The Ford Mustang GTD Competition utilized street-legal tires to shatter the Nurburgring lap record set by the Chevy Corvette ZR1X.

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      The online critics and rival manufacturers can stop speculating and doubting now—it's been confirmed that the Ford Mustang GTD Competition accomplished the extraordinary feat on street-legal tires.

      The Drive has verified that the Ford Mustang GTD Competition, which shattered the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X’s Nurburgring lap record, was indeed equipped with street-legal tires, specifically Michelin Pilot Sport Cup FR, not slicks.

      Ford showcased the record-setting vehicle at Laguna Seca Raceway during Monterey Car Week using the same tires that achieved the incredible Nürburgring time. You can even see melted areas on the tire's outer edge with feathering.

      According to a Michelin spokesperson, the "FR" designation on the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires stands for Ford Racing. This is the identical tire type and specification used in the Mustang Challenge series.

      In April, Ford revealed that the Mustang GTD Competition had completed a lap at the Nurburgring in an astonishing 6:40.835, ranking it among the fastest times for any street-legal car available, surpassed only by the Mercedes-Benz AMG One hypercar, which features a Formula 1 powertrain.

      Ford has been somewhat secretive about the upgrades in the GTD Competition compared to the standard GTD, which is priced over $325,000. However, we know it boasts more than the standard model’s 815 horsepower due to enhanced hardware and tuning. Ford also confirmed modifications to the rear wing utilizing a DRS system, along with additional dive planes on the front bumper. The carbon fiber aero discs on the rear wheels are hard to overlook, and those wheels are now made from magnesium. They also incorporated carbon fiber bucket seats to reduce weight. Lighter dampers were included as well, though details on that are still unclear. Ford acknowledged “additional actions to reduce weight” but hasn't disclosed specifics.

      In 2024, the Ford Mustang GTD was the fastest American car ever to complete a lap at the Nurburgring. Then, in May 2025, Team Ford broke its own record by an impressive 5.5 seconds.

      However, just two months later, Team Chevy reclaimed the Nurburgring title, twice, prompting Ford CEO Jim Farley to declare, “Game on.”

      Months later, The Drive observed a modified Mustang GTD speeding around the 'Ring, presumably to either set a record or test modifications. No record was established at that time, as Ford returned to the ‘Ring in March to begin hot laps again with a prototype. Ultimately, the modified and upgraded GTD surpassed the Corvette’s times by a significant margin.

      Incredibly, the GTD Competition shortened the GTD's lap time by 11.237 seconds. This remarkable difference raised questions among competitors and online critics about whether the Mustang GTD Competition was using street-legal tires. It was.

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      Update 8/14/2026, 2:05pm ET: This article has been revised to clarify the meaning of the FR designation on the Pilot Sport Cup tires, with additional insights from Michelin.