Share Your Mustang Livery on Trading Paints (Clean, Fast Setup)

Learn How To Share Mustang Liveries On Trading Paints with a simple upload workflow, iRacing linking, and Mustang-specific tips so your paint shows up every session.

You made a Mustang livery you’re proud of… and then you load into an iRacing session and it’s either missing, wrong, or only you can see it. Been there.

This guide shows you How To Share Mustang Liveries On Trading Paints the clean way—so your FR500S, Mustang GT4, or iRacing Mustang GT3 / Dark Horse paint shows up reliably for you and everyone else, without mystery steps or “why is it still the default red?” moments.

Quick Answer: Create/export your Mustang paint as a .tga using the correct iRacing template, upload it to Trading Paints for the exact car, set it to Race (or Showroom) as needed, and run the Trading Paints Downloader while iRacing is open. Most “it won’t show” issues come from picking the wrong car, wrong file name/template, or not running the downloader.

When people ask How To Share Mustang Liveries On Trading Paints, what they really mean is:

“How do I get my paint onto my car in iRacing?”
“How do I make sure other drivers see it in races?”

Trading Paints works because it automatically downloads the correct paint files for each car when you’re in a session. That means your livery isn’t “stored inside iRacing” the way a built-in paint is—it’s pulled in by the Trading Paints app.

Why this matters even for performance (yes, really):

Visibility + identity in traffic: In IMSA / multiclass traffic, a distinctive Mustang GT3/Dark Horse scheme makes you easier to spot in mirrors and replays—reduces confusion and some avoidable “I didn’t see you” chaos.
Consistency across teams/hosteds: If you run leagues or endurance, correct TP workflow prevents last-minute grid panic.
Less mental load: When you’re driving a front-engine Mustang that rewards smooth weight transfer, the last thing you need is pre-race fiddling.

Step-by-Step: What to Do Next

1) Confirm you’re painting the correct Mustang car

Trading Paints treats these as different cars (and so does iRacing):

Ford FR500S (club-style, momentum car)
Ford Mustang GT4 (ABS, TC, heavier, “big car” feel in slow corners)
Ford Mustang GT3 / Dark Horse (aero + electronics; more sensitive to aero balance and yaw)

If you upload a GT4 paint to the GT3, it won’t appear—simple as that.

2) Download the official iRacing template

Go to the iRacing UI
Navigate to: Go Racing (or Garage) → select your Mustang → Paint Car
Look for the template download option (often linked in the paint/shop area), or use iRacing’s template resources if provided in the UI.

Use the template for the exact Mustang model. Templates differ in UV layout and layers.

3) Paint it and export as a `.tga`

File format Trading Paints expects for car paints: .tga
Recommended export settings (common safe defaults):
- 24-bit or 32-bit TGA (32-bit if you need alpha channels)
- Don’t flatten in a way that breaks transparency if the template uses alpha for regions

Coach note: Keep it readable. Big Mustang fenders and long doors love clean shapes. Overly tiny sponsor text becomes visual noise in motion—especially in multiclass.

Log into Trading Paints
Link your iRacing account if you haven’t already (one-time)
Go to My Paints (wording may vary slightly)
Choose Create/Upload Paint
Select the correct car (FR500S vs GT4 vs GT3/Dark Horse)
Upload your .tga
Choose where it applies:
- Race paint: what you see in official sessions
- Showroom paint: what you see in menus/showroom shots

Set it to Public if your goal is “share with everyone.” If you keep it private, only you (and sometimes teammates, depending on team workflow) will see it.

5) Install and run the Trading Paints Downloader

This is the #1 thing people miss.

Download/install the Trading Paints Downloader app
Log in
Make sure it’s set to run while you’re in iRacing (many people set it to start with Windows)

Workflow that just works:

Start Trading Paints Downloader
Launch iRacing
Join session
Wait a few seconds on the grid (it may take a moment to pull paints)

6) Force a refresh if it still shows the default paint

Try in this order:

Leave the session and rejoin (quickest reliable refresh)
In the Trading Paints Downloader, use any Refresh/Reload paints option (if present)
Verify you uploaded to the correct Mustang car
Verify the paint is assigned as your Race paint (not only showroom)

Mustang-Specific Notes That Change the Outcome

These aren’t “painting tips”—they’re the gotchas Mustang drivers actually run into when sharing paints.

FR500S vs GT4 vs GT3 aren’t interchangeable
Even if they’re all Mustangs, their paint templates are different. A “close enough” upload is a “won’t load at all” result.
Dark colors + Mustang body lines can hide your car in traffic
Front-engine Mustangs are often driven with a “slow-in, strong-out” style. If your paint is all-black with low contrast, prototypes/GT3s may misread your closing speed in mirrors. Consider a high-contrast roof/hood element.
Big flat panels show stretching
Mustang doors/quarters are large and expose bad scaling. Use the template’s wireframe/UV guide layers if available before exporting.
Number panels and league rules
Some leagues require specific number placement/colors. If your livery “shares” fine but breaks league rules, you’ll be re-uploading under pressure before quali.
Team endurance: don’t mix personal and team paints
If you’re running GT3 endurance, decide early:

personal livery (each driver sees their own) vs
team livery (everyone runs one scheme)
Trading Paints supports team workflows, but the key is: don’t wing it 10 minutes before grid.

