Changing Rims
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
the original Aero wheels are 14"x5.5" or 6" option with 5 hole on 114.3mm circle
20mm positive offset.
0 offset rims will put extra offloaded pressure on the wheel bearings. the back WBs are weak and the front WBs on the AWD are expensive.
no problems on 15" tires up to 215x70, some run wider but check the clearance closely at extremes of suspension travel.
not fun to have a tire tear out on the suspension or brake hose ripped off.
i get away with hvy duty 225x70x15 aggressive mud tires but they set in the garage most of the time, no need with the AWD Aero, $1000 bucks tied up and not used.
20mm positive offset.
0 offset rims will put extra offloaded pressure on the wheel bearings. the back WBs are weak and the front WBs on the AWD are expensive.
no problems on 15" tires up to 215x70, some run wider but check the clearance closely at extremes of suspension travel.
not fun to have a tire tear out on the suspension or brake hose ripped off.
i get away with hvy duty 225x70x15 aggressive mud tires but they set in the garage most of the time, no need with the AWD Aero, $1000 bucks tied up and not used.
New User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Quick answer: no, that little of change in backspace/offset isn't going to make a lot of difference.
I just went through extensive research when I replaced my mega-sidewall 215/75-14's for something a little less wobbly and stilt-like. (Also, I can't find that size anymore, even if I wanted them.)
I went with 15" wheels off of a early 80's Dodge Mirada. Same bolt pattern, center holes big enough, and rear-wheel drive offset fills the Aerostar's wheel wells nicely without sticking out. the Mirada rims have painted areas between the spokes, in my case the grey matches the bumpers perfectly. I'll post photos if anyone's interested.
As you found, Big Ford rear-drive rims are a good fit. The newer snowflake wheels off of Town Cars, etc are very close to stock backspacing; they don't hang out as far as the older wheels like the cyclone/turbine styles. Unfortunately, Lincoln LSC just wouldn't work; the inside sidewall would rub the upper control arm.
I went a bit thin on my tires with 205/70-15, since I won't be hauling heavy loads or towing much. (My Aero is like a race horse out to stud; the tires will rot out before they wear out.) Their diameter was pretty close to the marshmallows I replaced. (Thanks to 1010 Tires' Tire Size Calculator - tire & wheel plus sizing ) 215/65-15 are a touch smaller in diameter, but might be perfect if you have the 3.27:1 rear end.
Another great fit is 16" steel wheels off of police Crown Vics with common 225/60/16 tires. The gap between the inner sidewall and the upper arm seems close, but no closer than the stock clearence, as I found when I got home from the wrecking yard. Of course when I went back, the wheels were gone as the ENTIRE CAR was plucked out of its spot in the row. (How'd they do that?)
And just for kicks, monster meaty 245/50-17 tires are an extemly close match for the stock tires, in terms of diameter and speedometer accuracy. Get some wide turbine wheels and airbrush a mural on the side of your van and it's 1977 all over again!
I think wrecking yards are great because you can pull one or more tires off a donor car and roll it up to what you want to try it on for size.
I hope this helps.
I just went through extensive research when I replaced my mega-sidewall 215/75-14's for something a little less wobbly and stilt-like. (Also, I can't find that size anymore, even if I wanted them.)
I went with 15" wheels off of a early 80's Dodge Mirada. Same bolt pattern, center holes big enough, and rear-wheel drive offset fills the Aerostar's wheel wells nicely without sticking out. the Mirada rims have painted areas between the spokes, in my case the grey matches the bumpers perfectly. I'll post photos if anyone's interested.
As you found, Big Ford rear-drive rims are a good fit. The newer snowflake wheels off of Town Cars, etc are very close to stock backspacing; they don't hang out as far as the older wheels like the cyclone/turbine styles. Unfortunately, Lincoln LSC just wouldn't work; the inside sidewall would rub the upper control arm.
I went a bit thin on my tires with 205/70-15, since I won't be hauling heavy loads or towing much. (My Aero is like a race horse out to stud; the tires will rot out before they wear out.) Their diameter was pretty close to the marshmallows I replaced. (Thanks to 1010 Tires' Tire Size Calculator - tire & wheel plus sizing ) 215/65-15 are a touch smaller in diameter, but might be perfect if you have the 3.27:1 rear end.
Another great fit is 16" steel wheels off of police Crown Vics with common 225/60/16 tires. The gap between the inner sidewall and the upper arm seems close, but no closer than the stock clearence, as I found when I got home from the wrecking yard. Of course when I went back, the wheels were gone as the ENTIRE CAR was plucked out of its spot in the row. (How'd they do that?)
And just for kicks, monster meaty 245/50-17 tires are an extemly close match for the stock tires, in terms of diameter and speedometer accuracy. Get some wide turbine wheels and airbrush a mural on the side of your van and it's 1977 all over again!
I think wrecking yards are great because you can pull one or more tires off a donor car and roll it up to what you want to try it on for size.
I hope this helps.
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