15" wheels?

[TDSapp]

Ok, I have read so much about what wheels will fit and which ones will not.

I have the rear end from a 2002 Mustang GT and I am running the stock Mustang brakes from power stop. The rotors are 10.5 inches in diameter and the calipers include the springs and such for the emergency brake but I am not going to be using them. (I bought a hydraulic brake valve from Breeze Automotive.)

http://hotrod.sapp-family.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/20180122_071037.jpg


On the front I am running the stock Mustang GT brakes as provided by FFR.


Can a set of 15" rims be used on the Hot Rod in this configuration? I really like that there are so many more option for tires in the 15" range than there are for 17" and 18" rims. A staggered set with 15"s up front and maybe 17" or 18" in the rear would be ideal but I really need to know what will fit.

[NAZ]

Tim, perhaps you can find 15" wheels that will fit over your brakes (many 11" brakes fit 15" wheels) but be advised that the interior dims of wheels vary quite a bit from style to style even in the same manufacturer's line. I've found that the more expensive forged wheels tend to have more room than the cast wheels. To really be sure, you need to measure the radius of your combination and compare that to the wheel manufacturer's wheel dimensions for the wheels of your choice. Myself, I don't care how many opinions I get that say "sure, they'll fit" I'd still measure. For many (perhaps most) wheel manufacturers they have a "you mount em, you bought em" policy so it really makes sense to measure for yourself.

I needed to run 15" wheels on the back of my 33HR to run the drag slicks I needed but I still wanted the large rear brakes. I purchased the optional Wilwood brakes (F&R) with my kit and got 15" wheels to fit the rear but had to use a smaller profile caliper without the integral parking brake. I had to shop around for 15" wheels with a large interior space and work backward from there when I spec'd the calipers that would make my big brake combo fit the wheels. So you will most likely find a wheel that fits your combo but since building a car is a custom application don't expect to simply go to your corner tire shop and have them pick out wheels for you. "Year, make, and model sir?" "What, a hot rod -- we don't carry parts for those." Of course if you can take the car to the shop you could do the trial and error method but measuring is so much easier. And once the wheel fits over the brake you still need to determine wheel back spacing (and perhaps the pad dim too) for the width of the tire you choose.

[TDSapp]

I needed to run 15" wheels on the back of my 33HR to run the drag slicks I needed but I still wanted the large rear brakes. I purchased the optional Wilwood brakes (F&R) with my kit and got 15" wheels to fit the rear but had to use a smaller profile caliper without the integral parking brake. I had to shop around for 15" wheels with a large interior space and work backward from there when I spec'd the calipers that would make my big brake combo fit the wheels. So you will most likely find a wheel that fits your combo but since building a car is a custom application don't expect to simply go to your corner tire shop and have them pick out wheels for you. "Year, make, and model sir?" "What, a hot rod -- we don't carry parts for those." Of course if you can take the car to the shop you could do the trial and error method but measuring is so much easier. And once the wheel fits over the brake you still need to determine wheel back spacing (and perhaps the pad dim too) for the width of the tire you choose.


Yeah the make and model question kind of throws them all for a loop. I guess I will be measuring and visiting the web sites for a while. I really hate the you try\you buy because so few wheel places around here carry a large quantity of rims. Plus, without having tires and wheels on the car it's kind of hard to get them there to try them out. At least I have ordered Stage 2 of the kit and it will be ready for shipping around the 28th. That way I will be able to measure for the back spacing soon.


What about 15" rims on the front using the stock FFR brakes?

Tim

[Tom Veale]

15" Steel Wheels will fit over many brake combinations that cast wheels won't. I had steelies made at Diamond Racing Wheels in Milwaukee in 16" rim size with the offset and width I wanted.
http://www.diamondracingwheels.com/

It might be an option.
Here's mine:
88581

The two tone was done to match #007's paint scheme.