Performance note (rare, but real): ultra-busy paints can cost FPS
If your rig is borderline and you run big fields (IMSA multiclass), simpler paints can help. Not usually huge—but if you’re already stuttering in traffic, it’s one more knob.

Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Mistake 1: “I uploaded it, but it’s not showing in-session.”

Symptoms: Default iRacing paint loads, or an older version shows.
Why it happens: Trading Paints Downloader isn’t running, or you uploaded to Showroom only.
Fix: Run the Downloader and set the paint to Race. Leave/rejoin the session to force a pull.

Mistake 2: “My FR500S paint shows on the website, but not on my GT4.”

Symptoms: Looks fine on Trading Paints preview, wrong car in iRacing.
Why it happens: You selected the wrong Mustang model during upload.
Fix: Re-upload and assign to the correct car entry (FR500S vs GT4 vs GT3).

Mistake 3: “It worked yesterday—today it’s gone.”

Symptoms: Randomly missing paints after updates.
Why it happens: Downloader logged out, Windows startup disabled it, or Trading Paints needs a refresh after an iRacing update.
Fix: Open the Downloader, confirm login, and rejoin a session.

Mistake 4: “People say they can’t see my paint.”

Symptoms: You see it; others see default.
Why it happens: Your paint is private/unshared, or they don’t run Trading Paints (some drivers don’t).
Fix: Set paint visibility appropriately (Public if your goal is sharing). Understand that others must be running Trading Paints to see it.

Mistake 5: “My paint looks warped on the rear quarter.”

Symptoms: Logos stretched, stripes kinked around arches.
Why it happens: UV mapping on curved Mustang bodywork.
Fix: Use the template’s wireframe layer and adjust art placement; avoid tiny text near wheel arches.

Practical Tips to Improve Faster (While You’re Here)

This isn’t a driving article, but since you’re clearly putting care into your Mustang program, here are fast wins that match how Mustangs behave:

Cold tires: Out-lap grip is lower; the Mustang can feel lazy on turn-in, then bite later. Build speed over 2 laps before you judge balance.
Trail braking (definition): staying on the brake as you begin turning to help the car rotate. In front-engine Mustangs, a little trail brake helps rotation; too much makes the rear light and can cause snap oversteer (sudden rear slide).
Throttle shaping: If you mat the throttle early, you’ll overload the rears and pay with tire wear. Roll in throttle like you’re “compressing a spring,” especially in the GT4 on long runs.
ABS/TC basics:
- ABS prevents wheel lock under braking. You still can over-slow and create entry understeer.
- TC (traction control) limits wheelspin. If you lean on TC constantly, you heat/chew rear tires and lose exits later.

If you want one simple drill: run a 10-lap stint and focus on same brake release point every lap. Consistency is free lap time in the Mustang platform.

FAQs

Do I need Trading Paints for iRacing Mustangs?

If you want custom paints to show in official sessions (and for others to see them), yes—Trading Paints + the Downloader is the standard method.

Why does my Mustang livery show in the Trading Paints preview but not in iRacing?

Most often: the Downloader isn’t running, you uploaded it to Showroom instead of Race, or you picked the wrong Mustang model (GT4 vs GT3/Dark Horse vs FR500S).

Can other drivers see my Mustang paint automatically?

Only if they also run Trading Paints. Many do—especially in road series—but it’s not guaranteed.

Yes. Build your design around the league’s number box rules (color/placement). Upload as usual, then test in a hosted session so you’re not troubleshooting at race time.

Does a custom paint affect BoP or performance?

BoP (Balance of Performance) is iRacing’s method to equalize cars via weight/power/aero adjustments. Your livery doesn’t change BoP. Very busy paints can affect FPS slightly in large fields, but they don’t change car physics.

Conclusion

Sharing a Mustang livery comes down to three things: correct car template, upload to the right Mustang on Trading Paints, and run the Downloader so iRacing actually receives it. Do those reliably and your FR500S/GT4/GT3-Dark Horse will show up exactly how you intended.

Next step: Join a short practice session, grid up, and give it 30 seconds—if the paint doesn’t load, leave/rejoin once. Then double-check: correct car, Race vs Showroom, Downloader running.

Suggested visuals to add (if you’re publishing this):

Screenshot: Trading Paints “Select Car” dropdown showing FR500S vs GT4 vs GT3/Dark Horse
Screenshot: Downloader running in the system tray
Template overlay example: UV wireframe on Mustang rear quarter panel