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Still Confused about Aftermarket Wheels

Alpine 1789

SAOCA President
Diamond Level Sponsor
I think I have read every posting on this and the previous two forums about aftermarket wheels and I am still confused. While there have been lots of discussions about bolt circles, offset and backspace, I’ve never seen a clear listing of what wheels fit cleanly into the stock openings. I know lots of wheels will fit, but “fit†is a relative term and I have seen lots of cars with wheels that stick out in the front. I also know that some wheels will fit if you use spacers, but I’ve never seen clear recommendations on these.

It would really help me (and I suspect others) to see some clear recommendations. Something like: “The 15†wheels from a 1999-2004 Ford Focus will fit perfectly if you trim the lower valence and use a ½†spacer.†(BTW: I just made this one up, although I believe the bolt circle is correct. I have no idea how well they would fit into the wheel opening.

Thanks.

Jim
 

Bill Blue

Platinum Level Sponsor
Jim, I think there are too many variables. Wheel set back, diameter, width, tire width and aspect ratio all enter into the equation. Oh, and don't forget the Alpine. For instance, I can tell you that 165 R 13 tires mounted on Mutt II aftermarket 5.5" aluminum wheels with 3/4" offset will work without modifications on the left side, but require valence modification on the right.

BTW, the example you mentioned would probably work on most Alpines, depending on width.

Bill
 

AlpineII

Donation Time
This question has plagued me as well. The following area few extracts I saved from various places. I can't personally verify the info:

"The stock 13" rims were 4.5" wide with a 4x4.25" bolt circle. A number of cars have wheels with this same bolt circle:

Ford Fairmont 78-86 Mustang (exc. SVO) 74-86
Thunderbird 80-86 Pinto 71-80
Fiesta 78-85 Escort 80-86
Mercury Mercur 85-86 Zepher, Z-7 78-86
Cougar, XR7 80-86 Mercur XR4TI 82-86
Lynx, LN7 82-86 Topaz 82-86
Capri, Capri H 71-86

Capri and Capri II wheels can apparently be used on a Sunbeam. Capri wheels are 5J x 13 with the same bolt circle and lug size."

Of course, bolt circle is not the only criterion. As Bill has mentioned there are so many variables
 

Alpine 1789

SAOCA President
Diamond Level Sponsor
Thanks, Bill and Eddie. The "variables" issue is why I was looking for specific recommendations. It would be nice to know specific cars and/or combinations that work, rather than having to guess at it or ask sellers multiple measurement questions. But, I guess I'll have to rely on that method.
 

Barry

Diamond Level Sponsor
I will try the 2001 Focus wheels off my wrecked wagon and report back...

The Focus wheels have the correct bolt pattern, but are typical of a FWD setup and have way too much backspace / offset for an Alpine.
 

Alpine 1789

SAOCA President
Diamond Level Sponsor
We used to have a Focus too, and I always meant to pull a wheel and check. Sold the car before I had the chance.

Assuming it fits, the hard part about using a wheel from a FWD car will be deciding what spacers would be needed. The interesting thing about this option is that you might be able to use different spacers in the front and back and achieve a very nice fit all around.

But, wouldn't it be nice to be able to go to Tire rack and know that you could buy wheels intended for a specific vehicle!
 

V6 JOSE

Donation Time
We used to have a Focus too, and I always meant to pull a wheel and check. Sold the car before I had the chance.

Assuming it fits, the hard part about using a wheel from a FWD car will be deciding what spacers would be needed. The interesting thing about this option is that you might be able to use different spacers in the front and back and achieve a very nice fit all around.

But, wouldn't it be nice to be able to go to Tire rack and know that you could buy wheels intended for a specific vehicle!
Jim,

If you were to try to use the Focus wheels and used the appropriate amount of shims, you'd need to replace the stock wheel studs with much longer ones.

I have found that any wheel that fits a Fox bodied Mustang, with neutral offset, will work, even to an 8" wide one. You might want to use a wheel that has 1" negative offset in front to tuck the wheel inside the fender, because the Alpine front suspension is pretty wide and aftermarket wheels will stick out about .75", on a neutral offset wheel.

Jose:)
 

Alpine 1789

SAOCA President
Diamond Level Sponsor
Thanks, Jose. It is the sticking out in the front that I am hoping to avoid. I have a set of Mustang II wheels that I had hoped would work, but I don't like the way they look in the front.

Do Fox body wheels always have neutral to slight negative offset? My concern, and the reason I posted this to begin with, is that is seems that sellers of used wheels rarely know the detailed specs on those wheels. They know what cars they came from and maybe the width, but not much else. That makes it difficult to determine from afar if they will work.
 

Bill Blue

Platinum Level Sponsor
I believe "negative" offset is what the guys with slammed cars use. Positive offset tucks the wheels in under the car. There seems to have been a reversal in the meaning of the terms over the past twenty or thirty years.

Regardless, I think that when using wider wheels and tires on these cars, offset becomes a meaningless number and backspace rules. Barry had a good post of this on the old board.

Lots of luck finding it.

Bill
 

lemansvk

Donation Time
"The stock 13" rims were 4.5" wide with a 4x4.25" bolt circle. A number of cars have wheels with this same bolt circle:

Ford Fairmont 78-86 Mustang (exc. SVO) 74-86
Thunderbird 80-86 Pinto 71-80
Fiesta 78-85 Escort 80-86
Mercury Mercur 85-86 Zepher, Z-7 78-86
Cougar, XR7 80-86 Mercur XR4TI 82-86
Lynx, LN7 82-86 Topaz 82-86
Capri, Capri H 71-86

As well as the Ford wheels, there are a number of European cars which use the metric equivalent (almost) bolt circle of 4x108mm. These include Alfa Romeo 105 GTVs, some SAAB 900s, early Porsche 924 and some Audi. I know someone using SAAB 900 alloys in the 15"x6" size on a Series VI Hillman Minx. However, some of these wheels are made for a larger lug/stud size (13mm I guess). I have a set of 14"x5.5" Alfa 105 wheels that I was given and the pattern fits but the difference in lug size worries me. I have tried 13"x5.5" Ford Cortina wheels but too much positive offset and the tyre fouled the front suspension.

Currently I run 13"x5.5" Superlites http://www.performancewheels.com.au/super_lite_wheels.htm
These do sit out a fraction at the front but they don't foul anything.

Cheers, Vic
 
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