Information on Mustang Cobra R wheels (Challenge Zamboni inspired)

After seeing the Zamboni at the Challenge again this year, I really want a set of Cobra R wheels for my FC RX-7. I've been researching the wheel options since Saturday, and have found several different styles. Some are listed simply as Cobra wheels, others are Cobra R's, and there seem to be several other styles from various production years as well. Adding to my confusion, the wheels seem to have been produced in different diameters and widths.

From what I can tell, the Zamboni was using Cobra R wheels from the Fox-body era. Is that accurate?

Here is a picture of their wheels. Other than Craigslist, what are the popular Mustang forums where I might find some for sale? Any help is appreciated!

Cobra R's, yes, but later than foxbody. More like '95's or so. On the R's the spoke is a little curvy and meets the rim just back from the lip. On "Cobras" the spokes are straighter and meet the rim at the lip. Check our americanmuscledotcom for more cobra and mustang wheels than you thought possible. Weight is higher than you'd think usually. They're pretty cheap new ($149?), but you often find good deals on them on craigslist because they're very popular and inexpensive rims. I think original size was 17x9, but there are all kinds out there

Just checked - that is a 1995 Cobra R style wheel, and can be had new in some sizes as low as $99

There's actually two different versions of those wheels. They were factory on 95 Cobra Rs and 98 Cobras, and there's slight differences between the two aesthetically. The factory wheels are 17x8, though aftermarket versions can be found in Mustang 4- and 5-lug, in 16-20 inch diameters (if not more) and 7-9 inch widths (if not more).

The OEM 95 Cobra R wheel is 17x9. The OEM 98 Cobra wheel is 17x8 and distinguishable by a more pronounced sweep to the spokes. Note that both of these wheels will clear the 4-piston Brembo calipers while most SN95 wheels will not. Go to fordracingparts.com for a good look at the various OEM Cobra wheel designs.

Great info. I checked the Ford Racing Parts website and it looks like the Zamboni was running the 1998 Cobra R wheels.

1998 Cobra R wheel

These are the 1995 Cobra R rims:
1995 Cobra R wheel

The website lists both as 17x8 stock. However the 1995 wheel is 4 lug, so no chance of using it.

Technicality, but the 98 is "just" a Cobra, not a Cobra R. The only years for Cobra Rs are '93, '95, and 2000. And what you're showing for a '95 Cobra R wheel couldn't be - that's a 4 lug wheel, the '95 R is 5 lug.

There are so many adaptations and copies of that wheel in the aftermarket that any combination is available if you look. I would be really surprised if 10% of those wheels out on the street are Ford originals. El Cheapo 17x9s of either variety are one of the go-to rims for mustang autcrossers around here.

ReverendDexter wrote: Technicality, but the 98 is "just" a Cobra, not a Cobra R. The only years for Cobra Rs are '93, '95, and 2000. And what you're showing for a '95 Cobra R wheel couldn't be - that's a 4 lug wheel, the '95 R is 5 lug.

Interesting. The Ford Racing website calls that 4 lug rim the 1995 Cobra R wheel.

This picture (purportedly a "real" 1995 Cobra R) clearly shows a 5 lug:

And I mistyped earlier...the 1998 wheel is just a Cobra wheel, not a Cobra R wheel, as ReverendDexter noted.

The 4-lug is a 95 Cobra R made to fit 4-lug Foxes, so that's why they refer to it as such. It is not technically a Cobra R wheel, but it is Cobra R style, and built by Ford, so it's close enough to get the name.

A word of warning... Replica Ford/Mustang wheels are a lot heavier than the real deals. My FR500 replicas are some 10Lbs heavier than the genuine articles, neatly negating the weight loss I thought I was getting going from steelies to aluminum...

yea replicas are always going to be heavier but they cost less as well. You need to watch out for offsets too. A set made for a S197 chassis has a slightly different offset than a set made for the SN95s. Anyhow, I think they would look cool on a RX

OK, guy who spent WAY too much time following mustang stuff checking in.

1995 cobra R wheel. this was an SN-95 chassis with 5 lugs. when i say SN-95 i mean 1995-1998 body. orgionally 17x9" dimensions

1998 mustang Cobra wheel (I have these for my street wheels) orgionally 17x8" dimensions.

now 1995 R wheels are popular enough that they were made in the aftermarket for NUMEROUS applications. you can get them in 17x10.5 you can get them in 4 lug (for the pre 1993 cars)

stock 95R wheels are regarded as one of the lightest factory wheels, but weights on aftermarket wheels vary.. figure 22-24lbs per wheel.

as for the 1998 17x8" wheels, if you really want to know for sure I have one without a tire mounted I can weigh for you. (or measure backspacing)

btw, the various cobra R's that were made... 3 years only http://www.muscularmustangs.com/2005/svtcobrar.php

