New Ford Racing GT350R Carbon Fiber Wheels
Ford have decided to share more information on the much anticipated Shelby Mustang GT350R, which apparently will be the world’s first mass-produced car with carbon fiber wheels.
Ford has just released details about this unprecedented feat of technology and performance value for Mustang enthusiasts.
Ford have obviously also managed to cut the weight of each wheel by an incredible 45%, from the 33 pounds of the equivalent aluminum wheel to just 18 pounds for the Carbon Revolution-supplied carbon fiber wheels.
That means with these carbon-fiber wheels as standard, they will dramatically reduce the unsprung weight and the rotational inertia of the wheel itself, further improving the response time to driver’s inputs and having a general positive impact on handling and performance.
The heat generated (more than 900 degrees Celsius) by the powerful brakes of the Mustang GT350R demanded a special ceramic coating, reserved up until now for the aerospace industry and open-wheel racing championships. The ‘ceramic plasma arc spray’ coating is applied around the inner wheel barrel and on the back of the spokes, working as a thermal barrier, allowing for continuous track-use.
“The GT350R wheels and tires were developed to be the most track-capable parts we’ve ever produced,” said Adam Wirth, chassis supervisor, Ford Performance. “The carbon fiber wheels reduce vehicle weight by 60 pounds compared to aluminum, yet are stiffer for better steering response. We believe this is a game changer for the industry, a great example of improved performance through innovation.”
Each wheel has its own RFID chip with a unique tracking number embedded to its structure. In order to ensure the best possible quality of the final product, Carbon Revolution performs 61 individual checks and logs more than 246,000 data points before the wheel is released from the machine.
