Winter tires??

[nastang87xx]

I get the physics behind why having a narrower tire footprint is advantageous in the snow, but I am just not up to speed on the width of the tire vs. width of the rim. i.e., in my mind, the worry is that there would be a gap between the rubber and the edge of the rim with a narrower tire. This is not the case?

And thanks for chiming in.

Look on tire rack at almost any tire and then in the specs. You'll see what width wheel is acceptable and which one the tire was made for to have "exact" measurements.

a 285 for instance measures "exactly" 285 when placed on a 10" wheel but 9.5 - 11.5" wheels are acceptable. Anything further you're getting stretched or bulge that could hinder performance and durability. That is the thinking anyway. There are plenty of people who run 275's on a 9" wheel for instance.

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[UMDrummer]

Thanks, BmacIL and nastang87xx. This makes me feel a LOT better now. I was worried about having to match the EXACT specifications in the Shelby guide and not finding the right tire, since it's rare to use winter tires on this car... but now it looks like I definitely do have a lot of options I appreciate it.

 

[nastang87xx]

Yeah don't worry about it. A small aspect ratio difference will mean nothing. The .7" difference in total tire height of my 285/35 vs 245/45 for instance is negligible. And if it bothers you that much, let 2 lbs of air out of the tire. Not worth it in my opinion since the tire was meant to be inflated to 35lbs so leave it at 35.

If you're around an inch in total difference though, I wouldn't do it. 235/50-19 for instance would be no beuno.

 

[BmacIL]

Thanks, BmacIL and nastang87xx. This makes me feel a LOT better now. I was worried about having to match the EXACT specifications in the Shelby guide and not finding the right tire, since it's rare to use winter tires on this car... but now it looks like I definitely do have a lot of options I appreciate it.

Once you're in the right range for your rims, you just want to focus on tire diameter. For winter tires, you generally don't want to go smaller than stock (for ground clearance purposes). Equal or just a little bigger is ideal. I wouldn't go more than 2% larger, though. FYI, stock GT350 tires are 27.1" and 27.4" diameter front and rear, respectively. Anything from a 27.0-27.9" would be a good fit.

 

[UMDrummer]

So from some of the searching I've done, I've come up with a few results. Would all of these work fine for a GT350? Will one be better than the other?

Again, my main concerns are 1) if I get unexpectedly caught in some snow and slick roads starting while I'm at work, or 2) just making it down my street a day or two after a snow. I've not been able to get up my driveway before with just some ice. I'm a very cautious driver and just need more traction than the stock tires will provide. Thanks.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...88969&ef_id=VQrTNwAAAU@9LdTp:20151124193404:s

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...240SZ2N0&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...R9TS830P&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

And I have read reviews on the tires -- but many come from non-Mustang owners. Just wondering your guys' thoughts here.

 

[BmacIL]

So from some of the searching I've done, I've come up with a few results. Would all of these work fine for a GT350? Will one be better than the other?

Again, my main concerns are 1) if I get unexpectedly caught in some snow and slick roads starting while I'm at work, or 2) just making it down my street a day or two after a snow. I've not been able to get up my driveway before with just some ice. I'm a very cautious driver and just need more traction than the stock tires will provide. Thanks.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...88969&ef_id=VQrTNwAAAU@9LdTp:20151124193404:s

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...240SZ2N0&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...R9TS830P&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

And I have read reviews on the tires -- but many come from non-Mustang owners. Just wondering your guys' thoughts here.

I'd get the Pirelli's. Ford uses those exact tires on their M-plate GT350s.

You could also try these:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...idewall=Blackwall&partnum=74VR9LM32&tab=Specs

The Michelins are run flats (eww).

 

[ohtobbad]

Here is a tire chart you can use, to help with heights, aspect and speedo http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecalc.php?tires=255-35r20-295-35r20

 

[tasman]

Some on this board kill me. Why can't people just answer questions without editorializing. Maybe the Shelby is their winter beater while the Ferrari stays in the garage. People pay their money let them do what they want with their vehicles! YMMV

 

[dgc333]

I'm not saying you can't drive a shelby or mustang or any sports car in the snow. Trust me, I know I live in Michigan. I'm just saying I'd hate for someone to ruin their car. For what a good set of good snow tires and wheels cost along with canceling your insurance to only fire and theft you could buy a winter beater.

