Al Newman wrote:

Folks,

You frequent followers of this site know that if you want an old school opinion (or not) you will most likely get it from this old source. Well, my bride is encouraging (forcing) me to complete for her a project we began in 2004. The project is a 1968 Mustang fastback. Our original plans were okay for 2004, but now those plans will have to be updated a bit. Many of the aspects of this project fall outside of my experience, and I will be asking advice about several subjects, like heads, radiators, cooling fans,etc. My concern initially is tire and rim sizes. I know 14" rims are no longer appropriate, but I have no idea what will fit. I need knowledgeable info about rim diameter, width, offset, etc. Any suggestions about brand and model would also be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Best,
Al

Al... it's important to know the ride height ...was the car lowered...factory look or restomod ?....jj

Last edited by jerseyjoe (3/07/2016 6:19 PM)

I htink one of your decision points on wheel size is whether you are going to upgrade the brakes to newer discs (front and rear).  If so, you may need a larger diameter wheel to clear the rotor and calipers.  Even if you don't need larger wheels for brakes, I think a 15" fits the wheel well opening better.

I think a 16" rim/tire combo gives a nice look between the rubber band tire"hot wheels" look and the too short tire/too big wheel well look. The side walls on a 16" is taller /more "filling" in the wheel well and gives a less harsh ride than the bigger rim/thinner tire.
It's all about your opinion of what looks good. Opppps! It's all about what SHE sez is your opinion of what looks good!!
6s6

From one old guy to another I also learned long ago that a "happy life equals a happy wife"
 With that in mind, my significant other is always involved in the esthetic choices for any vehicle that we own or about to own.
 When the vehicle is her "own", it's her choice unless that decision is overridden by my input from the mechanical point of view - -  fitment, performance and mechanical soundness as examples.
 It's the guys job to pick the correct size and  tire for the wheel that fits the car and her choice as to the style.
 With that part of the decision taken care of, it's my opinion that the classic Mustang with stock or close to stock ride height does not look right with anything larger than 16 inch wheels, 17"s would work in some cases.
 Choosing a 15 inch wheel severely limits the tire choice because of availability. Once you get into the 16's and s17's the choices for tires increases dramatically.
 I have 15's on my car and am pretty well stuck with a very limited selection of tires, since I will not change my Shelby ten spokes I settled on BFG Radial T/A's. 

Your brakes require 17"

Al,
I have a set of 15" steel style wheels with Pirelli 215/60R15 and lots of meat and no clearance issues. Let me know if you want to work a trade. I may want to change.

I have Ridler polished 675 17x7 w/ 4" backspace. Couldn't beat the price 2 years ago of $140 each.
Tires came from tirerack and are hankook summer only 225x45x17 and were $95 each.

Ride height - Still original leafs in the back.  Saggy and need to be replaced.  Fronts have 1" drop springs and shelby drop w/ roller perches.
I have granada brakes, so I could have run smaller, but the tire choices for 17" are much more plentiful.

Probably could have put wider tires based on what MS and others have said, but I didn't want to take a chance of rubbing.

Last edited by soonerfan (3/08/2016 10:14 PM)

Go to Google and type in "68 mustang wheel fitment chart" and click on the "dodgestang.com" link.
It is a modified wheel and tire chart for 67-68 Mustangs showing what other owners have used.

Hope this helps.

I've fallen in love with walk around videos ;)

Red one
Front 17x8 4.75bs 235 45 17, lower with unknown springs that came on car
Rear 17x9.5 (I'll have to look up the BS, I can't remember at this late hour) 275 40 17, lower with 4.5 mid eye springs 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNxILhJUW44




Green One
Front 17x8 4.5bs 235 45 17 big block springs with 1 coil removed
Rear 18x9.5 (I'll have to look up the BS, I can't remember at this late hour), 4.5 leaf standard eye springs (so not lowered) 275 40 18 (this is a 'plus sized' tire combo because I wanted to give the car a distinctive look.....plus I used a 65 width housing so I get a cool dish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUDF_N1L24A

Last edited by dodgestang (3/11/2016 8:12 PM)