So why did Ford put a staggered setup with 19x9.5/255s on the front of the base Mach 1?

[young at heart]

It couldn’t just be the $5/car they’d save. It just seems like it would have much simpler just to go square with 19x10/275s all around.

My reason for wondering is that at some point I may look into custom wheels for my ‘23s and 19x10 opens up the choices and becomes rotatable I suppose. But I’m not interested in doing anything to overcome rubbing, clearance issues or needing spacers or other mods, etc.

And before someone asks why not go bigger, as long as I stay NA I’m perfectly happy with the looks and handling of the stock size setup.

I’m obviously missing something so sorry for the dumbassery but the last time I had to think about wheel and tire fitment was going up to an 8”x15” American mag with a set of grooved Denman 8.55 ambulance tires. That oughta tell you something!

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[AZ_Ryan]

I find the huge difference in wheel/tire size from base to HP quite strange too. A 40 profile on that car seems odd. But yeah, a squared set up would probably would have been better for base.

 

[Bluemustang]

More nimble steering response and to make a safe understeer.

 

[NightmareMoon]

Nothing wrong with a a square 19x10ET35 and 285/35R19 tires. Its a fun combo which looks great and runs hard.

Ford isnt going to offer every possible option. Unless its a carbon wheel you can usually do a lot better in the aftermarket anyway. Most of Fords wheel packages are heavy cast bulk production stuff.

 

[young at heart]

More nimble steering response and to make a safe understeer.

Ahhh, ok, thanks.

So when choosing a custom wheel upgrade if I went to a square 19x10/275 setup I’d likely notice a difference in steering response it sounds like. I knew there had to be some reason they didn’t take the easier route and go square in the first place.

I was out on a 90 mile GA mountain road jaunt Monday and was pushing the car pretty hard through the twisties whenever traffic allowed. I didn’t mean to crowd anybody but nevertheless had a couple folks pull over and let me by. Windows down in track mode and I couldn’t help but think about what pure joy that car is to drive in that situation. I mean seriously, pure joy. I’m no race driver and don’t track the car but for 70+ I still get around in it pretty well. The car does so many things well and is so balanced that I don’t want to do anything to screw with it.

So if I do get custom wheels I suppose I’ll be looking to match what I have.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

LMR has copies of most of the popular S 550 wheel styles and they are flow formed and lighter than the factory cast wheel, also you can get them in a 19x10 square setup and you can get them with tires mounted too, but I would pass on the Nittos and get my own tires for the wheels. A popular size for a square setup is 285/35/19 and they fit great on a 19x10

Their SP2's are a copy of the PP2 wheels but are available in 19x10 and 19x11 and weigh a lot less than the real ford wheels

 

[kz]

The right answer is - they did that because that what GT PPs had since 2015. Manufacturers are driven by one thing only - cost. And common parts lower the cost.

Originally staggered set up was for car to be understeer prone so people don't wipe out at every corner and go into the weeds.

 

[Bluemustang]

Ahhh, ok, thanks.

So when choosing a custom wheel upgrade if I went to a square 19x10/275 setup I’d likely notice a difference in steering response it sounds like. I knew there had to be some reason they didn’t take the easier route and go square in the first place.

I was out on a 90 mile GA mountain road jaunt Monday and was pushing the car pretty hard through the twisties whenever traffic allowed. I didn’t mean to crowd anybody but nevertheless had a couple folks pull over and let me by. Windows down in track mode and I couldn’t help but think about what pure joy that car is to drive in that situation. I mean seriously, pure joy. I’m no race driver and don’t track the car but for 70+ I still get around in it pretty well. The car does so many things well and is so balanced that I don’t want to do anything to screw with it.

So if I do get custom wheels I suppose I’ll be looking to match what I have.

Just giving a window into how the OEM thinks. It doesn't mean it works best for the individual. You might notice a little in the steering response, but honestly Ford probably does it more to design in more understeer, so that the average Joe doesn't slide out the rear going around a corner at 60-80mph. You'll see on the more performance or track oriented trims they go closer to square.

The extra lateral grip from a wider tire will make up for any change in the steering response. If you want more performance oriented and cornering grip go with the wider square setup. I always run square.

Oh yeah! That is where this car lives - carving through canyons. I maintain it is more GT car than sports car. It is still fairly heavy so it can't go like a Miata in the slow, tight corners but the mid to higher speed twisties, this car is just a joy to drive, especially with suspension mods and tires to take full advantage. There's a ton of confidence and with the exhaust roaring in the wind - just pure bliss.

I just came back from a trip to Wyoming. Drove cross country. This thing - driving through the mountains, along the cliffsides and the Corsa Sport exhaust roar bouncing off the rock walls beside... what a drive. I definitely pushed her. A once in a lifetime kind of drive. Pure freedom. I only wish I had caught some of it on video but I didn't bring my Go-Pro. I'll have to do that when I go to The Tail of the Dragon in a week or so.

