MBT timing

The minimum spark advance that produces maximum brake torque at a given operating point.

MBT stands for Minimum spark advance for Best Torque: the least amount of advance that still makes peak torque at a given RPM, load, and air-fuel ratio. Past MBT, adding timing makes no more power and only raises knock risk and peak cylinder pressure. The torque curve near MBT is flat on top, so you do not need to (and should not) ride the edge. MBT is the target a tuner aims for when knock allows it; when knock limits you before reaching MBT, the engine is knock-limited and borderline spark governs instead. HP Tuners has no single MBT table; you converge on it by raising spark in the high-octane table until torque (or a dyno/log) stops responding, then backing off. Always confirm fueling is correct first, because a lean mixture shifts MBT and masks how much timing the engine truly wants.