Car and Driver isn't a fan of the RTR Mustang

[robvas]

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a70917527/2025-mustang-rtr-spec-3-test/

At 4.7 seconds to 60 mph, the RTR is not as quick as a stock manual GT, which can manage the same task in 4.2 seconds. It's slower in the quarter-mile too, smoking its tires with all but the lightest touch, which results in a 12.7-second run at 121 mph to the stock manual GT's 12.5-second pass at 114 mph. Things aren't any better when the RTR's mass changes direction or comes to a halt. Our test car required 163 feet to stop from 70 mph, sliding well past the GT's 153 feet. It can't grip the skidpad as tightly either, pulling just 0.92 g of stick to the GT's 0.99 g.

You'll notice that we didn't mention an upgraded clutch. That's because there isn't one. The RTR's Nitto NT555 G2 summer tires (sized 275/35ZR-20 up front and 295/35ZR-20 in the back) might be great for sideways slides, but they are a bear to hook up in a straight line, and if you do too many burnouts, that stock clutch will perfume the parking lot with the expensive scent of failure.

The Spec 3 starts off strong with its boosted power and suspension changes, but it doesn't go all the way, and the result is an unbalanced—and expensive—build that looks race ready but ends up being more bark than (tire) bite.

Guess that's what happens when you put Nitto G2's on them...

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[Ewheels]

I did not know the car came with those tires. Those tires are soooooo old. Not surprised at all with the results.
Good knews, tires are very easy to change out.

 

[robvas]

 

[MaddNomad]

Vaughn commented on the article too trying to explain the Spec 3 ethos. lol.

They just need to offer a better tire and make the necessary upgrades with it. Especially if he wants to do the whole “RTR’s are about fun and making them whatever you want them to be.” thing.

 

[needforspeedirl]

Written by a girl.....what else can I say. This car is an animal and every day I get in it I don't want to get out. It is an amazing drive and at 10,000 miles I still cant wait to get in it. Also, I am curious about the tire comments. For a street car what tires would be recommended.

I run the Nitto NT05 for street driving and MT ET Street SS in the rear for drag racing.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Also, I am curious about the tire comments. For a street car what tires would be recommended.

What do you expect from the tires?

Recommendation would be based on your use case.

 

[Upacurb]

Its all about balance unless you are into roll racing........

I still prefer my car to a GT500 (although they are damn fast in a straight line)

and I wouldnt be surprised if there are Dark Horse HP owners that prefer their cars to the Dark Horse SC - unless Ford somehow managed to mask the feeling of the extra 300 pounds over the front wheels

Never driven an RTR but have driven Super Snakes and Supercharged Roushes - fast from a roll but wasnt super impressed - much preferred the GT500.....by ALOT

They felt like someone just added all the aftermarket parts...put on some stickers.....then added supercharger........and go.......

Prediction - when the testing numbers for the Dark Horse SC are released- its going to not be pretty for all of these other cars .....

 

[MAT1955]

C&D long ago became a crazy uncle for foreign cars. No credibility at all IMO.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Written by a girl.....what else can I say. This car is an animal and every day I get in it I don't want to get out. It is an amazing drive and at 10,000 miles I still cant wait to get in it. Also, I am curious about the tire comments. For a street car what tires would be recommended.

Did that "girl" hurt your feelings by posting real numbers? What a dumb f***ing thing to say.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

ou'll notice that we didn't mention an upgraded clutch. That's because there isn't one. The RTR's Nitto NT555 G2 summer tires (sized 275/35ZR-20 up front and 295/35ZR-20 in the back) might be great for sideways slides, but they are a bear to hook up in a straight line, and if you do too many burnouts, that stock clutch will perfume the parking lot with the expensive scent of failure.

Not much to be done about the clutch if they want to keep the warranty - other than negotiating with Ford and Whipple.

But the tires - why are they using Nittos?

Well . . .

Vaughn Gittins is a "drifter," and he uses them on his drift car:

It is probably some sort of marketing deal.

