Poll
Question: Which wheel would look best on my Thunderbird?
Well this summer is going to be the last summer for my tires (they are 5 years old time for a new set). I figured since I'm going to get new tires either after I take the car out in April or early next year that I might as well get new wheels as well. I like my 8 holes but they are just too small. They are only 14" and have a 215 section tire on them. I want something a little bigger and that can have at least a 225 section tire mounted on it. The only problem is I like so many different wheels that I don't know which would look best on my Bird. I'm putting up the ones I like in 15", 16", and 17" sizes. I'm interested as to what you guys think would look best on my Bird. I either want plain aluminium finish or silver. Polished or chrome just looks too gaudy to me. Thanks guys. First a pic of my Bird and then the 15" wheels I like.
16" wheels
17" wheels
I must say, I really like the look of your current 8 hole wheels. I'd leave them on...but since you're looking to upgrade, here's my opinion...
10 holes- no definitely not.
Turbines- Can't go wrong with them but are a beoch to keep clean
TC Snowflakes- not right for your car
Mustang Ponys- nice choice
'93 Cobra- NO
Cobra R's- may work okay. Not sure with the look of your car though.
Now don't get me wrong, it's your choice, but I think the Turbines or the Mustang Ponys would be your best bet. I don't think the Cobra R's would look quite right and I think the others would look really bad on your car.
I've been thinking Turbines myself. But those silver Ponys look sooo nice. I'd just need some blank centers for those and I'd be good. I do like those 93 Cobra wheels though. But maybe they wouldn't look right. My car dosen't exactally look "sporty" if you know what I mean.
Yeah, I gotta agree...
I'm actually thinking about putting Pony rims on mine someday soon, after painting them body color, whatever that'll be...
Turbines look good, but like said, are hard to (keep) clean-mine are in dire need of a cleanup...
That's basically what I was getting at. If you went all out with ground effects and a solid paint scheme, the '93 Cobra's would be perfect.
Your car glows with originality and cleanliness.
Now that I think of it, the turbines might have too much of a "dirty" look to them if you know what I mean. So the only wheels that have that same "clean" appearence of your originals would be the ponys. I think they would look awesome on your car.
Turbines.
Anything BUT Ponies
i second that, dam straite lol.
about all i think would look desent would be turbines or the cobra wheels
i'd say anything but 4 lug cobra anythings. the 4 lug cobra wheels(r's,y2k's, etc) just look like ass
i agree with that totally...if you cant hide the 4 lugs dont get them...i like them in this order...:
turbines or 93 cobra
pony
turbo coupe
cobra "r"
keep whatcha got
ten holes
I like the '93 Cobras the best. I actually think 5 spokes make something seem more "sporty" and wouldn't neccesarily work as well with the two-tone. Also, if you think about it, the MN-12 T-birds had a Cobraish fan wheel as an option and I think it worked well. Maybe I can throw up a photoshop tomarrow (too busy tonight)
I like the 93 Cobra's because they hide the 4 lugs. Also someone is making them in the correct offset for 87-93 non-cobras. 17X8.5 I believe.
My favorites are the ROH ZR6 wheels but they were discontinued years ago. I was out bid last time a set came up on E-Bay:mad:
93 Cobras or the Cobra R's.
keep your car just the way it is.Its beautiful. Or better yet put the 10 hole rims on. the round holes on your car make it stand out.
I'm becoming more of a fan of the 93 Cobras...and I'd like them even more if I can verify that the MN-12 center caps will fit, making them look stock on a Foxbody.
well the mn12 centercaps fit my tc wheels, and 10 holes. so i'd be willing to bet they fit them as well
Isn't the 93 Cobra center cap a goofy size that doesn't match any other Ford wheel? I'm really starting to loke the idea of silver 93 Cobra wheels. I've found them in a 17X8.5 size. That *should* fit on my Bird ok. Now I just have to wait till I can afford them and a set of tires:hick:
You think your car doesn't look sporty, but you would be surprised how sporty it will look with new wheels. Even my old sage green '85 V6 'Bird looked badass with a set of cheap 14" Cragar chrome steelies. I have probably said it a million times: Wheels absolutely make the car.
My take on your question:
- 10-holes are way overdone IMO (and I have a set on my car, so it hurts to say it). They do look good on any year Fox 'Bird or Cougar, and they are cheap because Mustang guys pretty much give 'em away (I got mine for $50), but they don't turn heads. I think the allure of them went away when they became standard fare on early 90's 4-cyl LX Mustangs.
