[cobrajeff]

Chip -

Mustangs from the eighties - even those with 15" wheels, have a 4 lug bolt pattern. Early (60's-70's) Mustangs (except '65-'66 6 cyl cars with 4 lug pattern) and late Mustangs ('94 - current) both have the same 5-bolt pattern (5 on 4.5").

On Mustangs, most of the 15" wheels are going to be factory-optional alloy wheels. There are a number of other Ford cars, including Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, Explorer, late 70's T-Bird/Cougar/LTD II, that have a 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern, and may be more likely to have a plain steel 15" rim rather than an alloy version. The plain steel rim will likely be cheaper than any alloy wheel.

In order to give you any value, however, you must determine the width and backspacing of the alloy rims you plan to use, and make sure that whatever steel wheels you use for test fitment have the SAME width and backspacing. You will not truly be able to see if you are going to encounter clearance problems without using wheels of the same specs.

Junkyard or maybe a local high-volume tire dealer in your area would probably be your best bets. Junkyard will want to sell you a wheel AND the tire that's on it, as they usually don't have the equipment to dismount. A good tire store will usually have a few left-over factory steel wheels (left behind from mag/chrome wheel sales), and they won't usually have a tire on them.

Good luck in your search.

regards,

Jeff