Question for the Mustang owner

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Well, not ALL the time, but ESPECIALLY in the case of the mustang GT, and MOST ESPECIALLY in the case of the new 5.0/Shelby/etc.

Note how the BOSS pulls a sub 4 second 0-60 if you don't count roll-out? Do you REALLY think another 30bhp lopped off .8 seconds? Nope. They finally just put some better/wider rubber under the car. Ford sucks so hard for not putting tires under their cars.

Back in 2005 when I worked for Ford, we beat the piss out of a (then) new mustang GT. It spun so bad on the 1-2 shift it was a joke. My F-body by contrast had more power, and stayed PLANTED with barely a sqeak on a redline 1-2 shift. Every mustang I ever raced that was even remotely in my "league" I beat if a 1-2 shift was involved.

Ford: I love the 5.0, think lighter is better, now slap some rubber under it! You have proved you can make a live-axle work, good for you, we bow to your persistence, but it's time to get with the 21st century and slap some IRS under the car so you can go wider on tires without eating the fender and put some real rubber under it.

Originally Posted by shadoquad

IC, how much of their tire decision has to do with tread life, if any, or are they all seasons? Or are they just cheaping out? I'm curious.

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Base GTs come with all seasons. Anywhere from 235-245 width. The Brembo cars come with 255 width PZero summers all around.

I'm sure some of it is cost related. With the 255s I don't really feel like the car is under-tired. Could it use more, sure. But with the PZeros in 255 all around it has gobs of grip, save for the straight line stuff. If I stick with the Brembo package wheels I will be running 275s all around next year. I will get a hair bit more contact patch which will be nice.

The all-season equipped GTs don't even exist to me. Summer tires or GTFO.

FWIW, there are plenty of people running 305-315 width rears on these cars with no problems.

Originally Posted by shadoquad

Yeah, I guess you'd only want all season tires if you daily drove one of these beasts, but who does that, right?

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

All season = no season.

Anyone that daily drives their car in a place that they expect snow should have their summer set and their winter set.

Originally Posted by shadoquad

Yeah, I agree with you for the most part, although a second set of wheels, even cheap ones, with tires, is expensive. Worth it obviously, but it's costly.

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

The confused looks on SUV drivers stuck in the snow as you drive by in your sports car is worth the $1400 expense.

Originally Posted by Jacky

Thanks all. You guys are very informative.

Another question, this is also my first time owning a soft top convertible. Are they ok to go into car wash?

Thanks

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

I wouldn't feel comfortable taking a soft top convertible into a machine wash.