No muscle car deserves the title unless suited up with the proper wheels and tires, and the new Mustang convertible won't leave the factory half-dressed. The array of wheels available on the Mustang is engineered to meet demanding performance requirements.
The standard 17-inch wheels on Mustang GT are eight inches wide and equipped with Pirelli P235/55ZR-17 W-speed-rated all-season performance tires for year-round driving.
V-6 models have seven-inch-wide, 16-inch wheels. As with the Mustang GT, all-season rubber is standard, with a slightly higher profile T-rated BF Goodrich tire, sized at P215/65R-16. These tires are designed to offer long wear without compromising performance.
In concert with the ABS and traction control systems, the new all-season tires make Mustang convertible far more practical in rain, ice or snow. On dry pavement, they provide an exceptionally engaging driving experience with high overall grip and good steering response.
Aesthetically, street rodders have long known that larger wheels and tires better fill the car's wheel wells, adding meat to the muscle. The 2005 Mustang convertible's tires boast more sidewall than many other sports cars, enhancing the muscle car look and providing a better match for this vehicle's blend of power and handling.
POWERTRAIN
Sometimes, choosing a convertible over a coupe means accepting compromises in performance. Because of some convertibles' vastly increased weight or reduced structural integrity over their derivative counterparts, manufacturers often restrict high-performance engine choices or the availability of a manual transmission. They may even soften the suspension or change final drive ratios - all in an effort to retain reasonable drivability, durability and fuel economy in convertible models. Such are the evils associated with the weight added (often 300 pounds or more) during the conversion of a typical hardtop into a drop top - much of it due to tacking on structural reinforcements to make up for the lack of roof structure.
FULL-STRENGTH FOR YOUR DRIVING DESIRES
But this is not the case with the 2005 Mustang convertible. Its body structure was engineered from the beginning as both coupe and convertible, adding only 175 pounds over the coupe. As a result the 2005 Mustang convertible doesn't compromise when it comes to performance - either with powertrain choices or in the handling department. The 4.6-liter V-8 engine standard in the Mustang GT coupe makes the same 300-horsepower in the Mustang GT convertible. The same applies to the 210-horsepower 4.0-liter V-6 available in the base coupe and convertible.
The GT's new 4.6-liter, three-valve MOD V-8 packs 40 more horsepower than the previous generation Mustang V-8 and over 50 percent more power than the fiery small-block 289-cubic-inch V-8 that propelled the 1964 model to stardom. This newfound power - on regular gas - is made possible by intelligent application of modern technology, including all-aluminum construction and a new head design that incorporates three valves per cylinder and variable cam timing.
"Mustang owners have always known - and bragged about - what was under the hood. With the new 300-horsepower, three-valve 4.6-liter MOD V-8, we're giving them plenty to brag about - again." - Terry Wagner, Manager, Ford Modular V-8 Engines
