Wheel Size Choices, Mk5

Printable View

04-05-2025, 03:35 PM
Ejzajac

Wheel Size Choices, Mk5

Looking for guidance on wheel sizes. Originally focused on Halibrand style in 17". Will use Wilwood 12.88 brakes. Vintage Wheels and other wheel vendors warned about clearance issues with these brakes. These 17" wheels were all matching FFR specs for backspace/offset. They suggested 18" wheels for better clearance and to "better fill" the wheel wells. What is the experience of others with these Wilwood brakes and 17" wheels, FFR offered wheels vs others, and 17" vs 18" wheels. Focused on a Halibrand style, but open to other classic style wheels. Appreciate all opinions.
04-05-2025, 03:42 PM
GoDadGo

These have great offsets and offered in 17's and 18's.
Hexcentric rings would be needed to properly center them since the centers bores are tad large.

https://circuitperformance.com/categ...asic%5Bgray%5D
04-05-2025, 03:53 PM
Jeff Kleiner

Wilwoods clear with FFR 17" rims.

Rim diameter has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with "filling the wheelwells"...that is totally dependent on tire diameter. A 26" tall tire on a 15, 17 or 18 rim will fill the wheelwells exactly the same.

Jeff
04-05-2025, 05:50 PM
Ejzajac

Thanks. In general, are folks pleased with the FFR wheels? If the Wilwood 12..88 brakes will fit without issues, my original thoughts were 17" FFR wheels with Nitto NT555 G2, 315/35/ZR17 (25.6" diameter) and 255/40/ZR17 (25.04"). They are slightly smaller in diameter than the rear, but seem to fill the 9" width wheel better. Thoughts of others?
04-05-2025, 07:20 PM
GoDadGo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ejzajac

Thanks. In general, are folks pleased with the FFR wheels? If the Wilwood 12..88 brakes will fit without issues, my original thoughts were 17" FFR wheels with Nitto NT555 G2, 315/35/ZR17 (25.6" diameter) and 255/40/ZR17 (25.04"). They are slightly smaller in diameter than the rear, but seem to fill the 9" width wheel better. Thoughts of others?

Go with the Factory-5 wheels if you want that Classic Cobra Look.
Just know that you'll have more tire choices if you go with the 18's.

My original wheel and tire combination sported the following:
245/45-17 Front & 285/40-17 Rear.
25.67" & 25.98" Diameters
17X9 & 17X10
Nitto 555's
https://youtu.be/9WEe6-wdNtA

My current wheel and tire combination sports the following:
255/40-17 Front & 294/35-17
25.08" & 26.18" Diameters
17X9 & 18X10
Nitto NT-05's
https://youtu.be/iwslgKJUaKc

Hope This Helps & Good Luck!
04-05-2025, 11:29 PM
gbranham

4 Attachment(s)

I love my FFR 18s and Wilwoods.

Attachment 212228 Attachment 212229 Attachment 212230 Attachment 212231
04-06-2025, 05:51 AM
Higgybulin

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbranham

I love my FFR 18s and Wilwoods.

Attachment 212228 Attachment 212229 Attachment 212230 Attachment 212231

Man, you need to dirty up that shop!!!
Higgy
04-06-2025, 06:42 AM
GoDadGo

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbranham

I love my FFR 18s and Wilwoods.

Attachment 212228 Attachment 212229 Attachment 212230 Attachment 212231

Those 18's Look Really Good!
04-06-2025, 12:33 PM
Takis31gk

I have the 18" Halibrand wheels for my MK5. I liked the classic look of the 15" but being in the auto industry, I did my research on tire availability for the 15" and 17" with my wholesale suppliers, and found that it wasn't to my liking. The 18" option had more choices on tire brands as opposed to the other sizes. I'm running the Continental ExtremeContact Sport02 on my MK5, just to give you an idea of what is out there.
04-07-2025, 06:58 AM
CraigS

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takis31gk

I have the 18" Halibrand wheels for my MK5. I liked the classic look of the 15" but being in the auto industry, I did my research on tire availability for the 15" and 17" with my wholesale suppliers, and found that it wasn't to my liking. The 18" option had more choices on tire brands as opposed to the other sizes. I'm running the Continental ExtremeContact Sport02 on my MK5, just to give you an idea of what is out there.

Second this. According to all my autocross buddies, 18s have the best tire selection.
04-07-2025, 07:48 AM
Jeff Kleiner

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takis31gk

...I'm running the Continental ExtremeContact Sport02 on my MK5, just to give you an idea of what is out there.

They don't offer a 315/30-18. What size are you using?

Jeff
04-07-2025, 10:49 AM
Takis31gk

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleiner

They don't offer a 315/30-18. What size are you using?

Jeff

245/40R18 Front
295/35R18 Rear
04-07-2025, 10:59 AM
DavidW

Go here and get wheels and tires all at once. https://www.performanceplustire.com/...Wheels%20ACIII
04-07-2025, 04:49 PM
Ejzajac

Thanks to all who have responded with education and options! Is it more important to have the final diameters be identical front to back OR hit the sweet spot on filling the diameter of the rim. My understanding is the tire diameter of 26" is reasonable for a typical ride height. Thanks again.
04-09-2025, 11:40 AM
CW_MI

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoDadGo

These have great offsets and offered in 17's and 18's.
Hexcentric rings would be needed to properly center them since the centers bores are tad large.

https://circuitperformance.com/categ...asic%5Bgray%5D

Those wheels are great. Pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. The backspacing and offset throws me a bit though.

The fronts 18x9.5 have a 6.63" backspacing and a 35mm offset
The rear 18x11 have a 6.79" backspacing and a 20mm offset

Wouldn't the backspacing and offsets be too much ?

The FFR wheel specs
18x9 with 6 inch backspace 24 mm offset.
18x11 with 6.46 backspace 12 mm offset.
04-09-2025, 12:45 PM
Jeff Kleiner

Quote:

Originally Posted by CW_MI

Those wheels are great. Pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. The backspacing and offset throws me a bit though.

The fronts 18x9.5 have a 6.63" backspacing and a 35mm offset
The rear 18x11 have a 6.79" backspacing and a 20mm offset

Wouldn't the backspacing and offsets be too much ?

The FFR wheel specs
18x9 with 6 inch backspace 24 mm offset.
18x11 with 6.46 backspace 12 mm offset.

With those specs when compared to the FFR wheels the fronts will have .67" less inside clearance and the outer edge will be .18" farther inward. In the rear they will have .31" less inside clearance than the FFR wheels and the outer edge will be .31" farther inward.

Jeff
04-09-2025, 01:04 PM
CW_MI

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleiner

With those specs when compared to the FFR wheels the fronts will have .67" less inside clearance and the outer edge will be .18" farther inward. In the rear they will have .31" less inside clearance than the FFR wheels and the outer edge will be .31" farther inward.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff. I've got a wheel offset gauge at home, but haven't spent any time messing around with it.
Inward doesn't seem like the way to go. Might not be an issue on the front, but i want the rear wheel to be further outboard, and more even with the wheel lip. I'd still have to run a spacer, which I really didn't want to do .