Hi all,

Just bought 1997 convertible. STOCK STOCK STOCK!!!!!!! hahahaha.

Lets spruce it up a bit. What tires......... I want to snaz it up a bit, but still maintain a nice ride. I see a lot about the rear tires wider than the fronts....sounds like what I want........ anyone give ideas?

Next sound system then on to engine and exhaust. I am sure I will pass this on to my 17 y.o. son soon..........

 

Well if you're going to pass it onto your son, then leave out performance. Granted, the car only has a whoppin 120ish rwhp, but that's more than what any 17 year old needs, not putting him down, but had I had anything more than a 98 V6 when I was 18, I wouldn't be here talking to you lol. The tires, assuming you stay with stock rims, won't do jack other than improve over the wear of the car now. To put it simple, the car doesn't have enough performance ability to need wider tires, not to mention the fact that only the back right wheel drives the car as only GTs/Cobras recieve limited slip differentials. I'd get a set of 17" or 18" rims from www.americanmuscle.com or www.stangmods.com and use their discount codes. AM sells the wheels with the tires, which is one of the best ways to go, ebay also has great deals from time to time. The tires that come with the wheels will be more performance rated (wet/dry roads) but the wider diameter wheel base will bog it down a bit more, but nothing very noticible. 17" rims = 245/45/17 or 255/45/17, 18" = 255/35/18 (if memory serves me right). For 17" though, deffinitly go with 255, 245 just looks too tight around the wheel, trust me, I know, mine has 245s.

Also, do get the car exhaust, believe it or not, it will net a little MPG and a bit more performance. Look at the stickies up top for exhaust reccomendations.

Engine, leave it stock if it's going to a 17 year old, no reason to have him potentially trash a car with a nice deal of money into the engine, or worst yet, get killed. If it stays in your possesion, look into either a supercharger, or upgrading to split port intake (99-04 intake and head package), the 94-98 (intake/head package) is just not a great package to work with, or you can buy a ported/polished unit from www.supersixmotorsports, however, all in all, and S/C is the best way to go IMO.

 

ok, hey, we aren't too far away, close to Baton Rouge here.

I checked out AM wheels. I think the anthracite bullit wheel. should I stay with 17 x 8 or go up to 9 or mix front and rear?

 

if u are only goin with a 245 or 255 tire a 17x8 would be fine. on a 17x9 the 255 will leave a little lip hanging out which will increase the risk of curb rash. stock 99-04 gt's came with 17x8's

 

255's are perfect.

that's what i have, and anymore tire would be wasted. especially on a singleport like mine and yours . but then again i'm not all the way stock...