[SIZE=1]The tires (Kumho MX) are an inch shorter and an inch wider than stock. No noticeable decrease in ride quality from the springs or the tires, though the tires are a little noisier. From the driver's seat, the car sits noticeably lower than before. The tires "tramline" -- follow ruts in the road -- worse than stock, but the transition from straight-ahead to turning is much less abrupt.

Racing this weekend

 

Looks nice but doesn't sound like you like the tires. Why did you go with them?

 

looks great!!!

 

I love 'em, but they might be a little too hard core for daily use -- I'm using this car mainly for autocross and track days. It's a much softer compound, sticks like a son of a gun.

 

What size are the tires? and is the springs the eibach prokit or the sportline kit. Looks Great!

 

Wow! Your car looks great!

How does your car handle in the rain?

 

It's the pro kit; any more aggressive and i think you'd need to buy different shocks and replace the bushings.

The tires are 255/45/17s, an inch shorter and an inch wider than stock. They're summer tires (tread pattern maximizes contact with the road rather than wicking away water). They're OK in everything but snow, but you also have to be careful in colder weather because the soft compound won't grip as well.

We haven't had any real rain here in weeks -- amazing for Seattle in winter. If they're like most summer tires, they'll be OK for a while, then prone to hydroplaning once they wear down halfway. I've had these shaved down to 4/32 in preparation for autocross, so they'd be even worse.

Took her out yesterday for a few more break-in miles; the back end is definitely more planted when you accelerate out of a corner, and the fatter, softer tires make a huge difference in stopping distances.

Tires like these (summer tread pattern with a wear rating below 280 or so) with are probably the cheapest way to get the most out of your Mustang's suspension. The Pirellis are a great pair of everyday shoes. These are Nikes. But unless you race and have another car/another set of tires, the compromise probably isn't worth it.

I'm planning to add camber plates and adjustable Konis. And I'm looking for a relatively light Halibrand wheel replica to cut down on unsprung weight; when I do, I'll buy some true race tires, too. This is a big car for the class I'll be racing in (ESP), and it's fine on power for now, so I'm concentrating on agility. The class killers are Subaru STis, Mitsubishi EVOs, etc.

sorry for the long-winded reply ...

 

Thanks for the info, very helpful to what I'm looking to do when mine gets here.

 

Thanks for the pictures. I am getting the same color car and the same wheels and plan on putting on the eibach pro kit with Kumho Ecsta Tires ASX 255/50R - 17. This thread pattern is alittle less aggressive than yours.

 

I'm currious, why did you go with shorter tires? Does it help in auto-X?

 

Yep, a cheap way to get shorter gearing!

 

ahh. Learn something new everyday.
BTW, am I the only one who can't see the pics?

 

This is a big car for the class I'll be racing in (ESP), and it's fine on power for now, so I'm concentrating on agility. The class killers are Subaru STis, Mitsubishi EVOs, etc.

I assume Autocross was Sunday.
Well , did you put the STi & EVOs in their place?
ESP was always a tuff class.

I couldn't view your pics also.

 

[attachmentid=13197]

today was really a tune-up. Times weren't bad (midpack) but they weren't good. RWD and 300 hp are a big change, and I was way too timid.

I ran the second half of the day in a friend's lightly modded ZX3 and beat my best mustang time by two seconds.

Long ways to go, but that's the fun.

i was gridded next to a Viper coupe and behind an '05 Vette. no one gave 'em a second glance

 

I haven't seen a 05' Mustang run yet.
Sometimes the exciting run and the fastest run aren't same run.
Its makes for huge smiles.
I'm quessing it was a tight course, not a HP one.

Do they offer Fun Runs , for more seat time in the new ride.
Spending all day for 4 or 5 (60 sec) runs takes time.

Nice track pic , lookes like you have alot of neg camber since it was lowered.
That should help those times.

 

[attachmentid=13208]

our winter courses are always tight because it's usually raining and there are woods lining the track. I got 10 runs yesterday but took half in another car. Summertime courses are wide open, and because the days get so long, there's usually a shot at three or four additional fun runs. Some of our local clubs allow passengers, so between your own runs and your friends', you might get 15-20 looks at the course.

the added camber helps with turn-in, but as you can see from this pic, unless you goose the throttle, the back end won't follow.

will you be running yours?

 

Its been a few years since I autocrossed. I will try a autocross with the new car, but hot lap days and driver schools is what i'm addicted to. Spending all day for 5 min of track time versus 2 hours on the road course, but $15 versus $150.

Beaver Run here outside Pittsburgh offers a road course, autocross, skid
pad, ralley course and a kart track all in one location.

My car will be in this weekend, let the mods begin.
Looking for suspension mods that work.
Bigger sway bars versus heavy springs?
Bushings and lite 17x9s.

 

dtoups,

Looks great! Where did you run? Kinda looks like Bremerton, but I don't know where else (other than Boeing) they do that around here. I've been wanting to try my truck again this year to see how the new tires work (Falken Ziex 512's) compared to by Potenza's last year, and want to do it once or twice more before I sell it for the Mustang. Guess I'll have to re-join BEAC to find out about all the autocrosses around the area.

Jay

 

hi jay -- you're right, that was bremerton, but there are events from Portland to Bellingham to Spokane and in between. You can find a schedule here. Except for a few events, you don't have to be a member of any of the local clubs.

 

That's sweet. I teach pursuit driving for law enforcement and we have a small autocross track at our facility. I have never driven it but maybe I should. I am just worried about pushing it too hard and messing up the paint by hitting a cone....yikes.