Carbon fiber is one of the more expensive materials used in automotive manufacturing, popular for its lightweight, high strength, and connotations with the world of high-performance motoring. Carbon fiber is extensively used in supercars such as the McLaren 765LT which retails for an eye-watering $299,000, and while some use this material purely for looks, most manufacturers see it as a performance-enhancing medium. Earlier this week we covered a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 that had destroyed its carbon fiber wheels, and this sparked a thought: how much would it be to replace one of these exclusive high-performance wheels? The answer will sicken the average man.

According to Ford Authority, the price for a replacement wheel is quite astronomical; a new front wheel will cost you $7,015.82, while a rear-wheel costs only $5,700. Ford doesn't give a reason for the price discrepancy between the front and back, but we're sure owners won't complain. Thankfully there is no core charge for a new wheel, which means the owner can hold on to the original wheel and not pay an extra fee. Currently the Shelby GT500's carbon fiber wheels are on backorder, and there's no telling how long the waiting list is. These prices are definitely cringe-worthy, but they do make a good case for Ford's Carbon Fiber Track Package.

The Carbon Fiber Track Package is an $18,500 option for the Shelby GT500 and consists of some impressive parts such as an exposed carbon fiber GT4 track wing, adjustable strut top mounts, Recaro leather-trimmed seats, splitter wickers, a wheel locking kit, and a rear seat delete. The most important feature is obviously the 20-inch exposed carbon-fiber wheels wrapped in sticky Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 tires. If these were to be destroyed, Ford would ask $25,431.64, which makes the Track Package seem like a total bargain. The lesson here is that cool things tend to cost a lot of money.