96-98 OEM Wheels vs Chrome 95 Rs

[Tickle]

I bought my 1996 vert 2 years ago and the previous owner had already put in a set of chrome 95 R replicas on it. A few local ads have popped up where I think I could get good set of stockers to put on. I've always been a fan of the stock look. I've also seen either bullits or cobra Rs on every damn mustang around here.

What do you think?

Also, what's the widest tire I should run on 17x8 oems if I decide to swap?

If the PO had installed saleens I wouldn't even ask....but I don't want to buy a whole new set of anything.

 

[Boomer8404]

98 Cobras have the same 95 Cobra R styled factory wheels. I think Bullitts and Cobra R's are over done personally. SN-95 Saleen's or New Edge Saleen's are nice. But I love the 94-97 stock Cobra rims. No other rim gives that look, which is perfect IMOP! I'd recommend going back to stock for that classic SN-95 Cobra look, unless you have a 98, and the widest tire would probably be a 275 on a 17x8, but it would look pretty bulged. There are a couple places, one in Colorado, the other in Michigan if I remember right, that can widen rims too, if you wanna go stock with as wide as a 315 tire. Going that wide though, you would probably need a spacer so the tire wont rub the inner fender. There is a forum member (DSGTURBOSVO) that had his factory 94-97 Cobra rims widened (rears) to 17x10. I think he is running a 275 or 285 w/ a 1.25" spacer, looks sweet! Hope this helps.

P.S. If you need a reminder of how badass the stockers would look, just scroll down to my signature pic!

 

[green99_svt]

98 cobra wheels are similar but not the same as 95 R wheels.

 

[Tickle]

Forgot about those. I mean the 96-97 wheels with the "shadowed" parts. Not the full chrome like 1994-1995.

These:

 

[thumper]

I traded the 18" Cobra R's that came on my 94 (have no clue who made 18" R's) for a set of 17x9-10.5 bullitts. I absolutly hate the Cobra R's on anything, I've even seen them on a few explorers around here. The stockers look pretty good I just dont like the way the SN-95 body "tucks" the stock rear wheels. I was really wanting some FR500's or SVT anniversary wheels but for the price (even trade) I couldn't pass them up, plus I don't see a lot of bullitts around here. Any of the 10" or 10.5" wheels with 315s look perfect on the back of these cars.

 

[bumsoil]

right after i got my car. OEM wheels



2 days ago in the rain



i vote cobra R.

i also love these wheels in motion:

 

[Sheriff41]

If you like the stock wheels you should go for it! You can always change them out later of you want to go for a different look.

 

[Tickle]

right after i got my car. OEM wheels

View attachment 31680

2 days ago in the rain

View attachment 31681

i vote cobra R.

i also love these wheels in motion:

View attachment 31682

Thank you for posting these! I have a CW convertible. I think they are both badass. Chrome really works well with the white though which is why I am torn.

What size tires do you have on your Rs? I'm considering 275s all around, the 255s I have look small on a 17x9.

 

[bumsoil]

I run 255 's on the front and 315's on the rear. 255's look perfect on a 9" wheel. rear wheels are 17x10.5.

the OEM wheels don't look bad at all, but they are 8" wide................

 

[Boomer8404]

Forgot about those. I mean the 96-97 wheels with the "shadowed" parts. Not the full chrome like 1994-1995.

These:

Those look sweet! 94-95's came with a polished finish or a machined face w/ light silver painted scallops. I have a set of 94 polish finished oem's on my 97, I wanted some shine but not chrome. 96-97's came with a machined face w/ dark gray painted scallops (your pic above) or a fully painted light silver finish. There is also a chrome version, however I don't believe it was a factory option, only done by an aftermarket chromer. If there was a factory chrome version, it would probably have been a special order/purchase through the dealership parts depo. Also, the 96-97 painted light silver finish is the only factory finish to not have the notch cut out for prying the center cap off with. If you need a replacement center cap for the oem Cobra wheel, you can use the later V6 wheel center cap (which is a different part number), they have the same face design, but the inner finger tabs are a little longer, however they will work as a direct replacemnt if needed.

Bonus: From the late 80's to late 90's most of, if not all Mustang alloy wheels where cast by Superior Aluminum Casting, Inc. there are/were plants in Missouri & Arkansas. There is a marking of S4 for the Missouri plant or S5 for the Arkansas plant on the inside face of the wheels.

I had also thought it funny that Ford did not at least bring back the 94-95 polished finish wheel for the 96 Mystic Cobra, to add a little more class to the awesome BASF Mystic paint, which all subsequently came with the machined face w/ dark gray painted scallops finish.

Also, 95 Cobra R's (17x9's) and 98 Cobra rims (17x8's) are similar, but what makes the 98's unique is the shape of the spokes, and how they bow out in the center and then back in towards the barrel & hub, no other aftermarket repop version of a Cobra R matches the shape of the 98 oem wheels. The aftermarket spoke shapes are replicated from the 95 Cobra R design.

Just a few fun facts, hope you all enjoy!

 

[nckissfan]

I don't like the chrome 95r's. I prefer them to be the silver, I think it is a cleaner look.

The only thing I did not like about the stock wheels was the plastic center piece.

 

[1BD9D7]

I like the 96-97 stock wheel style better than the 98 cobra or 95 R wheels. But, it's all about putting a wider rear wheel on these cars for a decent look so I would vote 95 R so you can get 10.5 rears.

 

[fastferndog]

I prefer the 96-97 polished ones

 

[Prototype007]

^ Those look great!

I prefer the 98 Cobra wheel myself.

 

[Sn8kebitten]

I've always loved stock 96 Cobra wheels with the black inner pieces. Just never liked 95 Cobra R/ 98 Cobra wheels. Never liked how the spokes are so curved instead of being straight like 03/04s or '00 cobra R's

 

[gq916]

oem 96-98 all day

 

[Balt21]

Overall I like the 96-98 wheels better, I just don't like how sunk in they are.

 

[Deceptive]

Too bad somebody can't make a replica 96 wheel in 18" staggered 9 & 10".

 

[thumper]

If someone made a deep dish 17x10.5 94-97 wheel replica I'd be one of the first to place my order.

 

[royo]

I also love the '94-'97 Cobra wheels better than the Cobra R's.