New Signature Wheels are on and I had the opportunity to get the car photographed by @Summit.SS this weekend. Figured it was a good way to break all the information about the wheel setup. You will see some of my own photography mixed in as well.
The GT500 is a blast when at full tilt, and manually shifting the DCT feels superb once you learn what you are doing. The car is obviously fast and that horsepower/torque hides a lot of the weight. The 500 feels very GT350 esque in a lot of ways. Steering is tuned well for feedback. Body roll is minimal but track enthusiasts will want lower/stiffer springs with accompanying sway bars. I can say that losing the unsprung weight with the lighter wheels does make a difference with initial turn in and acceleration. In my opinion the car needs less weight more than it needs additional power. Hopefully I will be tracking the car soon.
For the initial wheel debut I wanted to showcase our lightweight Track Series wheel options. This Track Series SV503 is the same wheel we built for the Ford Performance Racing School when they won at the NASA 25-Hours of Thunder Hill in December. These are built with an emphasis on weight reduction without sacrificing strength and stiffness. Mass is moved toward the center of the wheel to assist with acceleration and deceleration. Think about putting a weight on the end of a string and swinging it around your hand. You can spin the weight faster and with less effort when the mass is closer to your hand. Same theory applies here. More contact points at the barrel help with impact absorption. Anti slip bead knurling is used to prevent tire slip on the rim. These Track Series designs are also the initial recommendation for those looking for 18” rear drag setups.
As built the Signature Wheel Track Series SV503 came in at 25/23 lbs. This is with a 20x11.5 front and 20x11.5 rear that have specific offsets. Also showcased is the deeper drop cup center. Wheels are rotatable side to side, but not front to rear. Those seeking a square rotatable setup we can help as well. Reusing the OEM 305/315 tires and TPMS are not an issue and were showcased here. The OEM wheels once removed and dismounted came in at 35/32 lbs. Giving you roughly a 40 lb weight reduction.
The GT500 is a blast when at full tilt, and manually shifting the DCT feels superb once you learn what you are doing. The car is obviously fast and that horsepower/torque hides a lot of the weight. The 500 feels very GT350 esque in a lot of ways. Steering is tuned well for feedback. Body roll is minimal but track enthusiasts will want lower/stiffer springs with accompanying sway bars. I can say that losing the unsprung weight with the lighter wheels does make a difference with initial turn in and acceleration. In my opinion the car needs less weight more than it needs additional power. Hopefully I will be tracking the car soon.
For the initial wheel debut I wanted to showcase our lightweight Track Series wheel options. This Track Series SV503 is the same wheel we built for the Ford Performance Racing School when they won at the NASA 25-Hours of Thunder Hill in December. These are built with an emphasis on weight reduction without sacrificing strength and stiffness. Mass is moved toward the center of the wheel to assist with acceleration and deceleration. Think about putting a weight on the end of a string and swinging it around your hand. You can spin the weight faster and with less effort when the mass is closer to your hand. Same theory applies here. More contact points at the barrel help with impact absorption. Anti slip bead knurling is used to prevent tire slip on the rim. These Track Series designs are also the initial recommendation for those looking for 18” rear drag setups.
As built the Signature Wheel Track Series SV503 came in at 25/23 lbs. This is with a 20x11.5 front and 20x11.5 rear that have specific offsets. Also showcased is the deeper drop cup center. Wheels are rotatable side to side, but not front to rear. Those seeking a square rotatable setup we can help as well. Reusing the OEM 305/315 tires and TPMS are not an issue and were showcased here. The OEM wheels once removed and dismounted came in at 35/32 lbs. Giving you roughly a 40 lb weight reduction.