]

Post some pics of the car. I thought others had managed to get 18's to fit, but depends on the wheels

I think you are right but that size up is tricky. I wouldn't do it. Just get enough to get a bigger set of brakes if that is under consideration.

 

[darylfesta]

Yep. You can't even exchage for credit and get a different size?

 

[zoomlater]

Here you go.

Mocha was the one color I liked on Gen 1's

 

[darylfesta]

No. They have been absolutely obnoxious. I filed a claim with the local magistrate, and I am sure I will win but it will be a huge hassle. I won't purchase from them again. I don't know how you can guarantee fit and then say they aren't returnable. They even made me put them back on the car for a third time to take pictures and then they refused to honor their guarantee again.

 

[Irish Pride]

I don't know if I've ever seen an 8.5" wheel fit on the rear of a Gen1. I suppose that it could but not with a 245 tire. From personal experience, I know that an 8" wide wheel will fit but that was with a 225 tire and on a 17" wheel. What is the back spacing on these new wheels?

6" wide = +35 back space
7",7.5" wide = +38-40 back space
8" wide = +45 back space

If those have a back space of less than +45 I don't see how they will ever fit.

-Chad

 

[BaySHO Performance]

IMHO an 18" wheel is too much wheel and not enough tire. Such a low profile that one exacerbates the possibility of the wheel getting bent on a pothole. And 8.5" is too wide to fit. I have 17 x 8 on a Gen 1 with 235-45 tires, but the rear fenders had to be rolled. Not so much of a problem with a Gen 2. Here's a pic of those wheels on the rear of a '90 with Eibachs:

 

[TimboSHO]

I've had 17x8 on my gen one with a 235/45 tire, but when I went to a 245 I had to roll the rear fenders. I don't know of anyone going wider that 8" or 235 without problems. Your car is far to nice to roll fenders on, I would stick to a 17x7.5 and 225/45 just to be safe. Of course, the offset makes a big difference too, see the post by Irish Pride above.

 

[darylfesta]

I am really interested in installing black wheels that require no modifications. The selection in 16 inch is not very good. There are more 17" options, but most are 17x8" and that seems really tight based on how much room there is with the factory 16x6 wheels. If anyone can share a link with black rims they have installed without mods that would be great. The more detail the better....size of wheel (width and height and offset) and well as tire size you are running.

Daryl

 

[Irish Pride]

I am really interested in installing black wheels that require no modifications. The selection in 16 inch is not very good. There are more 17" options, but most are 17x8" and that seems really tight based on how much room there is with the factory 16x6 wheels. If anyone can share a link with black rims they have installed without mods that would be great. The more detail the better....size of wheel (width and height and offset) and well as tire size you are running.

Daryl

You can always find the wheels that fit good and turn them black....

Original Thunderbird TSVTs powder coated black like I like.
17x7 with 225/50/17

-Chad

 

[darylfesta]

You can always find the wheels that fit good and turn them black....

Original Thunderbird TSVTs powder coated black like I like.
17x7 with 225/50/17

-Chad

View attachment 85935

Chad, Those look really good. Do you happen to know what the offset is? Also, do you recall where you ordered them from? Thanks

Daryl

 

[Irish Pride]

Chad, Those look really good. Do you happen to know what the offset is? Also, do you recall where you ordered them from? Thanks

Daryl

They are 17x7 and fall right in line with my first post up above. +38

Those are original TSVTs and only had 500 sets made. You'll have to look around on ebay and Facebook for a used set if you want those.

-Chad

 

[luigisho]

If you get old discontinued official Ford wheels, see if you can find an extra. Broke one of mine and finding a single replacement was a PITA and had to get a whole different set of wheels to keep running it as a daily driver.

 

[Irish Pride]

If you get old discontinued official Ford wheels, see if you can find an extra. Broke one of mine and finding a single replacement was a PITA and had to get a whole different set of wheels to keep running it as a daily driver.

Thanks again for that!

-Chad