Best Tires for Mustangs: Boost Your Muscle Car’s Performance
These top Mustang tires provide excellent traction
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If you love muscle cars and have a Ford Mustang, one way to increase its performance is with a set of really good tires. These vehicles, even those with a V6 engine, are very fast and powerful. To make sure your Mustang handles well on straightaways and in turns, you need high-quality, high-performance tires with excellent traction. Check out the best tires for Mustangs in our buying guide below.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 Ultra-High Summer Performance Tire
This high-performance summer tire has large circumferential grooves for maximum water evacuation. The improved rubber compound improves tire performance.
- 20 percent shorter stopping distance on wet roads
- Proprietary Pulse Groove technology
- Asymmetrical design limits rotation ability
- Not good in cold weather
Achilles ATR Sport 2 Tire
This directional tire features a durable rubber and silica compound for plenty of wet road grip. It achieves improved straight-line traction and stability along with better cornering.
- Matric technology
- Four circumference grooves
- Interlocking tread block
- No traction in light snow
- Can reduce fuel economy performance
Hankook Ventus V12 Evo 2 Summer Radial Tire
These performance tires have great traction and large outer tread blocks for better cornering. Their circumferential grooves prevent hydroplaning in wet conditions.
- Great for commuting and longer highway drives
- Very sticky for solid traction
- Loses traction as the tread wears
- Soft sidewalls
Benefits of Tires for Mustangs
- Improve safety. No matter what type of car you drive, you should replace your old, worn-out tires with new ones. Newer tires provide more traction when you're driving to work, around town, or taking a road trip.
- Boost performance. Stock tires aren't always the best when it comes to handling. The best tires for a Mustang will provide increased performance so you can stop more precisely and accelerate more efficiently.
- Improve gas mileage. If you're driving on older tires, it can affect your gas mileage. Worn-out tires with uneven tread make your vehicle work harder. If you drive a Mustang GT, Mustang V6, or another model, choose new tires so you don’t have to pay as much money for gas.
- Feel better. The best all-season tires for Mustangs completely transform the driving experience. They provide smoother rides and have features that make long trips much more comfortable.
Types of Tires for Mustangs
All-Season
All-season tires are just like their name suggests—they work in all types of weather conditions. It doesn't matter if it's hot, cold, raining, or snowing. They typically last a long time because they feature hard or medium compounds. If your Ford Mustang is driven daily, then all-season tires are a good option. They're also more affordable than high-performance summer tires.
Summer and High-Performance
These tires are ideal if you drive largely in the summer and when the ground is warm. Heat boosts traction, so these tires will not work well when it's wet or cold due to their tread pattern and construction. They are typically made of a soft compound for increased traction, so they don't last as long as some other types of tires.
Winter
If you plan on driving your Mustang in the winter, you need a tire that is designed for cold weather. The compounds in this type of tire stand up to lower temperatures. They feature tread patterns that stick to snow and ice, so you don't get stuck. People who buy winter tires usually switch them out for other tires in the summer months.
Drag/Competition
If you like to autocross or go drag racing, you need specific tires for the task. Drag radial tires and slicks withstand the abuse of racing conditions. Some people use drag tires on the street, but slicks are for the track only. They both have very little tread and are very soft for optimal traction. They do not have a long lifespan.
Top Brands
Pirelli
Pirelli was founded in Milan, Italy, in 1872 by Giovanni Battista Pirelli. It has supplied tires for the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, FIA Formula One World Championship, and the FIM World Superbike Championship. One of its most popular tires is the Pirelli P ZERO Nero All-Season Tire.
Westlake Tires
Westlake Tires manufacturers tires for a variety of segments, including passenger vehicles, light trucks, SUVs, and CUV applications. The company is part of Tireco, Inc., which was founded in 1972 and is based in Gardena, California. One popular tire is the Westlake Performance Radial Tire.
Hankook
Hankook Tire America Corp was founded in 1981 and is based in Nashville, Tennessee. The company designs a wide variety of high-performance and ultra-high-performance tires for passenger vehicles, trucks, and SUVS. It also makes medium truck and bus tires. A popular tire for Mustangs is the Hankook Ventus V12 evo 2 Summer Radial Tire.
Tires for Mustangs Pricing
- Under $150: The best tires aren't necessarily super expensive. You can find a good set of Mustang tires for a decent price that still provide adequate performance.
- $150 and up: The more money you spend, the higher quality tire you will receive. Tires in this price range are typically smoother and more comfortable to ride on. However, their lifespan depends on the type of tire, not necessarily the price.
Key Features
Size
Tires come in several sizes, and the easiest thing to do is buy the same size tire that is stock on your Mustang. However, you can also get slightly wider tires for more traction. Tire sizes are depicted in two or three numbers. For example, many Mustang S550 models have tires that are 255/40/19. That means the tires are 255 millimeters, the height is 40 percent the width of the tire, and the wheel is 19 inches.
Tread Blocks
The tread blocks are the rubber blocks that contact the road. Tires with larger tread blocks have better traction. The downside is that larger tread blocks are usually noisier than smaller ones. Also, their large contact area makes them stiffer and less likely to vibrate when you drive aggressively.
Sipes
The tread blocks have sipes, which are the slits on the tire. They provide traction when it's wet or snowing. Winter tires commonly have sipes, but they are also used on some all-season tires. They help provide biting and gripping edges because they open up when they contact the road. This allows the tires to expel water, slush, and snow.
Grooves
Grooves, similar to sipes, improve traction when the roads are wet. The grooves are the channels in the tires that expel water, so you don't hydroplane. The best tires for Ford Mustangs have deep and numerous grooves, so they perform better and more efficiently in the rain.
