Topic: Spare tire rim with Styled Steel Wheels

[1968Cally]

If one ordered Styled Steel wheels on a '68 Mustang, the spare tire wheel also a Styled Steel Wheel or just a regular wheel?

[J_Speegle]

Merging this thread with another

Did you see these threads? Used the words "68 spare wheel"

https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=20788.msg131034#msg131034


Related discussion

https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=12108.msg73405#msg73405


More of a spare tire discussions

https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=2916.msg15504#msg15504

https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=3841.msg20977#msg20977

[RoyceP]

Yes they came in sets of five. Ordering the styled steel wheel option also triggered a longer (10.75" overall length) J - bolt and included the felt cover and retainer disc. The sticker on the underside of the trunk lid would also be specific to show proper stowage of the styled steel wheel and its related items.

If one ordered Styled Steel wheels on a '68 Mustang, the spare tire wheel also a Styled Steel Wheel or just a regular wheel?

[dkknab]

RoyceP, what is the felt cover you mention in your post? I have what I believe is the proper retainer disk but not a felt cover.

[DTruitt]

There is no felt cover for the 68 Mustang with styled steel wheels.

Danny

[RoyceP]

]quote author=DTruitt link=topic=3473.msg164773#msg164773 date=1655304580]
There is no felt cover for the 68 Mustang with styled steel


  https://secure.cougarpartscatalog.com/store/Search.aspx?SearchTerms=Felt%20spare%20wheel%20cover&CatID=15895

[ruppstang]

I do not believe that the felt pad was original equipment on a 68 Mustang. I also do not believe that all Mustangs that got styled steel wheels got 5 wheels.

[dkknab]

On page 64 of the Ford assembly manual rear section there is no mention of the felt under the spare tire hold down plate.

I guess I'll never really know if my car had the 5th styled wheel when new.  It does now and I have the proper sticker on the underside of the trunk hood and proper hold down plate.

As for the chrome rim ring I wasn't docked anything for that and it wasn't even mentioned at Florence. So I may just leave it in place for now. Not sure.

[RoyceP]

You are free to have any opinion that you like. My next door neighbor bought a heavily optioned 1968 Mustang convertible new in 1968. He kept it until maybe 2000 so I saw a lot of it over the years. They were absolutely fastidious about keeping the car original and as unmodified as possible.


The car had the other set of styled steel wheels - the chrome ones with the five spoke design and brushed trim rings and it originally came with Michelin radials. It had the felt cover and of course five Michelins and five styled steel wheels. There were only four hubcaps and four trim rings. I bet the car didn't have 50,000 miles when they sold it.

I do not believe that the felt pad was original equipment on a 68 Mustang. I also do not believe that all Mustangs that got styled steel wheels got 5 wheels.

[ruppstang]

I was not aware that Michelin? Was a OEM supplier.

[ruppstang]

 

I guess I'll never really know if my car had the 5th styled wheel when new.  It does now and I have the proper sticker on the underside of the trunk hood and proper hold down plate.

 
[/quote]

David from what I have seen of your car it is very original. The jacking instructions that show the standard spare rim is the best clue that your car did not originally have the fifth styled steel wheel.

Now that you have changed the jacking instructions decal you should not get any deductions for the styled steel spare. I would deduct for the trim ring though.

[dkknab]

Thanks Marty. You remember exactly correct. I used to have the spare tire mounting instructions sticker on my car that did not reflect the styled wheel spare tire. But curious I did have the mounting plate that goes with the styled wheel. At this point as you mention I have changed out the sticker to match with the tire.

As for the rim, I'll have to remove the chrome trim ring on the spare tire rim and I'm sure I'll need to fully paint the wheel to make it look new. Thank you again.

[RoyceP]

I was not aware that Michelin? Was a OEM supplier.

Yes in 1968 they supplied the optional radial tires for Mustangs. They were very troublesome with one after another developing a "knot" that caused the tire to thump ominously while driving. After a couple rounds of that the dealer replaced all five with a bias ply whitewall tire. Gus was very proud of himself for having the optional front disc brakes and radial tires. He was right about the front discs - they proved to be a good choice.

[DTruitt]

The build sheets I have acquired over the years have all indicated 5 wheels/tires, I have never seen nor heard of build sheet information indicating 4 wheels of one type and another wheel/tire for the spare in 1968.  The MCA rules state that the spare tire can be either the styled steel wheel or standard steel wheel, which continues to fuel the debate and confusion.

I have documented numerous 1968 GT's with the incorrect (original) spare tire storage stickers.  The MCA rules require the sticker match the wheel/tire combination or you may receive a deduction. As an owner you have to decide to leave the original sticker or replace it with the "correct" sticker.

To the best of my knowledge the felt mat started in 1969 for the Mustang models.  I don't know of any supporting documentation to indicate it was used earlier than 1969 for Mustangs. The jack and lug wrench are stored under the spare tire for the styled steel wheels and the mounting plate, unique to the 68's with styled steel wheels, was used to secure the wheel/tire, jack and wrench.

Danny

[dkknab]

I've included my build sheet to the body of knowledge.  I see in the lower right reference to the wheels and tires although I don't know what all the codes are for.  I do see where there were to have been 5 tires of the same type for the car.  Maybe someone can shed some light on the other codes or at least direct me to a decoder.