I bought my 15 Mustang as a daily driver, of course I am going to drive it year round just like I do with every new car I have purchased for daily use over the past 45 years. As a car guy I can't imagine how anyone could have a new car and be satisfied driving a beater a good portion of the year.

The Mustang performed flawlessly last winter through the worst winter in Boston's recorded history. A good set of winter tires and snow mode and I drove through it all. I have lived in New England my whole life and driving in the winter by no means ruins a car.

OP, I can help you on tires for your Shelby but I can't imagine you can't find some winter tires that will work. I went from 255/40-19's to 225/55-18's for my winter tires.

 

[Voodooo]

I bought my 15 Mustang as a daily driver, of course I am going to drive it year round just like I do with every new car I have purchased for daily use over the past 45 years. As a car guy I can't imagine how anyone could have a new car and be satisfied driving a beater a good portion of the year.

The Mustang performed flawlessly last winter through the worst winter in Boston's recorded history. A good set of winter tires and snow mode and I drove through it all. I have lived in New England my whole life and driving in the winter by no means ruins a car.

No worries. I live in Michigan and we get a lot of snow too. We also use a lot of salt. I guess I feel different about my car then others. That's why I have a truck and a van though.

 

[dgc333]

I have a 4x4 truck too that I use when I need a truck but it certainly is not enjoyable to drive compared to the cars I have owned and I would never consider using it as a daily driver anymore.

 

[Hack]

Any of you who daily their Mustangs in the winter swap tires on the same rims every winter/summer? How has that worked for you?

 

[ohtobbad]

Any of you who daily their Mustangs in the winter swap tires on the same rims every winter/summer? How has that worked for you?

If your going to daily drive your Mustang, I would have a 2nd set of rims and tires. Other wise you have to change the tires over twice a year.
Doing this allows for a better chance of beating up the rims etc.
the cost over a few years pays for the rims and you can do it at home in about
30 minutes. I have a couple of cars I do this to yearly. Winter wheels are not that expensive.

 

[UMDrummer]

Any of you who daily their Mustangs in the winter swap tires on the same rims every winter/summer? How has that worked for you?

If you take your car to a good dealership, you are probably okay to use the same wheels. In Michigan, I think you're much more likely to get a knick or scratch on the wheel from everyday driving. It also depends on what your threshold is for imperfections -- if you want to daily this car, you must be assuming some level of stone chips, etc. I've daily driven a dark colored Mustang for almost 5 years now in Michigan, and it's still in very good condition, but yes, the paint and wheels have a couple chips here or there... nothing terrible. I've found that as life gets busier and as time goes on, I admire the car for what it is and stop stressing over the minutiae.

With that said, I would be curious to know if the GT350 could use narrower 19" rims all around if one were to get a winter set of wheels. Does anyone think the huge Brembos would be an issue, or would most wheels work out?

 

[Hack]

If your going to daily drive your Mustang, I would have a 2nd set of rims and tires. Other wise you have to change the tires over twice a year.
Doing this allows for a better chance of beating up the rims etc.
the cost over a few years pays for the rims and you can do it at home in about
30 minutes. I have a couple of cars I do this to yearly. Winter wheels are not that expensive.

I agree with your thoughts about swapping tires every year and I've always kept a second set in the past. Just curious whether anyone has done it with a single set and their results. There's a great local tire shop I go to that I trust to do as good a job as possible, but I would assume there would be issues anyway. I have a call in to them with a request for rims and so far they don't have an answer. They do a lot of wheel fitment work with the local hot rodders, but that's mostly back spacing measurements.

If you take your car to a good dealership, you are probably okay to use the same wheels. In Michigan, I think you're much more likely to get a knick or scratch on the wheel from everyday driving. It also depends on what your threshold is for imperfections -- if you want to daily this car, you must be assuming some level of stone chips, etc. I've daily driven a dark colored Mustang for almost 5 years now in Michigan, and it's still in very good condition, but yes, the paint and wheels have a couple chips here or there... nothing terrible. I've found that as life gets busier and as time goes on, I admire the car for what it is and stop stressing over the minutiae.

With that said, I would be curious to know if the GT350 could use narrower 19" rims all around if one were to get a winter set of wheels. Does anyone think the huge Brembos would be an issue, or would most wheels work out?

I tried my 19" rims from my 2011 Brembo-equipped Mustang GT, and they didn't fit due to the inner diameter of the rim not being large enough. I would like to try 2015/16 PP wheels as they might have a larger ID.


I may just have to not drive it this first winter and get rims as more options become available.

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