Getting new rims soon, which do you like better? Anthracite VS. Chrome FR500's

ChrissyStang02 · 09:11 AM

Hey there! As most of you probably know, I have a '02 Mineral Gray GT. I am planning on buying new rims and tires sometime in early '08 and have decided that I definitely want to go with FR500's (vs. the Cobra rims that I previously wanted, which I still love). Having a mineral gray GT (which I have REALLY grown to love the color), do you guys think I should go chrome or anthracite?? I loooove Chrome, I have to say that first, but I think they both look great. I was surprised after researching and looking at a lot of pictures how good the chrome looks with mineral gray. I also love the anthracite almost just as much. Please let me know what you think!

There are links below with both styles.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

**Anthracite VS. Chrome FR500's**
FR500 rims on 2 '02 Mineral Gray Mustang GT's:

Anthracite:
Fr-500 lowered '02 beast w/ Flowmasters, BBK throtle body, steeda, fast as hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chrome:
2002 Mineral Grey GT, FR500 wheels, lots of mods

lowflyn · 12-22-2007, 10:26 AM

Chrome ftw, go dd in the rear though, I've fallen in love with mine.

ChrissyStang02 · 10:43 AM

yeah, i definitely wanna go dd in the rear. thinking i'm lovin' the chrome choice the most so far!

another question would be: should i go with 17's or 18's with rims and tires? 18's are a lot more $$ w/ getting new tires too, but hmmm. i'm not sure yet.

which brand of tires do y'all think? i think i'm going with nitto's so far, but i'm not totally sure yet.

**meteorachick** · 12-22-2007, 11:03 AM

chrome x10000

wiarumas · 12-22-2007, 11:15 AM

if you got the 17", would you feel disappointed and wished you should have went 18"? that extra inch might look a bit nicer, but it requires an extra hundred every time you change tires... which in retrospect might not be that much if you dont go through tires very often.

lowflyn · 12-22-2007, 11:59 AM

The extra cost is worth it to me, I love the look of 18's. I need to post some pics of my new dd's.

**PureVenom** · 12-22-2007, 12:36 PM

17's because they are the same height as the 18's when you put tires on them and it provides more sidewall than an 18 would and it saves dough when buying tires.

Once the car is lowered, the 17s will look just as good as the 18's.

I'm not going to chime in on color...but 17s really should be the way you go.

JROC · 12-22-2007, 06:16 PM

18's look much better. They look like what the car should come factory with.

I will provide pics if needed.

**PureVenom** · 12-22-2007, 06:22 PM

Side by side, 18's look the same as 17s...and side by side, 18's are the same height as 17s...therefore, it is pure mental preference as to which looks better and whether you want the "bling" factor that comes from running 18s or not. An 18 will get you a shorter sidewall...that's about it.

JROC · 12-22-2007, 07:05 PM


Quote: Originally Posted by PureVenom Side by side, 18's look the same as 17s...and side by side, 18's are the same height as 17s...therefore, it is pure mental preference as to which looks better and whether you want the "bling" factor that comes from running 18s or not. An 18 will get you a shorter sidewall...that's about it.

I agree some people can't tell much of a difference between the two, while others I have talked to say it feels out my wheel wells better. From 75 FT you can't tell a size difference.

Here are some pics for referrence. Keep in mind that my old rears have Nitto 315/35/17 DR's mounted on the factory 9" wide wheels so they bulge a little. My new rears are 10.5" wide so they don't bulge.

**PureVenom** · 12-22-2007, 07:18 PM

Just for reference....Notice the diameter size...the 17" is actually taller than the 18...so yeah. (calculations based on using a 17x9 and 18x9" rim...however, same holds true for 315 tires)

275/45 17s
Sidewall: 4.3"
Radius: 12.8"
Diameter: 25.7"
Circumference: 80.6"
Revs/Mile: 786.0

275/35 18s:
Sidewall: 3.8"
Radius: 12.8"
Diameter: 25.6"
Circumference: 80.4"
Revs/Mile: 788.0

And in case you feel like messing around with it on your own....Tire size calculator

The only way to get the 18 to fill the wheel well more is to use a taller tire...say a 40 or 45 sidewall if you can find one...and which point you will then be using tires larger than stock size and will need to make adjustments to your speedometer and odometer. For the record, a 40 sidewall would make the tire another inch taller...and would take up whole a half inch more of the wheel well area.

JROC · 12-22-2007, 10:33 PM

^Your thinking in terms of actually filling in space more, but we're talking about filling the space taken with more metal and less rubber. Like Bunt said you could throw some 15's or 16's on and put some 55's or 60's on them and take up just as much space, but it would still look out of place with that much sidewall. A 275/35 on a 18 looks much better than a 275/40 on a 17. Look at the second picture I posted. Saying it fills the wheelwells better is just an expression meaning theres less gap (and rubber) between the wheels and finders, not the tires and finders.

**PureVenom** · 12-22-2007, 10:39 PM

^^^ They are still just bling. And the extra 1/2 of metal that ends up in the wheel well really doesn't make that much of a visual difference in my mind.

However, since people that like bling style are never going to agree with those that are more about function vs investment....there is no sense arguing over 17 vs 18.

The point of the thread is chrome vs anthrecite. I'm not chiming in on this as I am letting her make her own decision on that as she is the primary user of the car. I'm letting her make it look how she wants, and she is letting me suggest the performance changes.

So, we will agree to disagree. In my mind, 18s are nothing more than bling factor and serve no other purpose. You and useless statement boy and others feel 18s are a wise investment in the looks department. That is y'alls choice just like it is mine that 17s are the better choice.

JROC · 12-22-2007, 10:56 PM

^ Bigger wheels means more room for bigger brakes. Both smaller and bigger wheels have their advantages. A little bling factor is good. It makes you appretiate your ride more. You can just stand back from it and look at it and say, "Damn that thing looks good."

**PureVenom** · 12-22-2007, 10:59 PM

Like I said...we'll have to agree to disagree.

I have no problem standing back and saying damn, my car looks good...nor having pride in it.

Now...

Chrome vs Anthracite on mineral gray.

JROC · 12-22-2007, 11:13 PM

On Mineral gray I would get Anthracite before Chrome.

ChrissyStang02 · 12-24-2007, 09:41 AM

well, thanks for your input everyone! i appreciate everyone's comments.

as for the finish on the rims, after a lot of thinking about what i really want and looking at a TON of pictures (and lots of mineral gray stangs), i think i'm gonna go with the chrome fr500's (dd in the rear). pics coming as soon as i get them! i can't wait!!!!!

ChrissyStang02 · 12-24-2007, 04:27 PM

So here are the other rims I am trying to decide between (these 2003 style Chrome Cobra rims and the chrome fr500's)...I am about 99% sold on the chrome fr500's, but I still looooove these and maybe I'm still not sure quite yet...hmmm....

What do you guys think?

2 '02 Mineral Gray Mustang GTs with Chrome Cobra Rims

02 Mineral Gray Mustang GT/ Cobra R

2002 Mineral Grey Mustang GT Steeda Custom