Improve Handling for Your Late Model Ford Mustang

Friday, January 27, 2012 by Hunter Leffel
Eibach Multi-Pro Coil-OverWould you like to improve the look, handling and cornering capability of your late model Mustang? We have the solutions ranging from a single component (just springs or dampers) up to track ready coil-over systems.  

If you're wanting to close up that wheelwell gap, without sacrificing ride quality, a product like the Eibach Pro-Kit Spring Set would be a great solution. You'll see a mild drop in the 1.0" - 1.5" range which will improve the stance and handling while maintaining a near factory ride.

Are you ready to hit the track while wanting a wide range of adjustments (including your Ford shocks) for your vehicle? It may be time to explore a coil-over kit. Again, Eibach steps up to the plate offering drops adjustable between 1.0" and 2009 Ford Mustang2.4". The Multi-Pro Coil-Over (shown above) features a 10-way independently adjustable compression and rebound which allows for combinations that are near limitless to dial your car in perfectly.

Options are available for most years and models of the fifth-generation Mustang (2005 and up). 

Whether you're looking to buy shocks online or purchase a coil-over kit, shop by vehicle to find the right suspension products for your vehicle. 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Kumho Ecsta ASX

Thursday, January 12, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.

Kumho Ecsta ASXReviewer's Overall Rating: 7.1

1998 BMW M3 Coupe
More Tire Reviews for This Vehicle


Buy/More Info
Miles driven on tires: 30000
Location: Alexandria , VA
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 30000 Miles on Tires
January 04, 2012

A prior review for 2005 Mustang GT could have been written by me. I bought the tires for the price advantage on a car I do not drive much, but which I drive through a variety of conditions: commuting in DC rush hour, crossing the hills to PGH from DC and tracking. My car is set up for "spirited" driving with mods to engine and suspension. Tires MIGHT be loud, but so's my exhaust. Ride MIGHT be stiff, but so's my set up. That said, I find them as comfy as can be on the highway, until a pothole intrudes, but again, that's probably the set up. On the track (VIR)these were wonderful - very good communication and controllable, comfortable drift. As others say, there might be better tires for each of these purposes, but my days of spending $200-$300 per tire are over. I also just bought an E39 540 for highway duty. Comfort, wet/dry traction, noise would probably be better tested on that car, when current Toyos wear out. I am looking forward to this replacement.

Lowering Your Ford Mustang

Thursday, January 5, 2012 by Logan Woodworth
The late model Ford Mustang is fast becoming an extremely popular vehicle for both customizers and enthusiasts. This is partly due to the volume of aftermarket parts available and the demand from consumers to set their Mustang apart from the crowd and show off their personal style.

In addition to custom paint jobs and aftermarket wheels (rims), many Mustang owners are opting to lower their cars for more aggressive handling and appearance. Due to the flexibility of the late model Mustang chassis, there are several ride height and stiffness options available.

Depending on the version of Mustang, there are several options for lowering from standard non-adjustable springs to fully adjustable coil-over kits. Coil-over kits offer the height and dampening adjustability that is not possible with a spring-only application.
Eibach Multi-Pro Coil-Over R2 Kit for 2011 Mustang GT
It's important to note that when changing a vehicle's ride height, alignment adjustments will be needed for your vehicle. For lowering, this typically includes reduction in camber to counter the camber increase caused by shorter springs. For the newer Mustang, a set of camber bolts will do the trick for the front and an adjustable panhard bar or trailing arm for the rear.

When you're looking for Mustang shocks, springs, coil-over kits or other suspension parts for your ride, be sure to shop by vehicle to find the parts that are a great fit.

Boss 302S Wheels Available for Your 2005+ Ford Mustang

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 by Marshall Wisler
Ford Racing Boss 302S If you're looking to spice up your Mustang with a little bit of factory induced flair, take a look at the new Boss 302S wheel from Ford Racing.

The new Boss 302 has been heralded by many as the baddest Mustang ever built. With 444 horsepower on tap, a track-tuned suspension, aggressive Mustang rims (wheels) and tires and monstrous brakes, it's hard to find fault with these claims. Unfortunately, while the new Boss 302 may turn blazing fast lap times and turn heads while doing it, the cost for such pleasure is a staggering $45,000. No doubt still a tremendous performance bargain, but this price tag sadly puts it out of range for the large majority of buyers considering the purchase of America's iconic pony car.

Fear not, as parts exist to freshen up the pony already in your stable. Whether you own a 2005-2010 4.0L V6, 2005-2010 4.6L V8, 2011+ 3.7L V6 or a 2011+ 5.0, the new Boss 302S wheels are designed to fit all members of the S197 chassis team. Designed for use with Brembo brakes, these wheels will even fit the 2011+ 5.0L GTs equipped with the optional Brembo package and any 2007+ GT500. This truly is a versatile wheel that can be used with a large range of applications. What's more is these wheels can be used in a 19x9 at all four corners or with a 19x9 front and 19x10 rear stagger. 

