Why the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500's Carbon-Fiber Wheels Are Superior to the GT350R's
It's more than just looks, although they are beautiful: the carbon-fiber wheels are as advanced as those on a Ferrari.
A lot has changed since the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R became the first major series-production car with carbon-fiber wheels. That was the litmus test for Carbon Revolution, a small Australian supplier gambling with expensive, handmade rims for an equally expensive, low-volume sports car. Four years later, Oz is the world's hub for carbon wheels — and the latest set on the 2020 Shelby GT500 are the firm's best yet. This is real democracy: You can now order wheels from Ford that are just as advanced as those on a Ferrari.
The most noticeable difference on the GT500 wheels is the exposed weave. Ford wasn’t confident enough about this lacquer's durability when it contracted with Carbon Revolution in 2013, so Dearborn coated the GT350R's wheels in thick black paint. On the GT500, each spoke has intricate textures and a glossy finish, and they look gobsmackingly beautiful from 50 feet away.
Up close, crossing the biggest front brake calipers Brembo has ever made and stuffed inside short-sidewall Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires (305/30R-20 front and 315/30R-20 rear), they're an appropriate reward for picking the $18,500 Carbon Fiber Track Pack, which includes them. (Carbon Revolution says it retails similar aftermarket wheels at $11,500 per set, although Ford hasn’t yet listed a price.) This time, there's no doubt what exotic material lies underneath the clearcoat.