- Turbines are one of the nicest looking wheels Ford ever made, but they are a PITA to keep clean. Keep 'em clean, though, and they are awesome. Paint between the spokes body colour (or in your case, the darker of the two body colours) and you'll really have something.
- The TC wheels look correct on any T-Bird if not for any other reason than they were designed for and used exclusively on T-Birds. They even look good on Cougars, Mustangs and Capris, and they are fairly easy to clean up and keep clean. They look fairly modern while still looking 80's retro (or in our case "period correct"). I'll be restoring my TC wheels the same way I restored my Ten-Holes and using them on my own car. You can also paint between the "holes" body color with these wheels, and you can polish the face up for a very attractive and relatively uncommon wheel.
- Pony wheels are nice, but they are far too expensive for what they are - seems everyone with a set to sell thinks they're made of gold. They also just look too "Mustang" for me, and they seem to look better on Cougars than Thunderbirds
- No matter how "bellybutton" or "overdone" Cobra R's may be, I still love 'em. In my opinion, nothing can be "bellybutton" on a car as scarce and unique as a fox 'Bird - let's face it , there may only be a few in your state, and of those few how many have Cobra R's? I'm not really keen on the exposed 4-lug with a 5-spoke look, but it's not a deal breaker, and it's not uncommon - most ricers only have four lugs and they use 5-spoke wheels all over the place. If I didn't have the TC wheels to use I'd probably be looking for some chrome Cobra R's.
- I don't like the '93 Cobra wheels. Didn't like 'em on Mustangs, didn't like the 15" version later installed on Thunderbirds. However, if painted black (as shown in a photo somewhere else on this site) they still have their appeal...
So there ya have it: If you're going for a "Stock" but upgraded appearance go with some restored TC wheels. If you want it to look like you've got aftermarket wheels, go with the Cobra R's. But that's only my opinion ;)
I thought both the mn-12 and 93 cobra centers were bigger, but it makes sense if they were all the same size. One of these days I might actually buy a set of those wheels for the car and see for myself...
im more curious as too why the mark viii and i "think" the mn12 tbirds/cougars got a different 5 lug pattern vs the standard one....
Huh?
Not sure what you're saying, but yes the MN-12 5-lug bolt pattern is not the same as the SN-95 Mustang. It is a smaller bolt circle IIRC.
i was just saying that i wonder why the mark viii and the mn12 tbird/cougar got a different bolt pattern than what they went to on the sn95 mustangs.
Ah...dunno....more Blue Oval Wisdom I assume...
Blue Oval Wisdom. Truly an oxymoron...
The Mark VIII and MN12 use the FWD Taurus/Sable/Windstar pattern and wheel offset. Perhaps Ford used a different pattern to prevent people from putting RWD-offset wheels on their T-Birds?
To further fuzzy things up, the DEW98 platform (Linc LS, new T-Bird, Jag) use the same small bolt pattern, but the S197 Mustang, which is supposedlly based on that platform (though it must be loosely based, as it has a solid axle and struts) uses the old "big" pattern. And Volvo uses (and used) the "small" pattern on both FWD and RWD models.
Well I think I'm going to go with either Turbo Coupe or 93 Cobra wheels. Just one favor. Could anyone photo shop both sets on to my Tbird so I could get an idea of how they would look? Thanks :D
Eh I changed my mind again. I'm going to go with Turbines. :D
I think turbines are alittle bit over done....
Your car your choice. Whatever makes you happy.
I voted 93 cobra's. they look killer in black.
Also, the newer, fwd Lincoln continental uses that same lug pattern, '89 Thunderbirds look pretty sharp with the "lace mesh" alloys on.
But, am I safe to say that Mark Vii wheels are the same lug pattern as 94-04 Mustang?
(I'd guess they are, from what I've read about using the mk7 stuff for 5 lug/brake conversions)
Just wanna get a definite yay or nay..
Yes, the Mark VII (7) uses the standard 5-on-4.5" bolt pattern. The VIII (8) uses the smaller MN12 pattern
Mark VIII chassis is coded FN10, but I'm sure you knew that.:D
I could MS paint all the wheels if you could get me some side-on shots of the wheels to go with the pic of your car. I'm not very good, but it got the point across on the thread I made (You gave me the idea:hick:)