So if you're in need of new Mustang wheels, search by vehicle to find the set that works best with this American legend. 

The Necessity of Aftermarket Shocks / Struts

Wednesday, May 25, 2011 by Marshall Wisler
Since their inception into the market, the 2011 Mustang GT and the 5th Generation 2010+ Camaro have attracted much attention, and I must note I too fell prey to their new designs.

In February, I took ownership of a 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 6-speed. The only options on my car were the Brembo performance brake and wheel package and the 3.73 rear gears. I wanted the fastest base Mustang GT I could buy, but yet even that was not without room for improvement.

My first step toward correcting the lackluster steering response and turn-in feel was to replace the spring and strut / shock assemblies. My components of choice were the off-the-shelf 2011 Mustang GT Eibach Pro-Kit Spring Set and a set of 2010 Mustang GT model Bilstein struts and shocks. Although Bilstein does not yet have a 2011 Mustang GT specific fitment at this time, the use of 2005-2010 Ford Racing strut mounts and the 2010 model Bilstein struts allowed me to successfully use the components. For a more plug and play application and a user friendly guaranteed fitment, consumers can purchase the matching Eibach Pro-Damper Kit which is specifically tuned for Eibach springs on the 2011 models and bolts up without any modification to the strut mount units.

Strut Rod Diameter
Although the Eibach springs are not the stiffest available, their progressive rate is far beyond the factory rate of 150lbs/in. For that reason, it is important to increase the compression and rebound rates of the shock assemblies, not only to increase the life of the shock, but also to increase performance while cornering, and reduce unfavorable motion on transitions and rough surfaces.

At left is a picture of the factory 2011 Mustang GT front strut and its Bilstein rival. The differences in shaft size should be obvious. Upon installing this aftermarket suspension package, my 2011 GT feels like an entirely new car. It doesn't exhibit the floating feeling associated with the stock pieces, and generally feels firmer and more responsive. The steering inputs are met with crisp turn-in and the car behaves very neutral at the limit, which left me quite surprised.

For questions on suspension and more, contact one of our sales specialists.

Eibach Now Offering New Products for Modern Muscle

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 by Marshall Wisler
New suspension products available for 2011 Eibach Pro-Plus KitMustang GT and Camaro SS!
 
One of the many challenges faced by purchasers of brand new vehicles is the lack of support from the aftermarket. Although these newly purchased vehicles still contain that desirable new car smell, transmit a comfortable ride and run without hesitation, they often leave much to be desired in terms of performance. 
 
One of the most basic and popular changes to new vehicles is that of their suspension setup. Whether the intent is to lower vehicle height, raise vehicle height, improve handling characteristics or improve ride quality, Tire Rack offers products from several world renowned manufacturers to build a set-up that works for you. 
 
Perfect examples include the 2011 Mustang GT and 2010 Camaro SS. Despite having many desirable traits from the factory, including punchy V8 engines, test results show they are not without improvement.

For more information and test results featuring both the new 5.0 Mustang GT and Camaro SS, watch Eibach 2011 Mustang GT Shoot-Out.

Shop by vehicle to see which suspension products work best for your vehicle. 

Self-Adjusting Suspension: the Best of Both Worlds

Tuesday, January 18, 2011 by Logan Woodworth

Koni FSD Damper Set Want a sportier ride from your car's suspension system without giving up ride comfort?

Or better handling to go along with your new custom wheels and tires?

KONI offers a unique and affordable solution. The KONI FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) is available for many Euorpean, domestic, and Asian vehicles such as Volkswagen, BMW, Mini, Audi, Mazda, Corvette, and Mustang among others.

The concept of the KONI FSD Damper Set is that it self-adjusts based on the vehicle's body and suspension movement.

Find out more and see if it's availalbe for your vehicle!

HELP! Doing a RESTOMOD and need modern wheels and tires!

Thursday, January 6, 2011 by Mac McNabb
You just finished the bodywork on your '67 Ford and don't want the 14x5.5 wheels, you want the 17x8 chrome wheels to finish off the look!

Here is a road map to matching a custom wheel and tire combo to your classic car or restomod.

OffsetBolt Pattern1. Bolt pattern. You can’t just say, “It’s a Ford or Chevy.” You need to know the EXACT bolt pattern.  Often the Galaxy versus the Mustang for example had a different bolt spread due to different load ratings. 

