help with aftermarket wheels
 

this is somewhat of a lengthy post so skip to the bottom for a summary lol.

I have a 2012 Boss 302 with stock 19x9 and 19x9.5 front/rear rims. I looked them up online and one guy weighed them at 32.5/33 lb so switching to 18's weighing in the low 20's will save about 40 lbs in the wheels alone + probably a few lbs from tires. plus the extra torque to the ground is a bonus.

I'm torn between a few options and I am hoping someone here with experience could help.

option 1:
Black AMR Wheels (2010-2013) at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping!

I prefer the look over the other two and great price but they are not saving that much. plus, build quality is a concern because I know they are made overseas. anyone has any experience with them or American Muscle wheels in general?

option 2:
Black 2010 OE Style Mustang Wheels (2010-2013) at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping!

looks great, price is also great and quality is a concern again but another problem is that they're only made in 18x10 and 18x8. I definitely don't want a narrower-than-stock wheel in the front so the big question is.. has anyone tried 18x10 on the front with brembos and no modifications? rubbing issues on street/track?

option 3:
Piano Black Forgestar F14 Wheels (2010-2013) at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping!

I am not going to be racing but the rims will see some hard use as I do track the car 4-10 times over the summer. Does anyone have any experience with Forgestar? Their weights are very low which is both a good thing and a concern.

I found online (on a forum, not their website so it's questionable) that their weight rating is 1200 lb which is pretty low. since the boss should have a curb weight of mid 3600's lb, if you add a couple of guys, you're easily 4000+ lbs and since 55% not 50% of the car's weight is on the front, the front rims are going to see about 1100 lb each.. I'm pretty sure at least one wheel will see 1200 lb with weight shifting in a hard corner.. huge concern.

summary:

1- has anyone tried American Muscle wheels on a track/road coarse? any issues?
2- can you fit an 18x10 wheel on the front of a 2010+ Mustang with brembos without modifications or issues on the street/track?
3- does anyone have any experience with Forgestar wheels? They are very light and apparently have a low weight/load rating so damage due to track use is a concern.
4- anyone switched to light-weight 18" rims for track use? what did you go with and what's your experience?

thanks!

In my opinion if the only reason you are switching is the weight saving I wouldn't worry about it. Shaving the weight is great but if you aren't really racing I don't think you will notice any difference.

Option 3 is a sick wheel.
As for expirience with AM wheels, i'm going on my fourth summer in 2013 with mine. So far so good.
......And a 10" wide wheel up front, i would be really concerned with the clearance when steering.:?

My buddy with an 07 GT with Brembo brakes swapped on used the SVE Drifts from Latemodel Resto in 18x10 at all 4 corners, similar style to the AMR wheels.

SVE Mustang Drift Wheel Flat Black (05-13) at LRS - Free Shipping!

The second wheel that you're looking at will not clear the Brembos as far as I know.

Another option that looks nice IMO, and will clear the Brembos if you go with the 9" front is the 10th anny replica (also available in a 10" for the rear):

SVE Mustang Anniversary Wheel Anthracite (05-13) at LRS - Free Shipping!


If you are going to track the car, you're better off with a "square" setup to reduce the understeer that comes from the factory staggered setup, and that also allows you to rotate tires front to rear to even out the wear. Otherwise you end up with a bunch of outer shoulder wear on the front tires if they are left in that position.


cheers
Ed

Never thought to weigh em but my wheels from american muscle felt as though they weighed a ton, but on the other hand I'm pretty weak lol one thing tho the black acorn lug nuts I bought from them are rusting ,musta chipped a bunch of paint off of em during installation

Great topic!! Iam shopping for wheels,well lets say browsing and waiting till the springtime.The AM wheels are they made in china junk?? What about the chrome,do they peel after a few seasons?Iam leaning towards 18 in wheels,with a staggered look.Any and all input is appreciated!!

I asked where American Muscle wheels are made but they said they have a confidential agreement with the manufacturer and they can't say. they are probably made in China but I would think they are decent quality as they have a lifetime structural warranty and are probably made on the same line as a brand name manufacturer. I am just concerned about them putting up to track abuse.

I am looking to save weight but I also prefer the look of those wheels, especially option 1 and 3. I think the difference should be noticeable because going from 19" wheels to 18" wheels in the back will be like going from my stock 3.73 rear end to a 3.94 rear end.. not much of a jump but add that to a 30-50 lb savings, depending on the wheels and there should be a slight difference, at least in handling. if there isn't, well at least I have a look I prefer so I feel like there's nothing to lose.

my exact concern.. I don't think a 10" in the front would be a problem in a straight line but I can see turning being an issue.

do you track your AM wheels?

I actually like those wheels in the first link a lot. thanks for the link! I'll stay away from option 2 then because I don't want any headaches or modifications to clear the brembos.

I really want to try a square setup too and see if I notice a better turn in but the boss is so balanced and I'm worried I might ruin it if I go square.. rotating is a huge bonus too. I didn't have any issues with understeer on the track tho and I'm worried going with a square setup will make it tail happy.

The 9" version of the 10th anny wheels clear the Brembo brakes, I confirmed that with the LRS guys previously.

I'm pretty sure that any tailhappiness that you might encounter with a square setup on your car could be adjusted to your liking with tire pressure and shock adjustments. The nose heavy Mustang can really use more tire up front, going 18x10 allows you to run 275 or 285 on all 4 corners.


cheers
Ed

My wheels have seen the 1/4 mile quite a few times, that's it for any kind of track use.

Thanks Ed, that's a very good point. Well, now I'm back to the elephant in the room.. will a 10" fit in the front with no rubbing issues?

good to know, thanks!