They are not good tires for performance. They are cheap and look like performance tires, so, well, stupid Americans will buy them (there is a reason Walmart made so many investors rich for the last half century - Americans like to purchase cheap crap).

Even the tire size (35 aspect ratio on a 20 inch wheel?) was chosen for appearance rather than performance, addressing the often heard forum question of "How do I fill up the wheel well?" RTR did that. Traction was a secondary consideration, if it was ever a consideration at all.

There are all kinds of tires that will pump those performance numbers up.

The quarter mile was a higher e.t., but 8 miles per hour faster. This is obviously just a traction issue.

Put some better tires on the car and go enjoy it. Better tires will stop quicker, launch harder, and turn faster.

Guy with Nittos asking a question over at trackmustangsonline.com -

https://trackmustangsonline.com/threads/autocross-tire-question.19657/


"I have a set. . . . they lack grip . . . "

"I mostly use them now to put on the car for winter storage or bedding brakes."

"I would not even place them in the top 5"

"Nitto is...not good...for autocross. Or track."

And these guys are focused on traction at the track.

So tires are really the only reason why the numbers are down on this vehicle, but it would make me wonder whether the RTR crew were really all that interested in performance. What I mean is, even a little testing would have revealed that these tires were handicapping the car. So did they do any testing for any of the "upgrades" they installed, or was this just a bunch of selections that sounded good for marketing materials?

I would hope that any specialty car "upgrade" company would test its modifications to be sure that they improved the car's performance. That pretty obviously did not happen, or they would have caught the tire issue. Accordingly, I think it is pretty fair to conclude that they did not test the performance result of anything they did to the RTR spec cars.

 

[ChitownStang]

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a70917527/2025-mustang-rtr-spec-3-test/

At 4.7 seconds to 60 mph, the RTR is not as quick as a stock manual GT, which can manage the same task in 4.2 seconds. It's slower in the quarter-mile too, smoking its tires with all but the lightest touch, which results in a 12.7-second run at 121 mph to the stock manual GT's 12.5-second pass at 114 mph. Things aren't any better when the RTR's mass changes direction or comes to a halt. Our test car required 163 feet to stop from 70 mph, sliding well past the GT's 153 feet. It can't grip the skidpad as tightly either, pulling just 0.92 g of stick to the GT's 0.99 g.

You'll notice that we didn't mention an upgraded clutch. That's because there isn't one. The RTR's Nitto NT555 G2 summer tires (sized 275/35ZR-20 up front and 295/35ZR-20 in the back) might be great for sideways slides, but they are a bear to hook up in a straight line, and if you do too many burnouts, that stock clutch will perfume the parking lot with the expensive scent of failure.

The Spec 3 starts off strong with its boosted power and suspension changes, but it doesn't go all the way, and the result is an unbalanced—and expensive—build that looks race ready but ends up being more bark than (tire) bite.

Guess that's what happens when you put Nitto G2's on them...

Nitto tires suck!! Why RTR??
I looked at the RTR’s before buying my DArk Horse, hard pass for me.
Rip off .. far better off doing to mods yourself

 

[Upacurb]

Written by a girl.....what else can I say.

I know girls that most likely would outdrive you.......one is an ex drag racer who raced in the NMRA series.....maybe you have heard of Sabine Schmitz as well? or I have this family that lives in my city.....you might have heard of him....name is John Force.....anyways....he has this daughter Ashley Force.....but I mean she is obviously just another girl ......

Yep all of these girls....I mean who let them all out of the kitchen?

Quick check the pictures in the article........are any of the wheels curbed???

 

[broncoboy22]

As I understand it, RTR cars are setup for drifting. Did they try…drifting it? They are not meant to be straight line or track performers

 

[fredm666]

I was considering an RTR upgrade on my 2024.5 GT.
Of course I love the RTR Spec 5 but cannot afford it. And while I could be able to afford the Spec 3, I'm not sure I want to go down the path of a supercharger.

Do you think Spec 1 or 2 are worth it?
I'm in Australia and they are priced respectively AU$14k and AU$23K.

 

[fredm666]

anyone? please?

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