17x9 or 17x8 Cobra Wheels | Ford Explorer Forums

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17x9 or 17x8 Cobra Wheels

hornz2000

Well-Known Member
Joined
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City, State
Athens, GA
Year, Model & Trim Level
1998 Sport
Hey guys, I am interested in obtaining a set of Cobra Wheels. I know there are numerous posts concerning these wheels but none answer my specific question so please bear with me. I am noticing that 17x9 size is much more common than the 17x8 size. Will the 17x9 size fit inside my 98 2WD Sport with 275/60/17? I read somewhere in the message board, also, that 17x8 size will fit 98 2WD X's but the dust cap will poke out or something, is this true. One more question, what is the best place for me to acquire these wheels. Tirerack.com or what? Also, I noticed that there are different editions, I suppose, of the wheels. What works the best with my kind of car 95 or 98 etc. Any feedback is going to be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
 



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alright, ill give this one shot, but i dont know all the answers here...

I am noticing that 17x9 size is

well, the 17x9 is a cobra r rim and the 17x8 is a 98 cobra rim. i know they look similar, but they are in fact different - you can see it in some pics and in real life.

Will the 17x9 size fit inside my 98 2WD Sport with 275/60/17?

should fit, but you WILL have some rubbing. get a 255 55 r17 or a 275 55 r17.

that 17x8 size will fit 98 2WD X's but the dust cap will poke out or something, is this true?

i have no idea, i dont know anything about the 2wd X's.



what is the best place for me to acquire these wheels.

well, you can get em from ford for a ridiculous amount of money or you get them from gene evans ford racing (they have a website but i forget the address - www.gefracing.com or something like that, thats where i got my cobra r's from and theyre pretty reasonable over there.)


Also, I noticed that there are different editions?

well, the cobra r that everyone has is a 95 cobra r, but you could also use a 99 cobra r (i think...it should fit, but dont quote me.)


i hope this helps a little, im sure that someone else will reply that knows the answers to the questions that i couldnt answer.

and one more piece of advice...stay away from spacers.
 






How much rubbing do you think there will be. Perhaps only when I am turned 98-100% or what. Thanks.
 






INSURANCE ON WHEELS/TIRES

Currently I have the stock 15x7 or whatever 98 X Wheels with Michelin XC LT4 235/75/15 tires. If I get 17x8 wheels with like 275/60/17 tires will they be covered by insurance like the others. BTW, I have comprehensive insurance or whatever, it is like $250 a month.
 






You probably should chech with your insurance company. I know mine will only cover OEM equipment. If any expensive aftermarket goodies are added, I have to insure them separately. But it is supposed to be fairly inexpensive.
 






i dont know about the insurance, but as far as rubbing goes: the bigger the tire, the more the rub. if you get 275 55 r17, most people say they only rub a very little bit at 100% wheel turn, so no biggie, but if you were to get bigger tires, you would get more rub at less wheel turn.
 






I'm teling you first hand that the SVT 17X8 rim will fit only on the front of a 2WD only if you remove the "SVT' cap and let the spindle bearing dust cap poke thru. Don't believe me? I have one 17 X 8 rim, brand new in the box I'd like to sell ya...props to EE for telling me over the phone that "we use them all the time." $125=flush.
Apparently, they fit on AWD's only.

Check the backspacing on the 17 X 8 SVT rim. Now look at the backspacing on the Bullitt rim. Same number. My guess is that the same thing might happen with the Bulitt's. My advice is to only buy one and see if it fits.

I bought my R's from Diversifed in Michigan. Saw the ad in the back of a Mustang magazine. $175 ea.

Good luck.
 


















FrankRizzo: What size tires you running on those 17x9 95 Cobra R Rims.
 






Which one of these sizes, if any, would fit an Explorer.
PATTERN OFFS BSM
17 x 8 5 on 5.5 0mm 4 7/16" 27lb $173 $260
17 x 8 5 on 135mm 0mm 4 7/16" 27lb $173 $260
17 x 8 6 on 5.5 0mm 4 7/16" 27lb $173 $260
17 x 8 8 on 170mm 0mm 4 7/16" 27lb $173 $260
17 x 8 8 on 6.5 0mm 4 7/16" 27lb $173 $260
 






Originally posted by hornz2000
Which one of these sizes, if any, would fit an Explorer.
PATTERN OFFS BSM
17 x 8 5 on 5.5 0mm 4 7/16" 27lb $173 $260
17 x 8 5 on 135mm 0mm 4 7/16" 27lb $173 $260
17 x 8 6 on 5.5 0mm 4 7/16" 27lb $173 $260
17 x 8 8 on 170mm 0mm 4 7/16" 27lb $173 $260
17 x 8 8 on 6.5 0mm 4 7/16" 27lb $173 $260

none, heh, sorry. explorer lug pattern is 5 on 4.5
 






275/55/17 Bridgestone Dueler HP's

The are within a tenth of an inch of the stock 15's outside diameter - this is critical to '99 and newer cars with OBDII, so the speedo is correct.

Tires are limited in this size, I think only Pirelli, Bridgestone, and Dunlop if memory serves. The Bridgestone's are my personal pick, check out thier website for more info (bridgestone.com).

BTW I'd take some pics to post and show the difference between the two rims, but I havn't set up a web page yet and have no link for pics.
 






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