2001 Explorer Sport with '10 Mustang Wheels-will it work??

[anamaria829]

I am due to buy new tires and came upon a set of stock 2010 V6 mustang wheels with new tires for cheap. I've read alot that I may need spacers, not sure, but they're half the price of tires and look great. Will these work? I know nut pattern is perfect, but spacing is an issue I believe and I'm not too sure about it.

My stock tires: P235/70/R16
Mustang: P215/60/R17

ANY help is appreciated!! Thanks!

 

[WidgetTrac]

They should be close enough to bolt on and see. I've put several different mustang wheels on my '01 'trac and all have had issues - the excess inboard offset shouldn't be a problem fitment-wise with 235's. It should take about a 1" bolt-on adapter/spacer to get back to the offset of the stock wheels, and then an extra 1" or so in back usually looks better.

some of the mustang wheels have other issues too. 15x8" weld prostars with 5.5" backspace (stock mustang offset) rub the caliper on the front, but it looks like just an 1/8" spacer would clear, or grind the caliper a bit.

17x8" eagle alloys 6" BS work with 245's, but look funny without spacers

17x9" '95 cobra wheels 6" BS hang on the very last part of the hubs - they lack maybe 3/16" from going on, so thin "bolt-thru" spacers would "work", but thicker ones are needed anyway to fix the offset.

 

[WidgetTrac]

I probably messes up the math somewhere, because I'm pretty sure my 2001 ST is 12mm (1/2") offset, and my '93 mustang is 25mm (1"), so there should just be 1/2" difference, not 1"...

Also not sure if '05 & newer Mustangs are the same offset. Anybody?

 

[arco777]

Welcome to the forum anamaria829!

Make sure if you do decide to use spacers, get the good bolt on ones. The slip on cast aluminum or steel ones often aren't hubcentric and will cause lots of problems. There are also crummy bolt-on spacers. If you can judge the quality of aluminum that will help; you want a set of machined aluminum ones (look for tiny grooves) and not cast aluminum ones (suspiciously smooth). Cast parts can crack and cause a bad day.

I got a great deal on some Sport Trac wheels for my 1994 a while ago and found out that the difference in offset had them tucked in dangerously close. I bought the good quality bolt on spacers and at $150 for the full set, it wasn't cheap but I know they will last and I won't have any problems with them. They are as valuable as a good tool in your toolbox if you're keeping the car.

 

[WidgetTrac]

Just got these, $48 to my door, 1" thick - you may want 1.5" on back...

The size & offsst should be cast into the back of the wheels - if it's 24, 25, or 26mm,, tjen it's the same as pre-'05 Mustangs, and the 1"/1.5" combo should look good.

There can be problems with hubcentric spacers, unless you're adapting a large-hub wheel to a small-hub vehicle. Otherwise, where is the thickness for the wheel lip supposed to come from? It has to be projected inward, meaning the inner bore that fits the vehicle only goes part way thru the spacer, then is reduced. Ok for the back, but up front there's not enough full-bore depth to fit over the rotor hub... And if you use hubcentric spacers for "truck" hubs with wheels that have "car" center bore, then the wheels won't go on the spacers anyway. If you use "car" spacers, then they won't go on the truck.

 

[WidgetTrac]

For anybody thinking about a mustang wheel swap, more info:

The 17x9" eagle alloys 077 (6" backspace, cobra lookin) worked great on my 2wd 2001 sport trac, at stock ride height, but looked funny. With 1" spacers on back it looked better.

after I dropped it 3" the wheels rubbed the LCA's when backing up with steering hard against the stops. I put the 1" spacers on front and got 2" spacers for the rear this fixed the rubbing and moved the tires out flush with the wheel openings both front and rear. this setup works out to be the same spacing as stock plus 1" rear spacers, or 8" wheels with 5" backspace.