Ford · 2015–2023 (GT350: 2015–2020) · track setup

Mustang GT Performance Pack / Shelby GT350 S550

The S550 brought independent rear suspension to the Mustang, and with the Performance Pack (six-piston Brembos, later MagneRide) it is a capable, stable track car. The Shelby GT350 adds the high-revving flat-plane Voodoo V8, its own engine oil cooler and MagneRide, and on later cars Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Both reward front camber that the stock strut tops cannot provide.
Engine
5.0 L V8 (Coyote, GT) / 5.2 L flat-plane-crank V8 (Voodoo, GT350)
Power
435 hp (2015–17 GT); 460 hp (2018–21 GT); 450 hp (2022–23 GT); 526 hp (GT350)
Weight
≈3,760–3,800 lb (GT350 and GT350 Track); GT coupes vary by year and options
Layout
Front-engine
Drive
RWD
Performance planner ↓

These are starting points gathered from the sources listed at the bottom, not a guarantee. Cars, tires and parts vary: have a reputable alignment shop set your car, check factory specs for road use, and change one thing at a time.

01On track

Strengths
  • +Independent rear suspension: better bump compliance and rear grip than the S197
  • +Performance Pack six-piston Brembo fronts with 15-inch rotors
  • +GT350 Voodoo V8 and factory Cup 2 tires on 2019+ cars
  • +Strong specialist aftermarket (camber plates, brake ducts)
Watch out for
  • −Heavy, so brakes and front tires are consumables
  • −Front camber is limited without camber plates
  • −Too much camber combined with a stiff front bar can unbalance the car (owner experience)
  • −Brake cooling is the first limit for most cars on stock hardware

02Alignment

Where to start the alignment.

Alignment · starting points
VIEWED FROM BEHIND · CAMBER EXAGGERATED ×3-3.0°FRONT L-3.0°FRONT R-1.9°REAR L-1.9°REAR R
FrontRear
Camber-2.5° to -3.5°about -1.8° (a little under -2.0°)
Toeabout zerofactory spec

Owner-consensus range from an experienced S550 track owner; there is no published shop spec. Requires camber plates (Vorshlag quotes up to about 2.5° extra) and possibly rear camber arms. Watch balance: lots of front camber plus a stiff front bar can push the car loose.

Sources [2,4]

03Tires & brakes

Tires and brakes

  • 200TW endurance
    • Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS
    • Yokohama Advan A052
    • Falken Azenis RT660+
    GT Performance Pack: 255/40R19 front, 275/40R19 rear on 19×9 / 19×9.5 (2015 example). GT350 2019+: 295/35R19 front, 305/35R19 rear.
    Sources [1,5,7,8]
  • Max-performance summer
    • Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
    • Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (2019+ GT350 and GT350R factory fitment)
    As above; early GT350 used 295-width Pilot Super Sport fronts
    Sources [5,9]
  • R-compound / slick
    • Hoosier TrackAttack Race R8
    Size to your wheel widths

    Heat-cycle new tires; minimum 26 psi cold.

    Sources [6]
Brake pads

Dedicated track compound; Vorshlag stocks G-LOC pads for the GT Performance Pack six-piston and GT350 six-piston front / four-piston rear calipers

Brake fluid

Motul RBF600 / RBF660

Add brake ducting (4-inch backing plates for PP1; inlet kits for 2018–23 GT). [3]

04Known issues on track

Fix these before they find you.

  • Brake heat

    Specialist shops sell inlet cooling kits and duct backing plates for Performance Pack and 2018–23 GT cars because the factory brakes reach their limit on track. Pair ducts with racing fluid and a track pad. [3]

  • Front camber and tire shoulders

    Stock strut tops leave the front tires running on their outer shoulders. Vorshlag's plates add up to about 2.5° of negative camber without chassis modification and offer two caster positions (factory and +1°). Owners using other plates report opening up strut-tower holes slightly. [2,4]

  • Know your cooling hardware

    The GT350 has a dedicated engine oil cooler (later shared with the Mach 1). Package contents for transmission and differential cooling varied by year and package, so confirm what your car has before running long sessions in heat. [1,5]

05Modification roadmap

In the order that pays off.

