I prefer Nitto NT555R on the back if you plan to drive it on the street much. The M/T drag radial are the best drag radials at the strip, but they are the scariest if you get caught in the rain, while the Nittos are the most streetable of the drag radials. I run the Nittos on my Terminator for example.
By the way, I don't think any of these drag radials compare to a bias ply slick or street slick like the M/T ET Street bias ply at the strip if you have a stick car.
Your backspacing looks about right for the front. It's harder to tell for the back without knowing about your rear end setup.
-Matthew
__________________
2004 Mystichrome Terminator Cobra (735 HP) 90 Mustang Coupe (9.44@143, all motor) 2011 5.0 Convertible 03 F-250 PSD 06 SRT8 Magnum FFR 33 Hot Rod #487 http://www.youtube.com/puzeym
I prefer Nitto NT555R on the back if you plan to drive it on the street much. The M/T drag radial are the best drag radials at the strip, but they are the scariest if you get caught in the rain, while the Nittos are the most streetable of the drag radials. I run the Nittos on my Terminator for example.
By the way, I don't think any of these drag radials compare to a bias ply slick or street slick like the M/T ET Street bias ply at the strip if you have a stick car.
Your backspacing looks about right for the front. It's harder to tell for the back without knowing about your rear end setup.
-Matthew
Rear end would be the 'stock' 8.8" Moser / 3-link setup sourced from Factory Five.
Also wondering about the whole 'stance' aspect of 18"s front & rear, as opposed to the 17" & 18" rear which allows the rear to be 'jacked up' some…
If it would not mess with the 'look/stance' too much, I would prefer to go with 18"s front & rear, as the same rim is available in a Matte Black, but in 18"s only…
And while doing a search in the '33 Hot Rod forum here (simply 'tires'…), I run across the thread about how the sizing/spacing/recommended tires in the video on the FF site & the specs outlined in the build manual conflict with each other…
Would be nice to have a SOLID set of parameters to go with when hunting for the perfect wheels & tires, as restock fees can eat one up…
I will keep the NITTOs in mind as I continue 'shopping'…
Those wheels from American Muscle are made for the 05 up brakes and rotors. If they fit like the factory wheels you could have problems. The front brakes supplied with the kit do not clear those wheels. I have 2 sets of wheels for the 05 up, the 17x8 5 spoke (base GT) and the 18x8 (California Special Style) polished 5 spoke. Neither one will fit with out running spacers. I made spacers for the 18's and they looked great then got to the point to install the headlights and the backspacing was too much and the tires hit the headlights. I am now using a set of 99 cobra 17x9 inch wheels, no spacers and clears the headlights. Sorry I don't have the backspacing measurements, but just a heads up.
Been looking at LOTS of pics of classic hot rods on the Interwebz, and now I am REALLY digging the wire wheels/vintage rubber look; the knockoff aspect just ups the cool quotient…
So, wondering what sizes folks might have run in wire rims & vintage rubber? Would like to still have a staggered front to rear, and would like to still go as wide as possible.
I know Dayton will make whatever size/backspace/offset one wants, you just got to throw money at them, but have not had much luck finding wide vintage/classic tires on the web (aside from huge rear drags)…
Or maybe some simple steelies is the way to go, cheaper than Daytons (by far) and still that vintage hot rod look…
On the rubber side of things, to whitewall or not? If you go whitewall, you might as well go fat, right!?!
Thinking about the rubber from a basic daily driver perspective at this point, not really thinking about drag or track needs, so vintage tires seems like it should be alright…
I ended up having some steel wheels made for #007. I used a company in Milwaukee who builds wheels for RoundyRound racers, etc. Here's their web address: Home
There's a modest selection of styles and you pick the rim width you want and they'll put the center disk in for whatever offset or backspace you request. Just make sure everyone's speaking the same "language" relative to offset.
Excellent quality work on the white walls. They also have a nice assortment of true "vintage" tire profiles with which to work. Here's a photo page of other cars with their tires: http://www.dbtires.com/gallery_pre48.html
I chose the "look" of whitewalls even though the profile of the tires is still quite aggressive compared to true 'vintage' profile. My front and rear tires are "staggered" in size, but not in wheel size. Both front and rears are 16" rims, but tire width is different front/rear. Since the sidewall height is different Front/Rear, the whitewalls on the front are narrrower than on the rears. That adds to the "staggered" appearance.
I chose 16" rims over 15" because there was a far greater selection of tire brands and sizes from which too choose.
It'll be nice to have someone else with white walls around!
Best regards, TV
("fastest guy with White Walls" award, Northwoods Shelby Club) (of course I was the ONLY guy with White Walls!)
__________________
Tom #007 Street Rod; #2911SP Challenge Racer (Sold, 06/2010) V.I.R.U.S. (Very Immature Racers of the United States)
Last edited by Tom Veale; 04-09-2013 at 09:01 PM..
Street Comp front tires - 235/35/17
ET Street Radial II rear tires - 305/35/18
If you have the 59.25" wide rear end, i'd be concerned about the rear back space. I have a set of ford racing rims just for moving he car around. They have a 5.98" backspace and they come withing an inch of the body.. the 7.2 back space rim would almost certainly rub without a spacer... and i'm not even counting the tire buldge yet which in your case is about another inch.
__________________
Nick Sebastian
33 Hot Rod #495
FFCars - lowntubd
Factory Five Forums - hdnik
Gah…!!! Why are wheels & tires SO frakkin' difficult to get 'right'…!?!
Okay, so Tom Veale gave a link for a source for custom steelies, which is cool; I think I could go that route for initial wheels, and also check his other link for having modern tires made into whitewalls (clever, why did I not think of that as an option?).
Then I will 'steel' be able to roll in style, whilst I save the cash for a sweet set of Dayton Wire Wheels.
At THAT point, I can mount white-walled street tires on the Daytons, and strip/track tires on the steelies…!
Yep, having modern tire structure and compound is a great feature and getting the different side wall treatment just lets us go a little further "over the top."
Did you note you can get "red lines" and other such things as well.
Best regards, TV
__________________
Tom #007 Street Rod; #2911SP Challenge Racer (Sold, 06/2010) V.I.R.U.S. (Very Immature Racers of the United States)
Welcome to FFCars! The
representations expressed are the representations and opinions of
the FFCars.com forum members and do not necessarily reflect the
opinions and viewpoints of the site owners, moderators, Factory Five
Racing, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. This website
has been planned and developed by FFCars.com and its forum members
and should not be construed as being endorsed by Factory Five
Racing, Inc. or Ford Motor Company for any
purpose. "FFR", "Factory Five", "Factory Five Racing", and the
Factory Five Racing logo are registered trademarks of Factory Five
Racing, Inc. FFCars.com forum members agree not to
post any copyrighted material unless the copyrighted material is
owned by you. Although we do not and cannot review the messages
posted and are not responsible for the content of any of these
messages, we reserve the right to delete any message for any reason
whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your
messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless with
respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s).
Thank you for visiting the FFCars.com Forum dedicated to Factory
Five.
Fast White Walls.............
Linear Mode
