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The question gets asked occasionally about fitting late model Mustang wheels/tires on the early cars. I have had sometime to play with a set of 2000 GT wheels on my '67 and here are my findings... my information will pertain to the wheels that look like this:
http://www.classic-mustang.net/jay/misc/bullitt.jpg
and of course the 2000 GT wheel:
http://www.classic-mustang.net/jay/misc/00gtwheel.jpg
Both style wheels are 17 x 8 and come from the factory on 245/35/17 rubber. The backspacing I have measured on my wheel 5 7/16". This is basically too much backspacing for the early cars. While the wheels are a direct fit in the rear with no obvious conflicts, they do not look right because they are too inset in the wheel wells. In the rear a 1/2" space would need to be used to make them look proper. The front is a whole other battle.
To make them work on the fronts you would have to subtract the backspace of the wheels from the recommended backspacing you will find on my chart for your year... like so:
65/66 5 7/16" minus 4 1/2" (for rear only) equals So you see the problem here
67/70 5 7/16" minus 4 1/2" equals 15/16"
So you could pull it off on a 67/70 if you are willing to run a 15/16" spacer on the front wheels. Not the best thing to do, but of course it has been done with no trouble. This kind of spacing should employ a hubcentric spacer (bolts to original lugs and wheel bolts to spacer lugs, see below). H&R Springs (carparts.com) markets these type of spacers and www.wheelspacers.com is another source.
http://www.classic-mustang.net/jay/shelby/img/wheelspacers.gif
http://www.classic-mustang.net/jay/misc/bullitt.jpg
and of course the 2000 GT wheel:
http://www.classic-mustang.net/jay/misc/00gtwheel.jpg
Both style wheels are 17 x 8 and come from the factory on 245/35/17 rubber. The backspacing I have measured on my wheel 5 7/16". This is basically too much backspacing for the early cars. While the wheels are a direct fit in the rear with no obvious conflicts, they do not look right because they are too inset in the wheel wells. In the rear a 1/2" space would need to be used to make them look proper. The front is a whole other battle.
To make them work on the fronts you would have to subtract the backspace of the wheels from the recommended backspacing you will find on my chart for your year... like so:
65/66 5 7/16" minus 4 1/2" (for rear only) equals So you see the problem here
67/70 5 7/16" minus 4 1/2" equals 15/16"
So you could pull it off on a 67/70 if you are willing to run a 15/16" spacer on the front wheels. Not the best thing to do, but of course it has been done with no trouble. This kind of spacing should employ a hubcentric spacer (bolts to original lugs and wheel bolts to spacer lugs, see below). H&R Springs (carparts.com) markets these type of spacers and www.wheelspacers.com is another source.
http://www.classic-mustang.net/jay/shelby/img/wheelspacers.gif