  1. 0
    Safety & reliability first

    Safety and reliability first

    • Racing brake fluid, track pads and brake ductsBrake heat is the first limit on stock hardware.
    • Confirm engine oil, transmission and differential coolingContents vary by year and package.
  2. 1
    Tires & alignment

    Tires and alignment

    • Front camber platesUnlocks the front camber the tires need.
    • 200TW endurance tiresConsistent grip for a heavy car.
  3. 2
    Suspension & brakes

    Suspension

    • Rear camber arms and balanced roll stiffnessMatches rear camber to the front and keeps the car neutral.
  4. 3
    Power & aero

    Power last

    • Power only after brakes are provenMore speed into braking zones is where these cars struggle.

06Performance planner

What each upgrade is worth on this car.

Pick upgrades and see the estimated lap-time change on a reference circuit, how much margin your brakes and engine have late in a session, and which changes buy durability rather than speed.

Performance planner · Mustang GT Performance Pack / Shelby GT350 S550Model estimate
Tires
Brake pads
Brake fluid
Brake cooling
Brakes
Alignment
Suspension
Differential
Weight
Power
Cooling
Oil system
Aero
1:47.16stock 1:47.16−0.0%

Reference circuit (fictional, 3.5 km). Late lap includes brake fade and heat derating once the system runs out of margin.

T1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8SPEED · your plan vs stock · top 134 mph
Brake fade marginFades
Engine heat marginHolds
Oil starvation riskLow
Tire life (relative)100%
Sensitivity · each upgrade alone vs stock (late lap)
  • R-compound tires−5.99%load ↑
  • 200TW endurance tires−3.04%load ↑
  • Street/track pads−0.98%durability ↑
  • Race pads−0.98%durability ↑
  • High-temp fluid−0.98%durability ↑
  • Brake cooling ducts−0.98%durability ↑
  • Track alignment−0.97%
  • Big brake kit−0.97%durability ↑
  • Coilovers + sway bars−0.82%
  • Splitter + wing−0.76%
  • Limited-slip differential−0.68%load ↑
  • Lighter wheels + seat−0.11%
  • Oil cooler + radiator±0durability ↑
  • Oil system (baffles / accumulator)±0
  • Intake, exhaust, tune±0load ↑
This car’s roadmap below starts with: Racing brake fluid, track pads and brake ducts · Confirm engine oil, transmission and differential cooling · Front camber plates · 200TW endurance tires

Estimates from a simplified point-mass lap simulation of Mustang GT Performance Pack / Shelby GT350 S550 (3,761 lb, 435 hp) on a fictional circuit, with generic effects for each upgrade category. Good for comparing options on the same car, not for predicting your lap time. Real results depend on the driver, the exact parts, the track and the conditions.

Free printable setup sheet →

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-18. Summaries are TRACK’s own wording; follow the links for the original detail. Product and brand names belong to their owners.

  1. [1]Ford Mustang (sixth generation): engines, Performance Pack, MagneRideWikipedia · accessed 2026-10
  2. [2]Vorshlag S550 (2015-up) Mustang Camber/Caster Plates & OEM PerchesVorshlag Motorsports · accessed 2026-10
  3. [3]S550 Mustang brakes: G-LOC pads, Motul fluid, brake duct kitsVorshlag Motorsports · accessed 2026-10
  4. [4]Alignment (owner consensus on S550 track alignment)Mustang6G forum · accessed 2026-10
  5. [5]Shelby Mustang: 2015–2020 Shelby GT350 / GT350RWikipedia · accessed 2026-10
  6. [6]Circuit Racing tires: DOT radials (R7 / A7, replaced by TrackAttack Race R8 / A8), break-in, camber and pressure guidanceHoosier Racing Tire · accessed 2026-10
  7. [7]Tire Test Results (2025 extreme performance summer road course and real-world tests)Tire Rack · accessed 2026-10
  8. [8]2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre TestTyre Reviews · accessed 2026-10
  9. [9]MICHELIN Pilot Sport family (Pilot Sport 4 S, Pilot Sport Cup 2, Pilot Sport Cup 2 R)Michelin · accessed 2026-10
  10. [10]Camber plates discussion: about -2° front workable on street tires (owner consensus)Mustang6G forum · accessed 2026-10
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