AFS Cobra R Style Wheels
(Updated 2/18/99)
I purchased the AFS Cobra R Style Wheels in November of 1999: 17x9 Front, 17x10.5 Rear. As is per usual for a first year type car, there were some fitting problems with the Cobras, as compared to a 99 Mustang GT. AFS had tried 315/35/17 tires on the rear of a GT and they fit fine, so they assumed they would on a 99 Cobra as well. Not so. 285/40/17 is the largest tire size that will fit on a Cobra. On the front, the 94-98 17x9 Cobra R wheels have a 24mm offset or 5.9" backspacing. The earlier versions use a 36mm offset, 6.4" backspacing wheel. Again, the assumption was that the 99 Cobra was the same as the GT and the 94-98 Cobras. Not quite right, but close. The IRS and the Front suspension are wider so the offset was increased on the 99 Cobra to 35mm or 5.625" backspace with the stock 17x8 Cobra wheels. This means using the 36mm offset older wheels would center the wheel just like the stock ones. The 24mm wheels fit fine on the 99 Cobra, even though the front is different than on the earlier Cobras and that is what I stayed with. See pictures below for clearances. The 10.5" wheels are tight on the inside on the 99 Cobra but work OK with the 285s. The rear wheels will need a spacer to fit tires larger than 285s.
Front Wheels--24mm Offset/5.9" Backspacing 17x9 AFS Cobra R Style with 255/45/17 tires
These wheels stick out a little too far. The pictures were taken with the stock springs. Clearance on the inside is good, however, but close on the sway bar. Limiters will have to be used if 36mm offset wheels are used instead of the 24mm shown. I stayed with the 24mm wheels after lowering the car.
AFS Rear Wheels--Bare
I trial fit the 10.5" wheel before mounting the tires to see if there
were any tight spots. The most obvious one is in the middle picture
with the IRS rear mount bolt. The wheel is at its normal ride height
and the tire comes very close to the bolt head as the car rises.
The photo on the right is of the parking brake cable, which is not a problem.
The red object in the spring is the Air Lift air bag.
AFS Rear Wheels with Tires
I really think a 315 would eat up the little bit of clearance with
the bolt!! But the wheel could be spaced out a little to make some
room. I may have to do that anyway.
*CCL 5/5/04*