2. Offset. You need to know your current offset. This can be calculated if you have the backspacing.  In order to calculate though, you need backspacing and wheel width and we can help from there. Even if you are going to make a dramatic change, your previous offset can be a good reference point!

3. Check your clearance. Jack up your car and lower it down onto jack stands so that your vehicle’s suspension is compressed. Turn the wheel left and right and see what type of clearance you have. Make sure you have the measurements on your baseline wheels to give us a starting point and we can go from there. With your baseline plus the clearances at the fully turned points, we can start to paint a picture of what your vehicle will be able to handle. 
 
4.  If you want to take it a step further, lower the vehicle onto about 4 inches of 1X6 stacked up on one corner. Then jack from the opposite corner slowly, with a spotter of course to handle the jack while you are observing. This simulates compressing your suspension, so you can get an accurate indication of how much travel you have and how that affects the wheel tire clearance in the wheel well.

5. Know your car! Find out what outside diameter maximums your tires can handle or what others have run on similar cars. If your car is fully custom, then mock something up with cardboard and work out the dimensions yourself. Always check forums and other fans of your car. If you have a Ford Galaxy, join the Galaxy Club of America and glean some info from other members!

With this wheel and tire information, along with your clearance info, we can help! Get in touch and we will get that classic Ford out of the garage in time for the spring car shows!

Consider KMC aftermarket wheels for your Ford Mustang.

Friday, July 30, 2010 by Tire Rack Team
If you're looking to spice up a Ford Mustang with some aftermarket wheels, consider KMC wheels—they're "like no other." Point proven in the image at right, where we've chosen to install the Nova style. They feature a machined finish with black accents, and they're mounted on a set of Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 tires. These Ultra High Performance Summer tires promote excellent steering on dry roads. Together with the KMC Nova wheels, they make one pretty (literally) impressive tire and wheel package.

Click here to start building one for your Mustang. Or, you can start by shopping our entire collection of KMC aftermarket wheels. And if you're feeling really adventurous, enter our Upgrade Garage and find an entire list of aftermarket products—like Mustang brake pads and Mustang suspension components, even Mustang shocks—for your vehicle.

Suspension Upgrade 101

Thursday, June 3, 2010 by Brandon Lorenc
When upgrading your car's suspension, it is important to remember that you're going to be the person doing the driving and will have to deal with the ride quality on a daily basis. Whether it is MINI Cooper Suspension, Corvette Suspension, Mustang Suspension or WRX Suspension there is usually a trade-off in ride quality for performance.

Personally when I upgraded the suspension on my 2005 Saab 9-2X Aero (essentially a WRX) I wanted a good balance of ride quality and improved handling. I used the H&R Sport Springs which gave an excellent improvement in cornering and steering response and a more aggressive look, but still retained a decent ride quality. It lowered the car slightly more then an inch in my case which was just perfect for me. Many people go more aggressive, but remember you're driving down the road casually much more often then when your cornering and will have to deal with the ride quality on a permamenent basis.

Have fun!


If you're in need of Mustang shocks, Tire Rack can help.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 by Tire Rack Team
Mustang shocks. Where to begin?

At Tire Rack, actually. We're in the business of vehicle-specific upgrades. We closely study our products and carefully chose what we offer so that we can predict how each product will perform on your vehicle.

When you're in the market for Mustang shocks, or any shocks for that matter, you can trust that we'll point you in the right direction.

Like maybe toward a new KONI FSD Damper set. These specialized shock absorbers offer the best of both worlds—a firm ride and maximum comfort. With Frequency Selective Damping technology, damping is actively controlled based on the vehicle's body and suspension movement frequency.

To see if these Mustang shocks will work for you, you'll want to search our entire collection of aftermarket suspension products.


You've got the Mustang, now get the Mustang rims.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 by Tire Rack Team
Ford Mustangs have been rolling down our streets since 1964, impressing us all with their power and their style. Though Ford has made a few improvements over the years, it's as classic a car as ever. Why change a good thing, right? We only disagree with that statement when it comes to the Mustang wheels.

It's not that we dislike the Original Equipment, we only aim to exhibit how the installation of aftermarket Mustang wheels provides performance and aesthetic benefits. And there are a number of excellent aftermarket Mustang wheels.

The 2010 Ford Mustang GT Coupe above features 20" Sport Muscle Tach wheels that are machined with an anthracite accent. Other Mustang wheels that would look just as good include:

Enkei Performance Series LS-5 (Black Painted)
Sport Edition KV5 (Silver)
TRMotorsports MT1 (Matte Grey)

Use our Upgrade Garage to see what these and other Mustang wheels would look like on your vehicle. You'll also get access to Mustang tires, Mustang brake pads and Mustang suspension products, including Mustang shocks.