So... Up until a couple weeks ago I had a 2012 Blue Mustang GT. Never quite understood all this talk about the ugly wheel gap. Didn't seem too bad to me, and quite frankly I was very concerned about bottoming out if I went any lower.

Now I have 2014 Gray Mustang GT with the Track Pack. Holy cow I can get my whole fist in there. Now I get it. I'm wondering if it is the stiffer suspension or if it is the dire diameter of the 18" vs 19" wheels that causes the worst gap.

Below are a couple photos and there is at least an inch or more difference in the wheel gap. Note that the blue one has aftermarket wheels on it, but those are stock size tires on both cars.

 

Maybe I half answered my own question. Checked the tire calculator on AM and the 18" wheels are 27.25" tall and the 19" are 27.68" tall. So there's almost a half inch. Rest must be the stiffer springs not compressing as much?

 

Also, there is an optical illusion which happens when you increase the wheel diameter. The skinnier the rubber, the bigger the gap appears to be.

By the way, pretty car.

 

The 255/40/19 stock tires on the Track Pack are 27" tall, not 27.68"

That blue car above looks lowered, front and rear
Did you buy it used?

 

The blue car was bought new. Not lowered. It never really had a lot of wheel gap and I would hit the curb with the front valance. The new car has more clearance.

 

I think the Track Pack cars have a bigger gap than a basic GT. I can't stand it on mine, working on lowering it soon hopefully.

 

Looking at the pics, the gap looks the same. Photoshop measurements agree.

I think it's the color...

 

Either way, they look like they're ready to go off-roading

 

Hehe, the height of mine doesn't bother me at all (maybe since I sometimes DO go offroad LOL)

Didn't the lowering craze start in the import market?? O_O!!

 

Nope, it started with drivers wanting a lower center of gravity for better handling.

....the slammed/camber stance craze started with imports

 

...which is actually accomplished in large part by lowering the motor mounts and leaving the suspension alone. This also allows the vehicle's suspension to function as it was meant to without compressing components and having to relocate others in order to keep the suspension functioning adequately.

 

You're correct about lowering the motor mounts, but I'll add on to it.

That only lowers the center of gravity where the engine is located. When someone lowers a vehicles suspension, they are lowering the complete CG while also affecting the weight transfer, allowing the car to handle more efficiently.

I know about lowering motor mounts, I did it to my pro-touring car a few years ago, but I'll just leave this here for you. With your theory, you could take a truck and lower the engine and the truck will handle better, which is not the case.

http://www.e30m3project.com/e30m3per...t_transfer.htm

There's a reason track cars are LOW and wide.