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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Big tires on a big car? Oh yes! FR500's on a P71! « 1 2 »
  • P71

    July 14, 2009 2:32 p.m. P71 SuperDork

    Hehehehee...

    That's a 17x9 front and 17x10.5 rear FR500 wheels on my 01 P71 Crown Vic Interceptor. 245/40's and 275/40's right now (bought the wheels/tires used) but 255/50's and 285/40's are on the way! Also going to cut one coil from all 4 springs.

    It also saved me over 100Lbs of rolling unsprung weight!!!

  • pigeon

    July 14, 2009 2:56 p.m. pigeon Reader

    Donk!

  • Jensenman

    July 14, 2009 3:09 p.m. Jensenman MegaDork

    No, no, NO. That's not a donk. That's a bubble.

  • maroon92

    July 14, 2009 3:19 p.m. maroon92 UltraDork

    actually it is both a Donk and a Bubble...two varieties of Donks = Boxes and Bubbles...

    come on guys, how many times do I have to go over this...

  • belteshazzar

    July 14, 2009 3:26 p.m. belteshazzar Dork

    neat. bout the same size I'm runnin.

  • mad_machine

    July 14, 2009 3:47 p.m. mad_machine UltraDork

    damn.. they look tiny under that car

  • alex

    July 14, 2009 3:48 p.m. alex HalfDork

    Does it even count as a donk if they're less than 30" these days?

  • neon4891

    July 14, 2009 3:52 p.m. neon4891 UltraDork

    P71 wrote:

    It also saved me over 100Lbs of rolling unsprung weight!!!

    Instant win

  • mad_machine

    July 14, 2009 4:24 p.m. mad_machine UltraDork

    alex wrote:

    Does it even count as a donk if they're less than 30" these days?

    I am waiting for 40s

  • July 14, 2009 4:31 p.m. Nashco SuperDork

    100 pounds lighter? I'm trying to wrap my head how that is even possible...? The 17x10.5 with a 285/40 must weigh something like 50+ pounds combined. Did the stock wheels and tires really weigh over 70 pounds per corner???

    Bryce

  • RealMiniDriver

    July 14, 2009 4:36 p.m. RealMiniDriver Dork

    mad_machine wrote:

    alex wrote:

    Does it even count as a donk if they're less than 30" these days?

    I am waiting for 40s

    I was sitting at a stoplight in my van (E150) and looked over - as opposed to down - at a guy in a mid 80's Caprice. His wheels had to be 24-26" with a black rubber band around them.

  • White_and_Nerdy

    July 14, 2009 5:08 p.m. White_and_Nerdy New Reader

    Stock P71 wheels are steel - depending on the year, maybe even 17" steels, which weight about the same as a cruise liner.

    It gives up the cop car look, but I'll bet the handling improvement is worth it. And yeah, it needs to ride a little bit lower.

  • Fit_Is_Slo

    July 14, 2009 6:30 p.m. Fit_Is_Slo New Reader

    I don't like you sir..... you are making me like those damn cars...

  • Will

    July 14, 2009 6:34 p.m. Will Reader

    maroon92 wrote:

    actually it is both a Donk and a Bubble...two varieties of Donks = Boxes and Bubbles...

    come on guys, how many times do I have to go over this...

    Actually, the generic term is high rider. Donk is only a 71-76 Caprice.

  • Appleseed

    July 14, 2009 7:13 p.m. Appleseed HalfDork

    Not a donk or a bubble. Rims aren't chromed so they look like hub caps and no stick on Pep Boys Buick portholes.

    Totally cool.

  • Luke

    July 14, 2009 7:14 p.m. Luke Dork

    Looks great! You could always paint them black to regain some of the cop/stealth look.

  • Appleseed

    July 14, 2009 7:19 p.m. Appleseed HalfDork

    Black with a polished lip would rule.

  • P71

    July 14, 2009 8:48 p.m. P71 SuperDork

    Thanks for all the comments!

    Let's see, first a "donk" is a 70's car on dubs, "box" is an 80's, and "bubble" is a 90's. My car is none of the above because it's an 01, and the wheels aren't at least 20".

    The wheels are used and the spokes need a repaint. I'm torn between black (with a chrome center cap and polish the lips shiny) so it still looks "cop" while moving, and using gunmetal so they still look neat sitting still. Give me a few weeks. Last time I couldn't decide on black, ended up with bronze, and got nothing but compliments.

    As for ride height, yes it's coming down. The new tires will be taller/meatier (especially the front) so that will take up some gap. P71 springs are an inch higher then standard 'Vic's and stiffer. The aftermarket springs are not as stiff. I'm going to have a suspension shop cut 2 coils from the front and 1 from the back. That will net me lower height, and stiffer springs.

    Driving home from work was interesting. People did some awesome double-takes thinking it was a cop car only to see those massive tires out back!

    belt,

    What sizes are you running? Spacers/adapters? WHat year is yours?

    Bryce,

    The stockers are "cop-spec" reinforced steel wheels (16x8) with 225/60/16's, heavy giganto lugnuts, and the center caps and rings. I will go weigh one right now to figure out the actual calculation...

  • pigeon

    July 14, 2009 9:36 p.m. pigeon Reader

    Wow, a throwaway one work tongue-in-cheek "donk" comment got a lot of play! For the record, I keed, I keed! I'm all for upgrading the wheels and tires over the super heave steelies, and I think the car will look great once the coils are cut.

  • P71

    July 14, 2009 9:43 p.m. P71 SuperDork

    I thought the donk comments were hilarious!

    As for weight...

    Stock 16x8 steelie w/new 225/60/16 (Goodyear RS-A, the factory tire) is 52Lbs on my bathroom scale (my spare is still all-original, the 4 others have Toyo Proxes TPT's). The 17x9 front FR500 with 245/40/17 BFG KD is 39Lbs, the rear 17x10.5 is 44Lbs.

    That's still 40Lbs of rotating, unsprung weight off. Another 5Lbs for the center caps, trim rings, and switching to the lighter lug nuts. Still not bad, though my estimate sucked.

    The FR500 replicas are no where near as light as the real ones!

  • belteshazzar

    July 14, 2009 9:55 p.m. belteshazzar Dork

    I've got 17"x10"'s in back, and 17"x9"'s in front. 245/40's and iirc 275/35's.

    I too, noticed how heavy the stock wheels/tires were. I didn't bother weighing my new ones, but they sure were easier to lift up onto the wheel studs.

  • wherethefmi

    July 14, 2009 10:03 p.m. wherethefmi Dork

    Looks good man can't wait to co drive that and if I get a kart you can drive that 2 times to make us even.

  • belteshazzar

    July 14, 2009 10:07 p.m. belteshazzar Dork

    'dis;

  • P71

    July 14, 2009 10:11 p.m. P71 SuperDork

    How in the heck are you using such short tires? A 255/50 is a half inch shorter than stock, and the 245/40 is almost 1.5" small.

    Nice looking wheels though!

    Tony,

    You can come drive this beast anytime you want. I'm drag racing it this Saturday

  • belteshazzar

    July 14, 2009 10:27 p.m. belteshazzar Dork

    I regret that part a bit, I admit.

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