The Ultimate Mustang Tuning Guide: How to Do Custom Performance Tuning Right

What Is Mustang Tuning?

When you give your Mustang GT a tune, you send a message to your car's powertrain control module (PCM): "it's time to unleash the beast." By reconfiguring the parameters of your stock engine, you'll increase its power and take your performance to the next level.

As impressive as your Mustang is from the factory, Ford's stock Mustang tuning keeps performance within conservative parameters. This holds true for all Mustang models, whether you're driving a brand-new EcoBoost, a GT or a Mustang Mach 1. Ford wants to create a vehicle that anyone can drive daily.

That's where performance Mustang tuning comes in. When you add Mustang performance modifications like a set of headers or a supercharger, stock settings just won't cut it. After you install custom mods, finding the best Mustang tune is necessary. Custom tuning your Mustang provides the internal adjustments you'll need to get the best results from your modifications and improve overall performance.

What Are the Benefits of Ford Mustang Tuning?

A factory tune is designed to meet the needs of the public – meaning it needs to fit a wide range of driving styles. This can include the casual driver who never takes advantage of the horsepower and torque created by the Mustang's 5.0 and the commuter looking for the best mileage they can get. Ordinary, everyday, boring people, frankly. Since Ford wants to sell as many cars as possible, this one-size-fits-all approach is the best tune for Mustangs coming from the factory.

Ford has designed a factory tune for the masses to balance various conditions. Custom Mustang tuning ignores all this and allows you to dial in the specs to meet your thrill-seeking needs and match your driving style to a T.

The main benefits of Mustang tuning include:

Your Best Mustang Tune Comes After You Install Aftermarket Mods

When you want to make your Mustang faster, more powerful and more aggressive on the road, you turn straight to Mustang modifications. This is where the fun begins. Bolt-on a few upgrades, and you'll see, hear and feel your Mustang evolve! Sure, adding a new cold-air intake or cat-back exhaust will give you a taste of what's possible, but that's just the beginning. To really see what your Mustang is capable of, you need to tune it to perfection.

Components like intakes, headers, throttle bodies and, of course, Mustang turbochargers and Mustang superchargers increase airflow to your engine. The optimum airflow is managed by tuning the PCM to take full advantage of the aftermarket upgrade. A tuned Mustang will have the correct parameters that deliver a proper air/fuel ratio and improve your Mustang's capabilities.

Aftermarket Mods That Benefit From Mustang Tuning

The following bolt-on upgrades will be even better following a proper Mustang tune.

The Difference Between Canned, Dyno and Custom Ford Mustang Tuning

In the world of Ford Mustang tuning, there are three different tune "types" you'll have to choose from – canned tunes, dyno tunes and custom tunes.

As mentioned, canned tunes work with any Mustang. But when doing a custom or dyno tune, research the company or shop you're getting services from.

​​How to Tune a Mustang

Mustangs built from 1996 until today require you to simply plug your handheld tuner into the OBD-II (on-board diagnostics) port. From there, all you need to do is follow the tuner's instructions, and the Mustang tuning software will flash your PCM. Of course, this isn't necessary if you get a dyno tune – it's only needed for custom and canned tunes.

To get the custom tune that's been emailed to you into your handheld tuner, just plug it into a computer and download it.

What Is a Mustang Tuner?

We've made a couple of mentions of Mustang tuners, so it's best to know what they are if you're thinking about Ford Mustang tuning. Initially, handheld tuners were only available to factory service centers for minor tuning adjustments. But in recent years, aftermarket tuning manufacturers have begun to produce their own Mustang GT tuners, allowing drivers to upload custom tuning programs that can adjust spark and timing for maximum performance.

Handheld tuners are the most popular option for good reason. They're convenient, easy to use and can hold up to three custom tunes at a time.

