Fox Body Mustang Wheel and Tire Guide

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Your wheels and tires are critical to your Mustang’s performance. Tires play a significant role in vehicle handling, braking, acceleration, road noise and vibration, which all impact the driving experience, making them an excellent place to start when upgrading your car.

One of the longest-running Mustang generations, the Fox Body is every modder’s dream car. Its name comes from its build — built on the unibody Fox platform, the lightweight Fox Body solved the issues of the Mustang II by improving fuel efficiency and reducing drag.

If you want to upgrade your Fox Body, this guide will walk you through the process of choosing the right wheels and tires for your build.

Fox Body Mustang Wheel and Tire Guide

Mustang Wheel Sizes

Wheel size has two components — rim size and wheel width. Generally, the larger you go, the more mods you’ll have to make. These modifications commonly include the following components:

Spindles
Axles
Control arms
Independent rear suspension (IRS)
Brakes
Fenders

We often use “rims” and “wheels” interchangeably, but they’re actually different things. To clear up any confusion, we refer to the outer edges of your wheels as “rims” and the entire piece as the “wheel.”

Mustang Rim Sizes

Your rims are the part of your Fox Body wheels that makes contact with your tires, so the rim size you choose determines the size of tires you can use and directly impacts vehicle handling and safety.

Most Fox Bodies and other classic Mustangs come with 15-inch rims, but if you’re looking for upgrades, you’re looking to go bigger. Other rim sizes include:

16-inch: Sixteens are the standard size on some older Fox Bodies as well as 1994-2000 GTs and 2001-2004 base models. Upgrading to 16s from 15s will slightly improve performance and appearance.
17-inch: Seventeens come standard on 5-lug Fox Bodies as well as several later models. If you upsize from 16s to 17s, you’ll improve your vehicle handling without sacrificing overall ride quality. These rims are also good for boosting road course performance and overall appearance.
18-inch: This rim size was standard in 1995 Saleen Mustangs and became common in Mustangs from 2006 on. Most choose to replace their 18s with 19s or 20s unless they want high performance.
19-inch: Nineteen-inch rims will affect speedometer readings on older Mustangs, so if you plan to upgrade to this size, make sure you have a tuner. You may also experience a noticeable decrease in ride quality and performance due to the limited space in your wheel wells — upgrading to 19-inch rims is more suited to newer models.
20-inch: This rim size is only available as an option on newer Mustangs. Upsizing to 20s is a primarily aesthetic upgrade for older Mustangs — newer models might benefit from improved performance, but older ones will experience issues with potholes and other road obstacles due to the smaller sidewalls.

Typically, upsizing your rims by one size from your original will enhance performance without sacrificing ride quality. If you want to upsize by two or more sizes, you’re definitely going to need to make more mods.

If you want to move up three sizes, you’ll need a tuner to adjust your speedometer and compensate for the added weight. You might also experience issues with wheel well space and steering clearance.

Only move up by four sizes if you don’t intend to drive your Mustang very often. While you’ll improve appearance, such a big jump in wheel size will negatively affect performance and ride quality.

Mustang Wheel Width

When you increase your wheel size, you increase the surface area your tires have to make contact with the road, which improves vehicle handling and cornering. That being said, the larger you go, the more mods you’ll need to make, especially if you’re dealing with a Fox Body.

Available wheel widths for Mustangs include:

8-inch: Most Mustangs come with 8-inch wheels. This width is the best choice if you want to replace your wheels without going up in size. You also probably won’t have to buy new tires along with your new wheels.
9-inch: If you’re looking to get that aggressive Mustang stance, upsizing to 9-inch wheels might be a good move for you.
10-inch: Ten-inch wheels allow you to equip wider tires and get a tougher look. You can fit your car with 10s in the back and 9s in the front for a fierce, staggered look. Note that if you’re upgrading a Fox Body, 10s might be pushing it even with mods.
5-inch: Ten-and-a-half-inch wheels are similar to 10s, but they provide a slightly wider traction pad. You can technically use them on older Mustangs and Fox Bodies, but only in the rear — contact with the brakes, A-arms and other parts in the front fender area will increase rubbing and friction and cause damage.

