Putting Mondeo wheels on the cougar
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Rule of thumb (and it's VERY rough) is that most four stud Ford wheels from recent history will fit most Ford vehicles providing they clear the brake assembly.
As said they are narrower, but my father-in-law (who has forgotten more about the craft of driving than I'll ever know) is adamant that it's often the case modern vehicles drive better on narrower wheels than the ones manufactures generally fit (YMMV!) so you may find cornering is improved on a slightly narrower wheel anyway.
As said they are narrower, but my father-in-law (who has forgotten more about the craft of driving than I'll ever know) is adamant that it's often the case modern vehicles drive better on narrower wheels than the ones manufactures generally fit (YMMV!) so you may find cornering is improved on a slightly narrower wheel anyway.
They are 4 stud but not sure about the PC108, the tyres are same size as my current ones.
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Thanks
I might just try one today and if it seems to fit I'll get a garage to do it for peace of mind.
Only got around to fitting these today 
With the cougar wheels i can fit my fingers between the tyre and strut, with the mondeo ones by little finger barely fits so not sure if i should chance taking it out for a test drive.
On another note since i got new shocks fitted the rear of the car will not jack up fully to remove the wheels, i had to jack the axle up in order to get them off
With the cougar wheels i can fit my fingers between the tyre and strut, with the mondeo ones by little finger barely fits so not sure if i should chance taking it out for a test drive.
On another note since i got new shocks fitted the rear of the car will not jack up fully to remove the wheels, i had to jack the axle up in order to get them off
Only got around to fitting these today
With the cougar wheels i can fit my fingers between the tyre and strut, with the mondeo ones by little finger barely fits so not sure if i should chance taking it out for a test drive.
Tiger is wearing a set of Momocorse 7-spokes. On the front there's about a thumb's width between the tyre and the shock. On the rear, there's about an index finger's worth.
Remember that the wheels don't really move much relative to the suspension; the whole assembly moves relative to the car. So if you have a gap and nothing's touching, you should be okay. The only things I would be worried about with that goofy offset would be:
1) Touching the wheel arch liner at full lock
2) Feeling "unbalanced" in turns.
Take it for a low-speed test drive maybe?
Assuming you used the Ford jack? My advice to you would be to buy a good, sturdy 1.5 tonne (at least) trolley jack and a set of axle stands. You won't regret it. Yes it's an expense that you'd rather not have, but it means that when you inevitably have to work on the underside of your car you will be able to do so safely and easily.
I don't know about Ireland, but over here Halfords often have a deal on where you can buy a trolley jack, axle stands and a wheeled creeper board for under £100.
I used a two tonne trolley jack, it was fully extended and still wouldn't lift and made it hard to fit axle stands as that's where i had to jack it up from.
I'm pretty sure i had the same problem even before the new shocks were fitted, it seems like its just lifting the body and maybe bending slightly
Crikey. Those must be some loooong legs.
You can get hi-lift jacks but they're expensive and it sounds to me like you might be better off - if there's room to do this under the car - putting some pieces of decking board under the jack wheels before you lift. It'll give you that extra inch that my missus tells me is so important.
I wouldn't recommend putting anything on the jack cup though. Although I've done that before on a car I was dismantling, (so, you know, sod it) there's a risk it will split and drop the car on the floor.
When jacking up the back of the car I put a couple of blocks of wood ontop of the cup and position under the middle of the rear subframe, I also have both my axel stands ready to place under as I never trust anything hydraulic
Crikey. Those must be some loooong legs.
You can get hi-lift jacks but they're expensive and it sounds to me like you might be better off - if there's room to do this under the car - putting some pieces of decking board under the jack wheels before you lift. It'll give you that extra inch that my missus tells me is so important.
I wouldn't recommend putting anything on the jack cup though. Although I've done that before on a car I was dismantling, (so, you know, sod it) there's a risk it will split and drop the car on the floor.
I do have long legs alright, ha ha. Long and slim enough to even change drop links without having the car off the ground.
