New 18" tires rubbing bad-what to do?
 

Just installed 18 x 9 y2k Cobra R wheels with 275/40/18 BFG KD's ($300 ea) and when I had the car up on a lift noticed the inside of the right front tire was getting shredded. I didnt notice the clearance problem when the tire shop put them on, they looked so bad ***! I cant even feel the rub when turning either but it the shreds dont lie. Is it common to have clearance probs with 18" wheels on 00 GT's? Any fixes? I have figured out not to make tight turns, but anything else?

Sounds like they may be rubbing on the swaybar. About the only thing you can do for rubbing on the inside once you've already bought the wheels is try a narrower tire or use a wheel spacer, but with 275's you probably don't have much room to come outward without rubbing the fender or looking funny. Also, too big of a spacer will screw up your steering geometry and cause wheel bearings to wear rapidly.

I USE TO HAVE A 2000 MUSTANG. AND I BOUGHT SOME 18X7.5 WHEELS WITH 245/40/18'S. THEY RUBBED AT A FULL CUT OF THE WHEEL. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY. BUT I TOOK MINE TO A WHEEL AND TIRE SHOP AND THEY SAID MY WHEELS WERE NOT THE CORRECT OFF SET. THEN I SOLD THAT MUSTANG AND BOUGHT A 2001. SINCE THEN I BOUGHT STEEDA ULTRA LIGHT 18X9'S AND I WAS AFARID THEY'D RUB TO. BUT I TOOK IT TO A GREAT PLACE CALLED THE WHEEL SOURCE AND THEY SAID I COULD FIT UP TO A 285-35-18 ON THE FRONT AND A 315-35-18 ON THE REAR AND HAVE NO TROUBLE. IT WAS HARD TO BELIEVE SO I JUST WENT WITH A 265-35-18 ALL THE WAY AROUND. AND I JUST LOWERED IT TO. NEVER ONCE HAS IT RUBBED. THE GUYS AT WHEEL SOURCE SAID THAT IF A 18X9 WHEEL RUBS ON A NEWER MUSTANG IT WOULD ALMOST HAVE TO BE THE INCORRECT OFF SET. ARE THESE WHEELS THE REAL COBRA R Y2K'S FROM FORD? IF SO I DON'T KNOW WHY YOUR HAVING TROUBLE, BUT IF IT'S FROM THE LOCAL BOB&TOM'S WHEELS AND TIRES, THEN IT COULD JUST BE THE WRONG OFF SET.

These are the knockoff Cobra r's but I think I found out what is happening. When I pull in to my driveway I make a sharp right and hit the bump where the slope of the driveway starts-yesterday I heard it rub bad when I pulled in quickly. I will just have to be mindful of sharp right turns followed by sharp bumps I guess. These wheels are made by "Verde" specifically 'for mustangs, I doubt the offsets are off. I think the 275's are just a bit much (the wheel dealer did tell me they use 265's when they sell wheel and tire sets). Of course just like when buying anything for this car everybody had a different opinion about what would work. I hope my mistake being read about here will help some others who are about to get Cobra R wheels to go with 265's up front (the 275's are fine on the rear). Oh well, whats $600 (I'm going to cry now).

I believe your offsets are probably fine, the real cobra R's and the replica's both have the correct offset. The 18X9 inch wheels fit perfectly on all the newer stangs. Your tires are just too big. Keep in mind that the stock tires (245-45-17) are 25.68" in diameter. The tires you put on (275-40-18) are 26.66" diameter, over a full inch taller than stock, which is why you're rubbing.

I know it's after the fact now, but if you would have went with the 275-35-18, which are 25.58" diameter, almost the same exact diameter as stock, there would be no rubbing at all, even with a lowered car.

You play you pay!!!! Its alwyas been this way while modding my car, now I am working on a totally new chip tune to get my car to run right after going as far as I could with a autologic chip and an incompetent tuner. Should set me back another $600.

Get some quality wheel spacers from H&R and your rubbing problems will go away. H&R make the best springs around so their wheel spacers must be high quality as well.

SInce my wheels only rub when the suspension is compressed,(i.e. when hitting a bump) wheel spacers really help me? How do I know what size to get?

oh ok it rubs bad when the springs compress. I never heard of that one before..do you have a tonne of stuff in your trunk? No just kidding.

If I was you, I would get new springs. Tirerack.com have good deals on springs but I'd talk to a strictly suspension or mustang shop. They should have guidelines for what width wheel spacer you need for each tire width.