Cobra Rims

[Woody6799]

I am totally new to these forums and I have a 2004 XLT 4x4 and I wanted to put 17 x 8 Cobra Rims on off a 2001 Mustang. I know there is a way to make these fit the second gen body style with spacers but what about on my truck? Please Help???

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

depending on what the offset style you get you may not need spacers. plenty of have run those style rims with no problems. i also wouldn't think you'd need them, i know most stock size rims now are 15x7 on the explorers so one inch deeper shouldn't make to much of a difference as long as you run the right tire.

 

[Woody6799]

I just want to make sure it wont interfere with my 4wd and it will clear my calipers and all. I have a chance to but them and can work on tires later

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

if you have 4wd then they might not clear the hubs in the front. or it'll look extremely weird. most that put on the cobra rims are lowering their explorer or making it look sleeker. i know with 4x4 you can only go so far. but they also might look VERY awkward.

 

[Woody6799]

And that is what I am trying to avoid... I have yet to see a 3rd gen with cobra rims on it.

 

[ktford]

can I mention wether you've sought a load rating on the cobra rims to carry the extra weight??
Scotty

 

[shadowless127]

can I mention wether you've sought a load rating on the cobra rims to carry the extra weight??
Scotty

afaik the rims can handle a 3rd gen ex/mounty.

 

[Woody6799]

I was pretty sure the rims would hold the truck and I don't really haul much... so anybody sure they will work??

 

[CDW6212R]

Almost all wheels used on trucks that are not OEM wheels for that truck are not load rated as high as the stock wheels. I am not saying that it is fine to run car wheels on trucks. I had Cobra wheels on my Mountaineer, and now 18" aftermarket Mercedes car wheels on it.

Simply everyone is doing it, virtually everyone and virtually all of the wheels are not load rated as high as OEM. Take that as an example of the likelihood of trouble with car wheels on the truck.

More important is how the wheels fit, are the hub center holes perfect in size for the vehicle. That is critical.

Check the back of the wheels, the offset should be printed there. Stock 2002+ Explorers use about 44mm offsets, Cobra wheels used to be 32mm. If that is close to what you have, the fit may be very good, without spacers. Regards,

 

[Woody6799]

so if my Explorer is +44 and the rims are +24 will they fit or need a spacer? Again what about my hubs?

 

[JCUZ]

so if my Explorer is +44 and the rims are +24 will they fit or need a spacer? Again what about my hubs?

You need to understand offset. Positive offset (such as +44), means the mounting face of the rims sits in closer to the hub. So the higher the number for positive offset, the closer in they sit. Or another way to put it is that the +24 offset wheels will sit approx 20mm further OUT than the +44, so you wouldn't need a spacer.

IMO, you can use them, as far as offset goes. I am using 17 x 8 after market LOAD RATED CSA Haze rims that are +36 offset, and I use a 1" (25mm) hub adapter, which in effect has them at +11 offset, and they sit nice and flush with the edge of the guard.

The load rating argument might not mean much when nothing happens. But if you have a crash caused by a rim failure, and you are using rims with the incorrect (too low) load rating, then your insurance would be null and void. You can then be personally sued for the damages, so for the sake of a few hundred dollars you could be up for payments for life, depending on the severity of the damage you might cause. This may seem extremist, but it can and does happen every single day.

 

[CDW6212R]

Ditto, there is such a thing as very cheap parts, versus simply not quite as strong etc. There are hundreds of poor quality wheels being sold constantly, those are usually the ones which you hear about breaking, falling off etc.

Typically a factory wheel will have a greater measure of safety in them, relative to what they are made for. They will also fit better, the specs of the hub center hole.

That 44mm/24mm example suggests 20mm more outboard at the wheel center, not the edge. If the wheels are the same width, the math is simple. If you are changing from a 7" wide wheel to an 8" wheel, then you must add 1/2" to each side.

The 24mm wheel will be over 7mm farther from suspension components, and almost 33mm farther out at the wheel wells. Regards,

 

[not8taxi]

I am totally new to these forums and I have a 2004 XLT 4x4 and I wanted to put 17 x 8 Cobra Rims on off a 2001 Mustang. I know there is a way to make these fit the second gen body style with spacers but what about on my truck? Please Help???

i put 2003 svt cobra rims on my 02 ex...with 275/55/17 tires...thats the max i can go...the space between the rim/tire to the control arm is the width of my pinky...

 

[Curtis]

i put 2003 svt cobra rims on my 02 ex...with 275/55/17 tires...thats the max i can go...the space between the rim/tire to the control arm is the width of my pinky...

Id like to see pictures !

 

[Fast 96 Asp]

i put 2003 svt cobra rims on my 02 ex...with 275/55/17 tires...thats the max i can go...the space between the rim/tire to the control arm is the width of my pinky...

Sorry to bump this, but I've been looking for 2004 Ford Explorer wheels that look like the 03/04 cobra wheels. I'd like to see the cobra wheels on an 02-05 X because apparently people want an arm and a leg for explorer rims. I can get the cobras much cheaper.

 

[Limited02]

The only Explorer wheels that would look kinda like a 03-04 Cobra wheel would be the 03'-05' Limited Explorers. 02' Limited had a different one. Below is the 03-05 Limited Style.

Here is a link to Explorerexpress.com with pics Cobra R rims on an Ex. You can also purchase this style in 20's I believe.(not from below website)
http://www.explorerexpress.com/-c-23_43.html?osCsid=724d4dd1c042a1fe8bf3f1d
5595727a7

And a pic I found using google with 03'-04' Cobra rims-

 

[2003vstrom]

here is my 02 that has the stock wheels

 

[goatman]

This might give you some relative relationship between the stock wheel and other offsets. The 2001 wheel on my 2005 are 16 inch and has an offset of +12. The tires are 275/70/16.

 

[Fast 96 Asp]

The only Explorer wheels that would look kinda like a 03-04 Cobra wheel would be the 03'-05' Limited Explorers. 02' Limited had a different one. Below is the 03-05 Limited Style.

Those are the wheels I want. I wish they were 18, hence the reason I was looking at Chrome 03/04's because I can get them in 18's and the look is almost the same.

 

[not8taxi]

here a pic of them on my ex...just took them off trying to sell them