Topic: thunderbird wheel help

hello guys! I picked up the number 95 Thunderbird car is a 97 model. I need some help with wheels. on it are a set of 16 by somethings. in the trunk are 15 by somethings and I have 3 sets of 255/40/17s for the 27 car. I thought it was the same bolt pattern as like a mustang or crown vic but its not. its like volvo/jag. so should I get some 15/16" tires or are there some factory 17x8+ I should be looking for off some sort of volvo? OR should I be looking into a mustang spindle/ hub swap and run some ford wheels? thanks guys!

Owner/Captain of The 27 Club E46. Phoenix, AZ
and now the #95 Thunderbird

Re: thunderbird wheel help

225/50/16 raptor zr all seasons are 72 bucks a pop. but I should really get more then 4.

Owner/Captain of The 27 Club E46. Phoenix, AZ
and now the #95 Thunderbird

Re: thunderbird wheel help

also just found a set of volvo 17/7.5 that might work for 150 bucks. Think that is too narrow for a 255? I mean I know it is. but is it really?

Owner/Captain of The 27 Club E46. Phoenix, AZ
and now the #95 Thunderbird

Re: thunderbird wheel help

I have the same bolt pattern on my X-Type and just stepped up to some Lincoln LS rims that are 7" as opposed to 6.5.  I run 225s on them.  Here are some websites to help find what rims from other cars work.

http://www.roadkillcustoms.com/wheel-bo … reference/

http://m.roadkillcustoms.com/wheel-tire-calculator/

and for rim width.  Looks like a 255 is too wide for a 7.5"

http://www.tyresizecalculator.com/chart … size-chart

Team Glue Sticks
00 Firebird, 02 X-Type, 93 NX2000, 00 Mazda 626 (Sold)
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5 (edited by gunn 2018-06-18 10:06 AM)

Re: thunderbird wheel help

The MN12 tbird uses 5x4.5 bolt pattern, mustangs use 5x4.25

You can convert the tbird to mustang bolt pattern by swapping in mustang hubs on the front and redrilling the rear hubs for 5x4.25 in the rear (cheap but takes labor) OR using cobra hubs (kinda spendy). You need 93 or newer front spindles though (which you have).
http://forums.tccoa.com/14-tires-wheels … 017-a.html


There are Jags, Volvos, and some other Ford cars that use the stock tbird bolt pattern. Some of those might need a thin wheel spacer to adjust offset though (since they were from a FWD car).


I used Direzza Star Specs in 225/45-R16 for a few races and liked them more than the BFG rivals in 225/50-R16. When an opp came along to get 10 17" rims in the tbird bolt pattern, I ended upgrading.


-g
PS. One bonus of going with 17" rims (tbird or mustang bolt pattern) -- you can then bolt in Cobra calipers.

Myopic Motorsport's #888 Ceci n'est pas une Citron Thunderbird ("This is not a lemon" but a 1995 tbird w/ 93 V8 swap + shopping cart rear wing + engine mounted frito maker)
2017 Sears Pointless Organizer’s Choice
Frito Making Tbird from 2018 Sears Pointless Engine Heat BBQ - http://goo.gl/csaet4

Re: thunderbird wheel help

I used Direzza Star Specs in 225/45-R16 for a few races and liked them more than the BFG rivals in 225/50-R16. When an opp came along to get 10 17" rims in the tbird bolt pattern, I ended upgrading.



10 rims you say?!

Owner/Captain of The 27 Club E46. Phoenix, AZ
and now the #95 Thunderbird