When jacking up the back of the car I put a couple of blocks of wood ontop of the cup and position under the middle of the rear subframe, I also have both my axel stands ready to place under as I never trust anything hydraulic
I tried the middle of rear subframe but it wouldn't lift enough to fit my axle stands under.
Maybe my jack is bad, it might need a top of of oil
I use 3 wooden blocks that used to live under the legs of our caravan before we sold it, jack fully up with the 3 pieces of wood raises the back tyres about half inch clear
I use a 15" reach trolley jack. No need for exrtas but always use axle stands, as procom says. Trust hydraulics to lift but not to hold, especially when you are under that load.
As a general rule though, i only ever lift from the front as the rear will come up anyway, then just shove the stand under.
As a general rule though, i only ever lift from the front as the rear will come up anyway, then just shove the stand under.
I use a 15" reach trolley jack. No need for exrtas but always use axle stands, as procom says. Trust hydraulics to lift but not to hold, especially when you are under that load.
As a general rule though, i only ever lift from the front as the rear will come up anyway, then just shove the stand under.
I always use axle stands, when i had the car up with just the jack i had to run into the house as i forgot to bring the stands out. In that short space of time the car had started to come down again(still had wheels on) so perhaps the jack is low on fluid or has air in it.
Wheels seem fine on the car at the moment apart from looking a bit thinner, they also looked under inflated but they are set to correct pressure
Ultimately, that was probably the right decision. Now all you have to do is decide on a tyre profile that works for you, when you have to replace them.
On Mako, I went for Rainsport 2s that were slightly wider than the standard (and pretty much unavailable now) tyres. It was like driving my living room around. Absolute bliss.
On Tiger, I have 40-profile Avon ZZ5s and I just clamp my jaw shut to avoid losing teeth.
On Mako, I went for Rainsport 2s that were slightly wider than the standard (and pretty much unavailable now) tyres. It was like driving my living room around. Absolute bliss.
On Tiger, I have 40-profile Avon ZZ5s and I just clamp my jaw shut to avoid losing teeth.
Ultimately, that was probably the right decision. Now all you have to do is decide on a tyre profile that works for you, when you have to replace them.
On Mako, I went for Rainsport 2s that were slightly wider than the standard (and pretty much unavailable now) tyres. It was like driving my living room around. Absolute bliss.
On Tiger, I have 40-profile Avon ZZ5s and I just clamp my jaw shut to avoid losing teeth.
All the wheels I have came with tyres which are fairly new but not a known brand which makes me think I should change them soon, what's the best size to suit the car ? Been using 205/55 since I've had it which is about 7 years now. Yearly milage is low so haven't changed tyres too much but the current ones are terrible for grip when taking off with a slightly heavy foot.
Should be fine fitting mondy alloys.theyre norm a shallow offset of approx 48-52mm.
st200 st24 and zetec alloys are fine.
the mk2 mondeos and the coogs have tiny little brake discs so 16" and upwards will go.
if you want to fit 7.5" or 8" wide alloys then go for 30-35mm offsets otherwise they will prob clout the shocks.
I've fitted 19" x 8" on a MK1 Mondeo.
st200 st24 and zetec alloys are fine.
the mk2 mondeos and the coogs have tiny little brake discs so 16" and upwards will go.
if you want to fit 7.5" or 8" wide alloys then go for 30-35mm offsets otherwise they will prob clout the shocks.
I've fitted 19" x 8" on a MK1 Mondeo.
I do know what the OP means about them looking a bit 'thin'. I used to have a Mk6 Fiesta that I put ST200 alloys on. I swapped them onto the Cougar briefly and noted that they sat quite far inside the arches. They'd have been fine with even some fairly shallow spacers, but looked a little anaemic 'as is'.
Not that you'd want to...but you can get 15s on, some Yank 2 litre cars actually came with 15s as standard, as did plenty of Mondeos
side note....it's amazing to remember my old '88 Scorpio came with 14" wheels!!