Other Considerations
- Speed Rating: The speed rating is how fast you can sustain certain speeds on a particular brand of tires. Tires with higher ratings (A is the lowest, while Y is the highest), provide better handling and control. Read your owner's manual or check with a dealer to determine the proper speed rating.
- Internal Structure: Tires have internal radial plies and steel belts. These two features make the tires stronger, stiffer, and more durable. When tires are under load, the plies and belts aid in keeping the tire's shape and allow it to stay in regular contact with the road.
- Sidewalls: Another important feature related to tires is the sidewall construction. Tires with stiffer sidewalls are more responsive and give the driver more control. They also provide faster turn-in feedback. Softer sidewalls provide a smoother ride and flex more to absorb small bumps and irregularities in the road.
Best Tires for Mustangs Reviews & Recommendations 2021
This ultra-high-performance summer tire is designed with a bold tread design. This gives you improved water evacuation for better traction and more control when driving on wet roads. There are multiple wide circumferential grooves to channel water out and away from the tire. This helps you achieve 20 percent shorter stopping distances. It also has Proprietary Pulse Groove technology. It increases the tire’s resistance to hydroplaning. The size for the tire measures 225/40R18. With the stiffer sidewalls, you’ll be able to corner safely for more dynamic driving.
The potential problem with this tire is that the asymmetrical tread pattern limits how you can rotate these tires. They’re designed to work a certain way, so you can’t turn them around. They are also not suitable for driving in cold weather or snow.
This summer tire combines performance and luxury. It uses Matric technology and a directional tread design with a solid center circumferential rib. There are four circumferential grooves for channeling water away from the tire’s contact patch. An interlocking tread block on the shoulder gives the tire better flex and grip while cornering. The tire is constructed of a rubber and silica compound for better wear and grip. The enhanced tread design gives the tire increased stability and cornering. This tire stands out because the rim guard built into the tire helps your wheels continue to look beautiful.
Unfortunately, you won’t have any traction when driving on the lightest of snow. You may also notice a reduction in your fuel economy when driving on this tire.
The Ventus V12 evo 2 tires are designed with performance in mind. They provide excellent traction and are designed for sports cars, coupes, and sedans. They feature larger outer tread blocks for better cornering and circumferential grooves to channel water out and prevent hydroplaning.
These tires are manufactured to handle high speeds on major highways, whether you're commuting to work or taking the occasional Sunday drive. They're great for sports cars with V8 engines and provide a nice, smooth ride. The sidewalls are very forgiving, considering how low-profile they are. The tires are also very sticky and provide fairly good traction in the rain.
However, they tend to lose traction in wet conditions when the tread starts wearing down. They may also wear unevenly, and the sidewalls are very soft.
This sport four-season tire is designed to deliver superior driving performance. You’ll have the ultimate road grip when driving on wet and dry roads. This makes the tire stand out because you’ll have traction and stability during winter driving. You’ll appreciate the style of this tire. It’s attractive enough to be supercar certified and chosen by Chevrolet to be the chosen tire for the Corvette. This means the tire will look right at home on your Mustang, giving it a sporty look. The asymmetrical tread pattern gives you more rubber contact on the outer shoulder for more lateral grip. The rubber compound is race-inspired with as much silica as possible for plenty of grip. The interlocking sipes on the shoulder give you a better grip in the corners.
Unfortunately, this tire will reduce your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. It also has a harsher ride, making them bumpy unless you’re driving on smooth roads.
Feel confident while driving on both wet and dry roads while cruising straight lines or conquering the corners. This tire is rated as sport performance and meant for driving in all-season weather. You’ll appreciate the smooth and quiet ride that this tire delivers when on your Mustang. What makes this tire stand out is the stylish and attractive design of the tire. Its premium sidewall styling gives the car a modern appearance. There are multiple circumferential grooves to help channel water away from the tire.
The downside of this tire is that it tends to wear out quickly when you drive more aggressively. This makes it have a shorter useful life if you're heavy on the gas and brake pedals. However, this tends to be a standard characteristic of sport performance tires.
Tips
- To determine what size and type tires you need on your Mustang, look at the owner's manual or check the information sticker located on the driver's side door. It will include tire size, specifications, and correct tire pressure.
- Check the air pressure monthly when the tires are cold. The correct pressure should be printed on the door jamb, fuel-filler door, or inside the glove compartment. Don't rely on the pressure featured on the tire's sidewall as it is the maximum pressure.
- Regularly examine the tire for cuts, cracks, or bulges. If you see these issues on the sidewall or tread, then it's time to purchase new tires.
- If your tires experience uneven treadwear, your vehicle may have a worn suspension or improper wheel alignment. Make sure to have these components checked by a professional.
FAQs
Q: Are Ford Mustangs good in the snow?
A: Standard tires don't do well in sand, salt, and snow, so it's a good idea to invest in winter tires, which are built to increase traction in winter weather conditions. All-season radial tires are adequate in areas with little to no snow.
Q: What are the best tires for a Mustang GT?
A: Look for tires that provide a lot of traction when you accelerate hard. They should have a good grip when cornering and provide the shortest possible braking distances. If the vehicle is driven daily, consider high-performance, all-season tires.
Q: How long do Mustang tires last?
A: That depends on the type of tire and your driving style. Some tires last as long as 50,000 miles, while others last considerably less.
Final Thoughts
Our pick for the top tires for Mustangs is the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 Ultra-High Summer Performance Tire. It delivers a 20 percent shorter stopping distance on wet roads thanks to its proprietary Pulse Groove technology.
For a more budget-friendly option, consider the Achilles ATR Sport 2 Tire. It features a direction tire tread design and a durable silica compound.
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Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
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