You’ll want to choose wheels that fit your wheel wells with room to spare for turns. Use the following measurements to make sure those wheels you’ve been eyeing will work:

Hub size
Wheel center bore measurement
Number of wheel studs
Distance between wheel studs
Wheel well offset

Fox Body Wheel Recommendations by Year

The original Fox Bodies came with 15-inch rims and 225/60R15 tires — compared to today’s standard wheels, that’s pretty small. Upgrading to a larger size will provide higher traction, which can significantly enhance road and racing performance.

That being said, you’ll need to make additional mods to maintain performance on certain models when you go to change the wheels. Here’s what we recommend for each Fox Body model.

1979-1990

These Fox Bodies have smaller front fender openings than their 1991-1993 successors, so you’ll have to stick to smaller wheels up front. Four-eyed and four-cylinder Fox Bodies — manufactured from 1979-1986 — can only take a maximum of 8-inch wide wheels up front due to the low strut-to-wheel clearance. If you want a wider wheel, you’ll need to upgrade your brakes, as well.

Our recommendation for a high-performing, good-looking Fox Body Mustang wheels setup includes:

17-inch rims on both the front and the back
8-inch wheels in front with a 245/45/17 size tire
9-inch wheels in back with a 275/40/17 size tire

This setup provides that staggered stance without requiring extra modifications. You could use 10.5-inch wheels with 17-inch rims and 315/35/17 tires in the back, but you’ll need to remove the rear quad shocks and readjust the inner fender.

That said, every Mustang is unique — you might be able to install larger wheels without needing to do more than removing the rear shocks.

1991-1993

This generation’s front fender openings are wider than the previous line, so you can install larger wheels up front with fewer mods.

If you want to equip larger wheels and tires in the front, installing steering rack limiters is a smart move. Rack limiters prevent tires and wheels from rubbing on full turns, which can help improve road performance. Just be careful about the number of mods you do up front — too many can impact your turning radius.

1994-2004

Ford replaced the Fox Bodies with the SN95 in 1994, but you can still use SN95 wheels in your build with a few extra modifications.

First, you’ll need to convert from a 4-lug setup to a 5-lug. You’ll also likely need a wheel spacer to make sure they fit properly in your wheel wells.

Keep in mind that SN95 axles are longer on each side than Fox Body axles, so you’ll need to adjust the offset to keep the wheel in the wheel wells. You’ll also want to stick to a narrower wheel, especially in the front.

2005-2014

It’s possible to use S197 wheels on your Fox Body, but these will require larger spacers and wider axles for a good fit. You will also definitely need to convert your lug bolt configuration, as no S197 wheels are available for a 4-lug setup.

As with other generations, sticking to a smaller 17-inch rim will be your best bet if you don’t want to get too involved with modifications. But if the appearance of the larger wheels is what you’re after, it’s still completely doable.

Other potential mods you might need to make can vary significantly on the size of your wheels and your car’s characteristics. What works for one Fox Body might be difficult for another, especially once you start jumping multiple generations.

What Are Pony Wheels?

Introduced in 1991, the Pony Wheel’s clean, one-piece, five-spoke design made it a popular option for Mustang enthusiasts. It’s still a well-loved upgrade today.

If you’re into the clean look of the Pony Wheels, you might want to consider adding center caps to cover your lugs. A set of Ford-licensed Pony Wheel center caps with the tri-bar Mustang logo is a solid choice — just make sure you match your wheel color.

Can You Convert 4-Lug Wheels to 5-Lug Wheels?

Short answer — yes. Converting your Fox Body’s 4-lug wheels to 5-lugs can improve safety and aesthetics in addition to expanding your wheel options.