The Best Mustang Tuners at Lethal Performance

With so many top-notch Ford Mustang tuners available today, it's never been easier to unlock every last bit of power from your ride. But how do you find the best tuner for your Mustang GT, EcoBoost or Mach-1? Here at the Lethal Performance Tune Shop, we've been working with the top names in the industry for years. And while we don't usually like to play favorites, we have to give a special shoutout to two Ford Mustang tuner brands that have truly earned our respect: HP Tuners and SCT Performance.

These companies have really pushed the limits when it comes to Mustang GT tuning, and their expert Ford Mustang tuners work their magic to provide high-quality results. With HP Tuners and SCT Performance, you can create custom tunes that will take your Mustang to new heights of performance and power.

Want to learn more about how to tune a Mustang with a tuner? Check out this short video for a quick breakdown of what to expect from the Lund Racing RTD+ by HP Tuners.

Ready to dive deeper into the world of Ford Mustang tuners and get to know the industry's superstars? Check out this quick video. We'll take you on a journey of discovery, introducing you to the top companies we work with who are pushing the limits of what's possible with their state-of-the-art Mustang tuner technology.

How Does Ford Mustang Tuning Affect Your Warranty?

Unfortunately, having a tuned Mustang will void your powertrain's warranty. This is a big reason why some people prefer to stick with their stock parts and opt not to tune their vehicles.

In reality, whether or not your warranty is voided tends to vary from dealer to dealer, based on their discretion. Some may be strict and operate by the book. Others may be more lenient and won't void the warranty after your Mustang tune. For them, it's a judgment call.

This is another area where it's great to do some research. If you need some warranty work done but are rolling with a tuned Mustang GT, talk to other car enthusiasts or hit the online forums to see if a mod-friendly dealer is nearby.

One word of warning: Never try to return to the factory tune and take it to a dealer. Ford can determine if you have flashed your computer with a custom tune thanks to some special proprietary software showing how often your Mustang has been tuned and returned to factory settings.

Mustang EcoBoost Tunes

When we think about Mustang tuning, we often think about wringing every last bit of performance from the classic pony's powerful V8 engine. And while we absolutely adore what can be accomplished by tuning the venerable 5.0 Coyote V8, we'd be doing Mustang enthusiasts a disservice by ignoring the wonderful world of V6 and EcoBoost Mustang tunes.

The Mustang version of the EcoBoost engine is a turbo-charged 2.3-liter inline four-cylinder that, despite its pint-sized displacement (compared to its big brother), still delivers good power right out of the box, boasting 310 HP and 350 lb-ft of torque. And because it's much lighter than the Coyote V8, the EcoBoost-powered Mustang can offer superior handling and doesn't need as much brute force to propel it forward. Finding the best tune for your EcoBoost Mustang will yield impressive results!

Mustang GT Tunes

Despite already impressive horsepower figures, the S550 has a lot of untapped potential. Fortunately, a Mustang GT tuner can unlock that extra power and improve your Mustang's performance like never before. A custom Mustang GT tune is one of the most cost-effective modifications you can make to your pony car. The Mustang GT aftermarket parts and tuning industry has grown significantly since the S550's release, offering more options to maximize your vehicle's potential. Even though the S550 is slightly heavier than its S197 counterpart, a custom retune can easily compensate for it.

Frequently Asked Questions: Ford Mustang Tuning

Check out the answers to some of the most common questions we hear from customers asking us about Ford Mustang tuning.

What Is the Best Mustang Tune to Start With?

There are many variables here that will affect this answer, including the size and generation of your car's engine. If you're starting from scratch and this is your first Mustang tuning experience, it's probably a good idea to simply tune your stock Mustang. You'll get noticeable gains right off the bat.

How Long Should I Wait Before I Tune My Mustang?

Custom Mustang tuning will void your warranty, so some owners like to wait until the warranty period expires before doing any Mustang performance tuning.

What Does a Tune Do to Your Mustang?

Mustang tuning alters the parameters of the car's powertrain control module (PCM) to improve air and fuel flow, adjust shift points in automatic transmissions and maximize performance across the board.