Tires/Wheels: 18 or 20 inch?

[RangemasterP226]

I’ve had my 2017 GT for a year now. Love it. It has the stock 18” tires/wheels.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of upgrading to 20”?

These would be 20” Mustang take-offs from a new car.

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[Norm Peterson]

Why not include the 19's?

Either 255/45-18's on 18x9 wheels or 255/40-19's on 19x9's or 9.5's will ride better than 255/35-20's and be less subject to pinch-flats as well. All three of those tire sizes are about the same OD and only a tiny bit shorter than your 235/50-18's.

You could mount 255/40-19's on a set of PP1 wheels, which are 19x9 front and 19x9.5 rear.


Norm

 

[JCFoster]

Ride quality. The 20’s have less sidewall and by nature will ride rougher. Tires are also more expensive. About the only advantage to 20’s is looks or style. My 16 came with 20’s and sold them for 18’s. But, if you have good roads and like the style and looks it may not be an issue.

 

[BmacIL]

19". Best looks, best mix of handling/weight and more tire options available near 27-27.5" diameter.

 

[Noggles]

If you shop tire prices, I have noticed that 20" tires in certain common sizes are slightly cheaper than the same width 19" tires so something to consider for future purchases.

 

[wanted33]

I had 18's on the 2013, and now have 20's on the 2018. Honestly with the right air pressure in the tires I can't tell that much difference in the ride quality. The one thing that is quite different is the side wall measurements, and that equates into the 20's being much easier to scrub if you're not paying attention. IMHO cost depends on the brand of tire you buy. Ex., you can get quality tires (Goodrich, Hankook, Bridgestone) at a better price compared to a brand like Michelin. It boils down to what size wheels you want on your Mustang.

 

[66Bronc1]

Weight, unless you buy forged. I had 20" aftermarket wheels on my 2017 Camaro and they were HEAVY. I recommend staying with 18" or going with 19" 19" is a perfect compromise between the two. I would go as light as you can in weight that you can afford.

 

[Ohthatguy]

I really like the platform focused 19s folks like MRR develop for our cars. They're light @23-25 lbs depending on style and offset, have perfect offsets, are priced right and waaaaay wider than stock which results in a stance that utterly transforms the car. You'll look back at your car every time you walk and away and everybody else stares it when you get those 315-325 width rears on there.

 

[NightmareMoon]

It depends a lot on the actual wheel design, but usually 20s are heavier and more expensive than 18s or 19s.

Tire selection changes. Some tires are made in 18, 19 or 20 sizes, but not the others. Cost should generally be more for 20" tires vs 18s or 19s, but it depends on the specific tire. The weight of the entire package (wheel AND tire) definitely should be higher for 20s vs 18s or 19s.

(Again, generally speaking) the shorter sidewalls used on 20" tires versus 18 or 19" tires will ride noticeably harsher, but usually will be slightly more responsive when steering. Those shorter sidewalls will also offer less protection to the wheel when you hit potholes, so your chance of bending something may be higher. Wheel construction matters a lot to durability tho, so a good aftermarket flow-formed or forged wheel in 20" may still take abuse that would kill a factory cast 19" wheel.

I also feel that 19" (not 20") is the sweet spot for the S550, especially if you go for an aggressive flush offset you can get both looks and performance.

 

[c-rizzle]

20" wheels are heavier (apples to apples) (cheap 18 vs cheap 18, high end 20 vs high end 20)
20" wheels are easier to scrape curbs
20" wheels are more likely to ride rough on bad roads (pot holes, etc)

19" good balance
19" tires are sometimes slightly more expensive

18" lightest of the bunch
18" much less likely to scrape curb when parallel parking
18" tires are the cheapest of the bunch

My recommendation.... get a GOOD set of 19" wheels. Focus on weight as the #1 deciding factor, then cost, then appearance.
Then get a good set of tires. Don't skimp on wheels & tires. Its the last link in the chain. You don't want it to be the weakest link.

A comparison would be to buy a super high end video gaming computer with all kinds of "horsepower" to play games. But then using a cheap 13" monitor. You need a high resolution monitor to take advantage of it.

The same is true of a car. You can have all the horsepower in the world but if you don't have the right set of wheels/tires (for your application road, drag strip, road course track, summer, snow etc.) the rest of the car is practically worthless. Having good lightweight wheels will make everything better. Then pairing the right compound for your use will make all the difference in the world.

 

[BurnCycle]

Those that have 19" rims = 19's are the way to go.
Those that have 20" rims = 20's are where its at.

I have 20's... 'nuf said. ;)

 

[mikes2017gt]

I recently went from the stock Foundry 20x9 wheels with 255/35-20's to a square 19x10 setup with 285/35-19s. First off, EACH tire/wheel is 11.7 pounds lighter than the stock setup. That's 11-1/2 pounds of unsprung mass off each corner and I tell you it's very noticeable. My car is a daily-driven vehicle, not a track burner and the difference in unsprung weight is noticeable everywhere I drive. See my thread here: https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/apex-ec-7-19x10-conti-ecs-285-35-19.111020/

I always felt like the stock 20's were "lead shoes" for the car...like a 1990's pair of high-top basketball sneaks. LOOK fantastic but heavy and "slow feeling." Also, with the 20's every pothole in the road that ants shrugged off, felt like a kidney punch with an accompanying sickening noise like "Did I just bend a wheel?" :( My car is lowered, pretty much identical to everyone else's here (1-1/8" in front, 1" rear) and with the 20's it rode like a Conestoga wagon. Looked totally the business though...but rode like crud. The 19's provide a noticeably better ride and I'm pretty critical when it comes to "real vs. perceived improvements."

I was in the exact same boat as you a couple of weeks ago. The stock 20s had 3-4 months of tread left...so what to do? Going to 19's meant buying new wheels as well as tires. But you could save some cash by sourcing a set of 19's takeoffs from a PP car, or finding a square set used.

My two pennies. Hope it helps

 

[Grintch]

Those that have 19" rims = 19's are the way to go.
Those that have 20" rims = 20's are where its at.

I have 20's... 'nuf said. ;)

Ford's street performance Mustangs (Shelby' s, PP1 & 2) come with 19" wheels.

Ford's race Mustangs (GT4, FP350) come with 18" wheels.

That says a lot about the performance of 20" wheels.

The best plan is to choose your tires, then the best wheels to fit them.

 

[Nagare]

2019 ZR1 has 19 in front, 20 in rear. McLaren 720s and Koenigsig Regera are the same. Says a lot about the performance of 19/20" wheels...And it doesn't look like it is just to clear the brakes.

There are trade offs to everything and each has their merits.

 

[Excel]

Those that have 19" rims = 19's are the way to go.
Those that have 20" rims = 20's are where its at.

I have 20's... 'nuf said. ;)

I just sold my 19s and ordered 20s
the sidewalls actually measure the same so I cant see how the ride would change plus I gained a little weight perhaps a few lbs in each corner and
cleaned up the wheelwell ... Pros and cons to each combo. The quality of the tire will determine the ride also
a cheap 19 wont ride as good as a high end 20 .

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