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GT350 - Wheels size for race track

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Hello

I want to buy new rims that will work on the track. ;)

I suppose it's best to buy rims in the GT350-R size or?
My next question would be, what tire size works best for the GT350 for race track use? (Without spacer)
I have Eibach springs and original suspension.

Of course, it is important that nothing touches anywhere with wider tires. o_O


Thanks for helping!
Here in Europe, unfortunately, there are not many of my kind... 😅

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I believe everyone is running 19x11 ET52 offset, spacer up front to make them rotatable. 305/35/19 is probably the sweet spot for fitment and tire choices.

Someone with a GT350 can chime in as I still run an S197.
 

JDee

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It would have to be tires/wheels size that are drivable without "spacer".

What do you think of wheels in the size as the GT350-R:
19 x 11
19 x 11.5

and then tires in:
305 front
315 or 325 rear
Not much. You are going to get more understeer if you have more rear tire than front.
Square is the best for these cars, 305 square on 11 inch rims with a front spacer is the proven way to go. They are very front heavy. People resist this but it is the reality for track service.
 
@JDee
But that can not be that Square Setup is better than R Setup? o_O
(R has 305 and 315 rear)

Surely Ford had their reasons for choosing wider tires? Don't you think so?
It could have been to intentionally program a little understeer into the chassis at the limit because that's safer than oversteer or neutral at the limit in the hands of most drivers.
 

JDee

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It could have been to intentionally program a little understeer into the chassis at the limit because that's safer than oversteer or neutral at the limit in the hands of most drivers.
This. Totally this. 100% spot on.
Understeer is easy to deal with, you just ease off on the gas and the front end will tuck back in (unless you've really banzai'd the corner and you're plowing).
Oversteer, not so much. If it's already loose a lift will often make the rear snap out instantly and that's a big handful to deal with.
Square setup is definitely closer to neutral than rear biased is. And that means faster.
 
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Not adding anything new here but I believe it adds some reassurance and comfort with more people all saying the same thing....19x11 +50 wheels, studs and spacers on the front, and 305 squared tires is the proven way to go.

Not sure why you're resistant to spacers; incredibly easy to use and lets your tires last much longer by rotating the wheels front/back. The non-spacer route will only add to your tire costs over time.
 
First of all, I would like to thank you for all the input. :cool:
It's not easy to get information here in Europe with such exotic cars. 😄


@Ewheels
Spacers on the race track are not really ideal. The load increases thereby...has been told to me.

In addition, it is not easy here in Europe to drive the wheels legally with spacers etc..
The easiest way is to make a matching wheels for my car.

The GT350-R have 305' front tires without spacers, there it works rightt?
 
First of all, I would like to thank you for all the input. :cool:
It's not easy to get information here in Europe with such exotic cars. 😄


@Ewheels
Spacers on the race track are not really ideal. The load increases thereby...has been told to me.

In addition, it is not easy here in Europe to drive the wheels legally with spacers etc..
The easiest way is to make a matching wheels for my car.

The GT350-R have 305' front tires without spacers, there it works rightt?

Not sure of the laws over there. As far as spacers on the track, most of everyone running a square setup uses them, just get hub centric spacers.

If it's a legal issue, get the proper offset for the front and rear so you can run without spacers, but I'd still run the same size tire front and rear.
 
539
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Time Attack
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3-5 Years
SoCal
First of all, I would like to thank you for all the input. :cool:
It's not easy to get information here in Europe with such exotic cars. 😄


@Ewheels
Spacers on the race track are not really ideal. The load increases thereby...has been told to me.

In addition, it is not easy here in Europe to drive the wheels legally with spacers etc..
The easiest way is to make a matching wheels for my car.

The GT350-R have 305' front tires without spacers, there it works rightt?
If it's a legality issue, like @Beermoney said, by all means do what's legal. That's a perfect reason against spacers.

Yes the GT350R has 305 front without spacers but you also can't move front wheels to the back and back to front on the 350R.
Ford won't make a car from factory with spacers because they know someone will lose the spacers and then complain that the car is bad. They are protecting themselves from the worst consumers.
They also have different goals than we do. They are not in the market to make the best, most usable track car. They are in the market to make a track-focused performance car that will sell well and earn them profit.

Lastly, spacers as a whole get an unwarranted bad wrap because of the "other" type of spacer. Bolt-on spacers are dangerous and should be avoided. Slip-on spacers are completely fine. As long as all the lug nuts are tightened down correctly, the car doesn't know nor care if you have +25 offset wheels or +50 wheels with a 25mm spacer.

Hope this helps!
 

TMSBOSS

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They also have different goals than we do. They are not in the market to make the best, most usable track car. They are in the market to make a track-focused performance car that will sell well and earn them profit.
Agree, to a point. In “The Market” there are two types of tracks. One likes a square set up and the other the smallest tires and wheels on the front. The compromise is intended to satisfy as many folks as possible. IMO.
 

Apex Wheels

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I recently created a new fitment guide specifically for GT350/R Mustangs, which should answer your questions: https://support.apexraceparts.com/h...S550-Mustang-GT350-R-Wheel-Tire-Fitment-Guide

From a safety standpoint, running slip on hubcentric spacers with longer studs is no less safe than a wheel with the "correct" offset. The load is the same, because the wheel studs are holding the load like that. I think you'd really enjoy 305s all around, whether that's from different offset wheels or the rotatable setup is up to you. We can and do ship direct to Switzerland, however we also have a dealer there, CM Motorsports, who could assist as well.
 
Not sure of the laws over there. As far as spacers on the track, most of everyone running a square setup uses them, just get hub centric spacers.

If it's a legal issue, get the proper offset for the front and rear so you can run without spacers, but I'd still run the same size tire front and rear.
Sorry, an old thread, but what size spacer would I need for a 11 inch front wheel on a GT350? looking to get the apex EC-7 E52 11"
 

Apex Wheels

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Sorry, an old thread, but what size spacer would I need for a 11 inch front wheel on a GT350? looking to get the apex EC-7 E52 11"
25mm is the most common sized used, and the minimum "required" thickness. Some GT350 owners will run larger spacers to fine tune track width, or run wider tires such as 315/30-19 with appropriate camber.
 

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