 

[Bluemustang]

but I would pass on the Nittos and get my own tires for the wheels

Seconded. Pass on the Nittos and get a real performance tire like Michelin PS4S or Continental EC Sport - something along those lines. 285/35R19 is a good size, but I also always check the specs before I buy. I match tread width to be equal to wheel size or 0.5" narrower and then I try get tire diameter close to the stock diameter (keeps the speedometer reading accurately).

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

If you only plan on just driving the car then the nittos will be fine, but if you plan on any spirited driving, then don't get the nittos. The only good thing about the nittos, they're cheap, they're round, and they hold air.

 

[Bluemustang]

If you only plan on just driving the car then the nittos will be fine, but if you plan on any spirited driving, then don't get the nittos. The only good thing about the nittos, they're cheap, they're round, and they hold air.

The only good Nitto is the NT-01. But I would only use that on a track.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

I had nittos only once and they were huge off road truck tires, they were fine, I had no complaints, but I hear more bad than good on their performance based car tires.

 

[young at heart]

The right answer is - they did that because that what GT PPs had since 2015. Manufacturers are driven by one thing only - cost. And common parts lower the cost.

Originally staggered set up was for car to be understeer prone so people don't wipe out at every corner and go into the weeds.

Just giving a window into how the OEM thinks. It doesn't mean it works best for the individual. You might notice a little in the steering response, but honestly Ford probably does it more to design in more understeer, so that the average Joe doesn't slide out the rear going around a corner at 60-80mph. You'll see on the more performance or track oriented trims they go closer to square.

The extra lateral grip from a wider tire will make up for any change in the steering response. If you want more performance oriented and cornering grip go with the wider square setup. I always run square.

Oh yeah! That is where this car lives - carving through canyons. I maintain it is more GT car than sports car. It is still fairly heavy so it can't go like a Miata in the slow, tight corners but the mid to higher speed twisties, this car is just a joy to drive, especially with suspension mods and tires to take full advantage. There's a ton of confidence and with the exhaust roaring in the wind - just pure bliss.

I just came back from a trip to Wyoming. Drove cross country. This thing - driving through the mountains, along the cliffsides and the Corsa Sport exhaust roar bouncing off the rock walls beside... what a drive. I definitely pushed her. A once in a lifetime kind of drive. Pure freedom. I only wish I had caught some of it on video but I didn't bring my Go-Pro. I'll have to do that when I go to The Tail of the Dragon in a week or so.

I experienced exactly what both you guys mention. Given the roads I was on there was no way I was gonna kick the ass end out, at least within the bounds of sanity. So maybe their strategy with the staggered setup does help to keep knuckleheads like me on the asphalt.

I have both a manual and an A10 2023 Mach 1 and I keep the PS4Ss a couple pounds tighter than called out because I prefer the response.

Bluemustang, I completely understand that feeling you describe. I sure do. These things just feel like one heck of a car for the money, for a hard street-only driver like me anyway. I should mention also that even with one 20 year old hip replacement, one recent knee replacement and needing one more I can get in and out of my non-HP Machs with no problem. An added bonus: after three hours in the stock seats my back feels as good as when I got in, maybe better. And I’ve had surgeons refuse to take a chance on my back as long as I had any mobility at all.

 

[Bluemustang]

I experienced exactly what both you guys mention. Given the roads I was on there was no way I was gonna kick the ass end out, at least within the bounds of sanity. So maybe their strategy with the staggered setup does help to keep knuckleheads like me on the asphalt.

I have both a manual and an A10 2023 Mach 1 and I keep the PS4Ss a couple pounds tighter than called out because I prefer the response.

Bluemustang, I completely understand that feeling you describe. I sure do. These things just feel like one heck of a car for the money, for a hard street-only driver like me anyway. I should mention also that even with one 20 year old hip replacement, one recent knee replacement and needing one more I can get in and out of my non-HP Machs with no problem. An added bonus: after three hours in the stock seats my back feels as good as when I got in, maybe better. And I’ve had surgeons refuse to take a chance on my back as long as I had any mobility at all.

It is one heck of a car for the money. And if you do some mods to the suspension (at least my car, originally a base $35K GT) it can hang on the track with cars worth double the money. I'm talking BMW M4s, Jag F-Types and stuff like that. The basic architecture is there. But the execution by Ford holds it back. From there, it just comes down to how fast the driver is. But this car is very capable. At mid to high speeds it has lot of grip with suspension and the right tires. I've done 1.2 or 1.3G on the track and I'm novice and slow lol. Fast guys can do 1.5 lateral G.

On my trip to Wyoming/Yellowstone I was surprised at how not uncomfortable it was (and my car is heavily modded with suspension).

Sorry to hear about your back but glad to hear you're holding it together. Nice to hear from another guy who actually drives their car and uses it like it should do! Keep it up, sir. I bet that Georgia drive was Hella fun.

 

[Bluemustang]

@young at heart - you should do a track day in the Mach1. You'll be exhilarated! Hey you only live once! First time I did a Trackcross (like road course autocross event) there was nothing like it. Another friend joined me and now he's leapt past me and doing events all the time. He's got the bug, haha.

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