Some 5-lug possibilities include:

Bullitt: This classic Mustang style was inspired by the 1968 movie of the same name. Featured on Ford’s special 2001 GT Mustang, these wheels give a tough, vintage appearance that’s sure to turn heads.
Saleen: If you like the sharp, iconic look of the 1999 Saleen Mustang’s rims, you should equip your Fox Body with 5-lug Saleen wheels.
MM350: These stylish wheels feature a bold, multi-spoke design intended to grab attention and hold it. Combine your MM350s with wheel caps to customize the look.

Of course, you’ve still got options if you’d prefer to stick to your original 4-lug configuration:

Cobra R wheels:Four-lug Cobra R wheels provide an irresistibly aggressive yet clean look, so it’s no wonder they’re a highly popular Fox Body upgrade. Staggering the front and back wheel sizes further enhances the look.
Pony Wheels: Still a popular choice among Mustang enthusiasts, Pony Wheels are simple and clean in appearance. If you like the look, you can find high-quality aftermarket Pony Wheels to replicate the originals in both 4-lug and 5-lug configurations.

Fox Body Mustang Tire Sizes

Because Fox Bodies are narrower than newer Mustangs, you’re limited in the tire sizes you can use — unless you plan to perform further mods.

Larger tires increase traction and provide that iconic aggressive Mustang look, but smaller tires improve fuel efficiency and acceleration. The right size tire for you depends on where and how often you drive your Fox Body as well as your overall budget.

What Size Tire Can You Fit on a Fox Body Mustang?

The largest wheel you can install in a Fox Body front without making lots of additional mods is a 16- or 17-inch rim with a 9-inch wide wheel. You can use 18s and up, but you’ll need to make some extra adjustments to make sure everything fits properly.

Fox Body Mustang Wheel and Tire Guide

Types of Mustang Tires

Whether you’re a track star or you just like to take your pony around town, you’ll need to choose tires that make sense for your car. Three types of tires are available for Mustangs, each with different characteristics and use cases.

Choosing the right tire is about more than just fit and purpose, though — it also impacts your Fox Body’s driving safety.

High Performance

Whether you’re on the track or on the street, you can depend on high-performance Mustang tires to provide enhanced safety and speed. High-performance tires are typically DOT-approved for use in street driving. Even if you end up in the rain, you’ll still be able to steer your pony with ease.

These tires have a decent tread life — not quite as long as regular all-season tires, but longer than radials and slicks.

Drag Radials

Drag radials are a hybrid between slicks and high-performance tires. They’re made of a softer rubber than high-performance tires and feature sturdy sidewalls that let them turn corners well, but their light tread pattern means they’re not fit for driving if the weather sours. Because they’re softer and stickier than high-performance tires, radials have a short tread life.

Some radials may be DOT-approved, but because they often only meet the minimum requirements, they still may be unsuitable for street driving.

Racing Slicks

Racing enthusiasts will benefit from fitting their Mustangs with drag racing slicks — made of super soft rubber with no tread, racing slicks flex under pressure to maximize the contact your wheels make with the road.

You’ll get excellent traction, but that’s about it. If you want to drive your pony off the track, you won’t go far — the treadless design and soft sidewalls make these tires unsuitable for wet roads or even turning corners.

Fox Body Mustang Wheel and Tire Guide

Shop Aftermarket Mustang Wheels and Tires From Top Flight Automotive

At Top Flight Automotive, we’re proud to offer top-quality parts from all of your favorite Mustang manufacturers, from Mr. Mustang to Mustang America. We strive to provide an efficient shopping experience — we have the largest in-stock inventory anywhere, so many online orders ship the same day.

Browse all of our Mustang wheels and tires to find the best rims for your ride in our one-stop shop. If you’ve got questions about which products are best for your build, give us a call at 833-486-7354, or you can visit our Reedsville, Pennsylvania, showroom in person.

Sources:

Flight Log

Fox Body Mustang Wheel and Tire Guide