I'm almost sorry I went from my stock 18's to the 18" GT500's. I'd love to get my hands on a set of 15 or 16's and put some sidewall on the car.

We spend all this cash on this retro car and instead of putting real meat on we put ghetto wheels with rubber bands on it. I've seen baby strollers with more sidewall...

 

+1,000,000

I don't understand the ghetto wheel thing either. I've thought a lot about getting some 15s or 16s myself, but I wonder if those would be too small for the stock brakes to fit?

 

Go with the KDWs. They are bad A$$. I have even driven in the snow and they did good.

 

+1

I'd love to have some of the original torq thrust rims on my stang.

 

I still require good handling, and a 15-16" wheel on these cars is not going to give you that. I feel 18" is a good compromise

 

With you being a motoX guy, I fully understand that. But I'd still love the look and be willing to give up some handling since I do few twisties.

Man, did we jack this thread or what?

 

That tells me that instead of cold/snow/slush capability you need a big slice of wet-weather performance. Directional tread patterns tend to be slightly better, enough to be worth giving up the ability to rotate left side to right and vice-versa IMO.

Unfortunately, all of the OE tires for the S197 are about 27" tall. So with 17's you're pretty much stuck with about 4.5" of visible sidewall unless small-looking tires in large wheel openings is OK with you.


Norm

 

I'll agree.
Ford put 18s on their factory built race cars...

 

alright, i guess stock sidewall size it is.

255-50r17s? and apparently BFG KDW2's dont come in that size?

what's the closest size they have

 

Check the Nitto INVO 255/50ZR17, same revs per mile and 27.05 dia. as the stock pirelli.
Also fits on the 8 inch wheel.