18" BBS wheels?

[jmimac351]

Originally Posted by Cobrafang

Ok so let me make sure I understand.

If you get those 18x10 wheels, the only thing you should need to do is machine the center hole to 2 3/4". I assume this is to get the wheel overy the center hub thing? I don't know but 18x10 wheels for 155.00 is pretty dang good.

If you look at the mounting pad of the wheel you'll see a groove machined into the hub hole opening. I think the main reason for that is so it fits over the raised lip on the rear axle. The front spacers have that same raised lip to fit into that same groove so the wheels can go on either corner of the car. If you take the front spacer off, mustang wheels will seat down fine onto the front hubs; however, they may be tucked in a smidge too far (because you took the spacer off). A small spacer cures that. I have a set of 17" Mustang "Pony R" replica wheels that I bought for my mustang. 17x9 and 17x10. Size wise, they will fit without a problem. I will be in the garage this weekend and will take a picture so you can see.

If you measure the backspace on the BBS wheel and compare it to the mustang replica wheels you'll see. By the way, you want the '96 to '04 wheels - I think they are 22mm and 24mm offset depending on 9" or 10" width. That's talking about the 18" wheel. The 17" wheels come in a 10.5" width usually.

[eric1h]

Also the factory five wheels with the "upgraded hubs" work well also.

[Cobrafang]

Originally Posted by jmimac351

If you measure the backspace on the BBS wheel and compare it to the mustang replica wheels you'll see. By the way, you want the '96 to '04 wheels - I think they are 22mm and 24mm offset depending on 9" or 10" width. That's talking about the 18" wheel. The 17" wheels come in a 10.5" width usually.

The wheel picture/link from above have 22mm offset on the 18x10s. Is that going to be a problem? Would the spacer have to come off the front? Should I have all the wheels machined? I would like to not have to worry about is this a front rim or a back rim.

[Gatorac]

All wheels are not created equal. Cheap reproduction wheels are not as light or strong as good racing wheels (BBS or CCW). There is a major strenght difference in a cast wheel vs a forged racing wheel. I would not put super sticky race tires on a cheap repro wheel and drive 10/10ths into turn 1 at Sebring.

Of course, I'm a chicken and at the speeds you drive you probably don't have anything to worry about.

[Cobrafang]

Originally Posted by Gatorac

All wheels are not created equal. Cheap reproduction wheels are not as light or strong as good racing wheels (BBS or CCW). There is a major strenght difference in a cast wheel vs a forged racing wheel. I would not put super sticky race tires on a cheap repro wheel and drive 10/10ths into turn 1 at Sebring.

Of course, I'm a chicken and at the speeds you drive you probably don't have anything to worry about.

Good point. If I recall the only time you passed me at RA was when I went into the pits...nevermind the fact I was practicing drifting into 10b.

[jmimac351]

Originally Posted by Cobrafang

The wheel picture/link from above have 22mm offset on the 18x10s. Is that going to be a problem? Would the spacer have to come off the front? Should I have all the wheels machined? I would like to not have to worry about is this a front rim or a back rim.

I think if you go 18x10 all the way around you won't need to run a front spacer. That's because the extra width goes on the inside and the outside of the wheel. By my measurements that 18x10 wheel has a BS of 6.37" and that seems to be confirmed by measurements of other 10" wheels in 22mm offset on their site. A 10" wheel is actually about 11" wide in total width. The stated width of the wheel is a measurement from bead to bead, not edge to edge. However, the backspace is a measurement from mounting pad all the way to the edge. Offset is a measurement in relation to the centerline of the wheel. It tells you how far in or out from the centerline of the wheel the mounting pad is. "Zero" offset means the pad is in the middle. That stated 10" wide wheel with 22mm offset adds about .6" to the outside and about .4" to the inside. When you take the spacer out of the equation, the .6" in outside wheel width should make up for it.

Here's how you figure it:

For a "10 inch" wide wheel it is 11 inches in total width. A "9 inch" wheel is 10 inches in total width.

25.4mm = 1 inch

18x10 wheel, 22mm offset
11 inches width = 279.4mm
279.4mm/2 = 139.7mm
139.7mm + 22mm(offset) = 161.7mm
161.7/25.4 = 6.37" backspace

If you go 18x9 on the front I think you will want a front spacer because if you eliminate it you'll pull the wheel in. If you want to put them on each corner then you will need to machine all 4. If you don't have machinist friend handy any machine shop can do this. I would just take the spacer in with you and tell them you need to make it fit into the wheel.

[jmimac351]

Originally Posted by Gatorac

All wheels are not created equal. Cheap reproduction wheels are not as light or strong as good racing wheels (BBS or CCW). There is a major strenght difference in a cast wheel vs a forged racing wheel. I would not put super sticky race tires on a cheap repro wheel and drive 10/10ths into turn 1 at Sebring.

Of course, I'm a chicken and at the speeds you drive you probably don't have anything to worry about.

[Cobrafang]

Originally Posted by jmimac351

A main thing driving the decision is the availability of 18" used slicks (and lack of availability of 17" used tires). .

Jim, Where do you source your used 18" slicks from?

[Cobrafang]

What size slicks would you run on the 18x10 wheels?

[jmimac351]

Hey Tom, I haven't bought any yet but am waiting on some to show up with John Berget. No experience with any of the people that sell them but he's been very helpful so far. I think the size for the Pirellis is 285/645-18 on a 10" wheel.

jbracingtires.net

[eric1h]

Originally Posted by jmimac351

Hey Tom, I haven't bought any yet but am waiting on some to show up with John Berget. No experience with any of the people that sell them but he's been very helpful so far. I think the size for the Pirellis is 285/645-18 on a 10" wheel.

jbracingtires.net

That's who i buy my scrubs from as well, also check http://philstireservice.com

Both are great to deal with...just dont go buyong up all my tires!

[jmimac351]

Don't worry, I'll only use a few!

[ronandkate]

also check www.johnbtires.com for used race tires. they have alot of hoosier and toyo inventory