Stupid question? How do I buy new rims and tires?

I need to buy the right ones on the first try. Not buy several sets and try them on until I find the ones I like.

Where can I take my car where they will figure out what will safely fit without me having to go through a trial and error routine?

This is figuring out the rims and the rubber so that I can pay and drive off safely without any rubbing.

 

most tire places if you leave it up to them...they will bring up the stock tire rim size and that is what you will get...
I went to one place to check on a price ( had the tire size )and they wouldn't give me one with the...car make and model.

 

Just to prove your point, sort of...

I went to discount tire online, and put in 1974 for the year of my car, and it did not even offer Ford or Mercury as an option to choose for Make of car...

Offered DeTomaso, Fiat, Ferrari, Porsche, Triumph, and Opel, among others, but no Ford, Mercury, or Chrysler/Dodge.

 

Most tire shops will avoid any situation that could potentially result in a product liability law suit when parts are used that were not original bill of material by the OEM.

Their liability insurance may also specifically prohibit them from doing it.

 

I took mine to bell last summer, had no issues with them

 

Who/what is bell?

Maybe a northern thing?

 

Bell Tire...
Have you looked here:
http://www.maverickman.com/TireandWheelSizes.html

I can help you a bit, tell me what you want, I've been trying rims for two years...

 

My problem is that I think the Mustang II disks and hubs are a touch thicker than the Maverick's. These tires fit fine (with minimal clearance) until i swapped in the R&C front suspension kit. Now I seem to have lost a quarter to half inch of space on the fender side of things.

So I think I will be having to reinvent the wheel, for lack of better words.

I doubt I can expect other guys' fitment experiences to correspond with my current setup.

This is why I will do the front wheels first, and after I swap in the rear disk kit, I will re-evaluate my fitment and buy the rear wheels.

 

This is promising. I currently have 3-1/2" BS and Maverickman says they work as well with 4", so that would recover my lost 1/4-1/2" that the new disks have given me.

 

I highly reccomend Bell Tire Mostly cause I get a discount there.

 

So, go buy some 1/4" spacers (or borrow), and give them a try for fitment.

 

If I add spacers, it would push the tires further out.

I need the backspace to be larger, so the tires come inward 1/2".

Am I right here? Less backspace pushes the tires outward, while more backspace pulls them inward?

 

Buy one of these:
http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/php-01201/overview/

This front end conversion has cost you a lot of money...

 

The entire car project has cost me a lot of money.

Better than going to topless bars and buying hookers. Keeps me home and safe, and I have something other than a pesky virus and a shot liver to show for it years later.

 

I have both, but no virus...and I like Hedmans.