Here at Stage 3 Motorsports, one of the first things our new project cars beg us for is a set of high-performance tires and custom rims. We may be nit-picking here, but there is definitely a noticeable difference between the bulky look of most stock Mustang tire and wheel combinations, and when you're trying to create a dream car, you've got to up the ante when it comes to the look and performance. Thanks to the innovative road and track racing engineers at Niche and Nitto, our 2008 GT500 5.4L Project Car now has a much more aggressive appearance than from the day we rescued it from obscurity.

Before & After

Stage 3's 2007 Shelby GT500 Convertible Project Car Nitto Tires Stage 3 2008 GT500

20" Niche Misano Wheels

While we still have a lot of future plans for this 2008 Shelby, one of our most recent upgrades includes a set of matte black Niche wheels with Nitto's NT555 tires in the front and high-performance road and track NT05s for the rear. There are plenty of combinations of tire sizes and styles you can choose from, but we felt this was more conducive for dry-weather driving for a GT500 that will see a combination of daily driving as well as the occasional days where we let it rip at the track. The unique look of the Misano Wheel from Niche instantly adds race-ready looks and transforms your GT500 into a road and track racing muscle car. We picked up a set of Niche's 20" Wheels in a satin black finish with 20x9" wheels in the front and 20x10" rims for the rears.

Niche Misano Stage 3 2008 GT500Niche Misano Stage 3 2008 GT500

Nitto NT555 Front Tires

The chances that you use your GT500 as a grocery-getter are probably slim. If you're like us here at Stage 3, and you're building your Shelby out to maximize it's true power potential, you need a tire that tows the line between an all-out track racer and something with the looks that you can be proud of at car shows and while cruising around town. The Nitto NT555 in a 255/35ZR20 size fits up perfectly on our Niche 20x9" front wheels. This is a fantastic front tire option for those days when you let your Shelby Mustang out of the garage and not only enhances it's appearance but also adds that perfect balance of high-performance traction and reliable handling. Designed for any race-ready Shelby Mustang, the NT555 gets you off the line quicker in the straights as well as the confidence to speed through the twists and turns like a pro.

Nitto Tires Stage 3 2008 GT500 Nitto Tires Stage 3 2008 GT500Nitto Tires Stage 3 2008 GT500

Nitto NT555 Tires Stage 3 2008 GT500Nitto NT555 Tires Stage 3 2008 GT500

Nitto NT555 Tires Stage 3 2008 GT500Nitto NT555 Tires Stage 3 2008 GT500

Nitto NT05 Rear Tires

There are countless options for equipping your GT500 with rear tires and it all comes down to your application and most important needs. If you're strictly hauling your race-modded GT500 to the track on a trailer, full-on slicks might be your best option for performance. However, if your Shelby is meant for show and a little street fun, Nitto's NT05 tires in the rear are an all-star match for the NT555 front tires. We paired up our 2008 GT500 with this exact same set-up as it's going to see the majority of it's time in dry weather conditions. The slicker the tire, the least traction you'll get and these rear tires give you a powerful tread pattern that grips the road while still letting you push your Pony to the limits on the street as well as the occasional day at the track.

Nitto NT05 Tires Stage 3 2008 GT500Nitto NT05 Tires Stage 3 2008 GT500Nitto NT05 Tires Stage 3 2008 GT500

Nitto NT05 Tires Stage 3 2008 GT500Nitto NT05 Tires Stage 3 2008 GT500

Check out all of our different 2007-2014 GT500 sizes and styles in our Shelby wheels and tires category.

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