So why do the GT500 CFTP rear tires not stick out like the 350R?

[Champale]

Went to the car show last night and they had a Velocity Blue GT500 CFTP on display. Absolutely amazing looking car. Why did Ford put a higher offset on those 20x11.5 wheels so that they actually sit flush with the fenders instead of wheels that poke on the 350R?

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[proeagles]

At some point, the tires sticking out looks stupid IMO and is bad for aerodynamics and particularly hard on the fender in the event of some serious tire squatting over a bump. If it fills the fender well like it does on the GT500, it looks awesome to me. I've been trying to wrap my head around a 325/30/19 set up on the rear of my GT350 and just can't get past how far the tire sticks out. For now when my Cup2 tires need replacing, I''m just going with the the Michelin Sport in the correct size because it just looks better IMO.

 

[Champale]

So then the question becomes "can you run rear wheels with the same specs as the GT500 CFTP on a 350?"

Or is the inner fender well different between the 2 cars?

 

[proeagles]

Turns out the GT500 has wider fenders to accommodate the larger wheels and tires. Looks great.

 

[JT1]

Turns out the GT500 has wider fenders to accommodate the larger wheels and tires. Looks great.

Wider front fenders, yes, but the back of the car is the same.

 

[Champale]

JT1 speaketh the truth!

 

[galaxy]

The R sizing is perfect. One thing Ford is historically horrible at on their vehicles is wheel and tire choice (sizing), specifically offset. The fitment of the wheels and tires on the 350 is just another item on a looonnng list of items that Ford nailed on this car.

 

[proeagles]

JT1 speaketh the truth!

According to Motor Week the rear fender is wider also

 

[Champale]

Having seen a new GT500 in person right next to several other regular Mustangs, I believe the rear fenders are 100% the same (see my pic in the 1st post). Also having spoken to someone who has some actual hands-on knowledge, the difference is the parking brake apparatus which on the 500 allows the wheel to be more inset.

 

[JT1]

Different quarter panels would be a big change, would change the body in white, and probably require new wheel houses. That’s a lot of new stampings for a low production vehicle.

 

[mavisky]

Having seen a new GT500 in person right next to several other regular Mustangs, I believe the rear fenders are 100% the same (see my pic in the 1st post). Also having spoken to someone who has some actual hands-on knowledge, the difference is the parking brake apparatus which on the 500 allows the wheel to be more inset.

Makes sense as the GT350 uses the drum in hat design where as the GT500 uses a second caliper purely dedicated to the electronic parking brake.

 

[galaxy]

Makes sense as the GT350 uses the drum in hat design where as the GT500 uses a second caliper purely dedicated to the electronic parking brake.

I'd love to have electronic parking brake on the 350. But I don't want my wheels inset like the 500.

 

[nastang87xx]

I'd love to have electronic parking brake on the 350. But I don't want my wheels inset like the 500.

You mean you don't want to run a 12.5" wheel and stuff 345 Hoosiers back there?!

 

[joshua80]

I love the rear hand brake! But to each his own. I have two other cars with the button, and the hand brake is just so much more satisfying.

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