Good mini spare donor for rims to use as front runners?

[Matt Cramer]

I've been thinking about getting a second set of wheels for the Dart just for drag racing, but on the cheap. (Of course, I have to finish the car first!) I was thinking of using mini spare rims (with real tires - not about to use the mini spare tires for this) to go on the front. The Dart has been swapped to a 5 x 4.5" bolt pattern disc brakes that require 15" or larger bolt pattern. Did anything use a mini spare with an aluminum rim in that size?

[68scott385]

I don't know what the rim diameter was but a friend used aluminum space-savers from early-80's Mustangs, IIRC, as front runners.

I know, I'm just a fountain of information.

[38P]

It seems like some Panthers (Crown Victoria, Town Car, Grand Marquis) back in the 90s did . . . .

I thought about the mini-spare wheel thing when my 15x4s wouldn't fit over 12.8" rotors . . . but that sticker that says not to remount any tire on the rim made me chicken out. (I do know that plenty of Mustang racers have ground off that sticker and got real drag front runners installed on :"doughnut" rims, but I've also heard that sometimes tech inspectors still bounce 'em.)

I'd like to know more reports, because there just aren't any good, cheap narrow rims in 17" . . . .

[Beagle]

I've been thinking about getting a second set of wheels for the Dart just for drag racing, but on the cheap. (Of course, I have to finish the car first!) I was thinking of using mini spare rims (with real tires - not about to use the mini spare tires for this) to go on the front. The Dart has been swapped to a 5 x 4.5" bolt pattern disc brakes that require 15" or larger bolt pattern. Did anything use a mini spare with an aluminum rim in that size?

the SN95 Mustang guys were running the Cobra spare wheels for skinnies... big brakes on that car meant bigger spares. Might check into that because I don't think they were Temporary spares in the traditional 50mph context. I think they were aluminum too.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Mustang-Cobra-17-SPACE-SAVER-Spare-wheel-Tire-FITS-13-Brakes-light-WEIGHT-/141109979993?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20dacf6b59

17" wheel... t155 - 70 x 17 should be about a 25.5" tire.

[JWS4621]

My 94 cobra spare is a 17" wheel but it is steel.

[nickleone]

Some T Bird spares are aluminum. The swoopy body ones.

Nick

[38P]

The problem with T-Bird spares is that from 1980-87 they were all Fox four-lug (only the Panthers, Fox Lincolns, Ranger, Aerostar, Bronco II, and the SVO Mustang got 5x4.5 wheels during that time span) and then Taurus-style (metric5x108mm . . . essentially5x4.25)

[38P]

My 94 cobra spare is a 17" wheel but it is steel.

If memory serves, my '98 Cobra spare is also 17" steel (and it used to be a pricey item to replace . . . .)

I think our '04 Marauder's doughnut wheel is 18" steel (early Marauders had an unpolished full-size aluminum 18" wheel for a spare) . . . the 2012 300A Mustang GT's spare is an ugly 18" aluminum thing 18" with the warnings cast into it along with "Made in China" . . . .

[squirrel]

too bad I sold those Super Tricks....they'd be perfect. Oh well.

I finally found some aluminum slots 15x4.5 but chevy bolt pattern...they're great front runners.

my guess is the offset might be wrong on the mini spares?

[Deaf Bob]

Ever notice the space savers running on the street?.. As Squirrel says, they are offset towards the car.. We like them on derby cars because the rubber is protected towards the inner car somewhat.. And are 16", so id the tire is flat, the car does not drag.. Check out Jeep Wagoneers, can't think what years but they have 16" and 2 bolt patterns, some are aluminum...

[Russell]

maybe this guy will split up the front in the rears http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/pts/4625937020.html

[CTX-SLPR]

Is this the "do not remount" spare?


Mk VII's had 5x4.5in wheels but car-part.com says it's shared with Crown Vic/Grand Mar and Continental.

[Matt Cramer]

maybe this guy will split up the front in the rears http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/pts/4625937020.html

Thanks, that's a nice find, but a bit out of my current budget.