Apexcarver wrote: OK, guy who spent WAY too much time following mustang stuff checking in. 1995 cobra R wheel. this was an SN-95 chassis with 5 lugs. when i say SN-95 i mean 1995-1998 body. orgionally 17x9" dimensions 1998 mustang Cobra wheel (I have these for my street wheels) orgionally 17x8" dimensions. now 1995 R wheels are popular enough that they were made in the aftermarket for NUMEROUS applications. you can get them in 17x10.5 you can get them in 4 lug (for the pre 1993 cars) stock 95R wheels are regarded as one of the lightest factory wheels, but weights on aftermarket wheels vary.. figure 22-24lbs per wheel. as for the 1998 17x8" wheels, if you really want to know for sure I have one without a tire mounted I can weigh for you. (or measure backspacing) btw, the various cobra R's that were made... 3 years only http://www.muscularmustangs.com/2005/svtcobrar.php

Thanks. I figured that you might show up here eventually! I'd love to know the weight of the 1998 17x8 wheel. No rush in particular as the FC LS1 conversion isn't in what would be described as a running state presently () but I would love to know the weight of that wheel. It looked fantastic on the Zamboni. I'm guessing their rims are replicas wider than stock though, as they were running 315's!

My understanding is that the '98 Cobra wheel is right around 21 lbs.

ReverendDexter wrote: My understanding is that the '98 Cobra wheel is right around 21 lbs.

I'll have to doublecheck my info at home tonight, but I weighed OEM examples (not aftermarket) of the 95 R and 98 Cobra wheels on the same postal scale. I believe the 98 Cobra weighed 22.0 pounds and the 95 R weighed 22.4 pounds. But as I say I'll have to double-check.

Yup. I reweighed all my wheels tonight. Here are the results on the same scale on the same day.

95 Cobra R (OEM): 22.4 lbs 98 Cobra (OEM): 22.0 lbs. 95 Cobra R (replica): 21.75

I'm surprised the replica is lighter, but all replicas are not created equal. I also have no doubt whatsoever that the OEM wheels are MUCH stronger than the replicas.

my scale showed my 98 cobra wheel at 22.2lbs

same scale showed a 2003 cobra wheel as 24lbs the other year. (what i use for Rcomps)

Apexcarver wrote: my scale showed my 98 cobra wheel at 22.2lbs same scale showed a 2003 cobra wheel as 24lbs the other year. (what i use for Rcomps)

Will wrote: Yup. I reweighed all my wheels tonight. Here are the results on the same scale on the same day. 95 Cobra R (OEM): 22.4 lbs 98 Cobra (OEM): 22.0 lbs. 95 Cobra R (replica): 21.75 I'm surprised the replica is lighter, but all replicas are not created equal. I also have no doubt whatsoever that the OEM wheels are MUCH stronger than the replicas.

Thanks very much to both of you for doing this. It's very helpful.

Now who has a set of 98 Cobra wheels for cheap for my project?!?

Happened to a guy in our local Mustang club where I'm a member. Was merging onto the freeway when a car in the left lane decided to move into the right lane. He swerved to avoid the guy, lost grip in the rear, and did a 180 into the center divider (Jersey barrier).

Think twice before picking up a set of replica wheels from China. That advice goes doubly if you're ever going to track said wheels.

dyintorace wrote:

Apexcarver wrote: my scale showed my 98 cobra wheel at 22.2lbs same scale showed a 2003 cobra wheel as 24lbs the other year. (what i use for Rcomps)

Will wrote: Yup. I reweighed all my wheels tonight. Here are the results on the same scale on the same day. 95 Cobra R (OEM): 22.4 lbs 98 Cobra (OEM): 22.0 lbs. 95 Cobra R (replica): 21.75 I'm surprised the replica is lighter, but all replicas are not created equal. I also have no doubt whatsoever that the OEM wheels are MUCH stronger than the replicas.

Thanks very much to both of you for doing this. It's very helpful. Now who has a set of 98 Cobra wheels for cheap for my project?!?

mine are in use, but heres a reliable source thats not too bad http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FMS-M-1007-D178

That's a GREAT price for a real Ford wheel.

That wreck looks bad and illustrates perfectly why I won't run R-comps, replica wheels and a heavy car.

Holy heck DJ! My Replica FR500's came from a heavily tracked RX-7 but that still makes me nervous!

I wouldn't be to worried about that broken wheel pic. If the divider is like the ones in Fl they stick out at the bottom. A 3500lb hammer can break alot of tough stuff.

That pic scared me too, but also notice those are "deep dish" wheels - the spokes curve inward at the rim to give a deep lip look. That also means there's less material at the base vs stock wheels.

I think MrJoshua's right about the impact. I think that would have destroyed almost any wheel. BUT, I'm still wary of really cheap wheels on a car as heavy as the S197