Options for drag racing tires
#1
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I told myself I wouldn't get into drag racing again, but my son--an avid participant with his '86 and '04--convinced me to go last week. My Goodyear Eagle F1s, an amazing street tire, just wouldn't hook up and I barely made it into the 13s. Bah! Ok, so I'm addicted again after a 25 year hiatus. Thankfully the tracks around here close next week and this will let me plan things properly.
I have the stock 17 x 8 inch rims, still with the original Pirellis, and new 18 x 9 inch wheels with Goodyear F1s at 275/40R18 all the way around. I started doing the usual search engine poking around for wheels and tires, but I'm having trouble finding something acceptable for the rears.
I'd prefer to find a drag radial wheel/tire combo that will just require spending for the rears only (slicks are ok, although that means bringing a warm body and the truck and a jack everytime), but will consider new stuff for all 4 corners if necessary. Everything I've found has a smaller diameter than the Pirellis. I've already got about $5k invested in this beast, with another $1500 coming over the winter months (including BMR LCAs for the wheel hop), so I'm not crazy about dumping big bucks into the wheels/tires if avoidable at all. We're still working on the 86 over the winter too.
Any suggestions? All are appreciated.
John
I have the stock 17 x 8 inch rims, still with the original Pirellis, and new 18 x 9 inch wheels with Goodyear F1s at 275/40R18 all the way around. I started doing the usual search engine poking around for wheels and tires, but I'm having trouble finding something acceptable for the rears.
I'd prefer to find a drag radial wheel/tire combo that will just require spending for the rears only (slicks are ok, although that means bringing a warm body and the truck and a jack everytime), but will consider new stuff for all 4 corners if necessary. Everything I've found has a smaller diameter than the Pirellis. I've already got about $5k invested in this beast, with another $1500 coming over the winter months (including BMR LCAs for the wheel hop), so I'm not crazy about dumping big bucks into the wheels/tires if avoidable at all. We're still working on the 86 over the winter too.
Any suggestions? All are appreciated.
John
#2
Get 4.10s, 2 spare stock rims and get some Mickey Thompson 3743 biasplys for the rears and you will run high 12s with the mods you have. You can dump it at 5000 rpm and not break loose. The tires run for about 180 each from Jegs. Whole setup shouldnt cost more than $1000
Bring one of those crappy $20 jacks to swap your tires out at the track. The M/Ts won't last long with everyday driving. If you take your spare out (you should be anyway), you can fit both tires in the trunk
Bring one of those crappy $20 jacks to swap your tires out at the track. The M/Ts won't last long with everyday driving. If you take your spare out (you should be anyway), you can fit both tires in the trunk
#3
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Originally posted by dustindu4@November 20, 2005, 11:05 PM
Get 4.10s, 2 spare stock rims and get some Mickey Thompson 3743 biasplys for the rears and you will run high 12s with the mods you have. You can dump it at 5000 rpm and not break loose. The tires run for about 180 each from Jegs.
Bring one of those crappy $20 jacks to swap your tires out at the track. The M/Ts won't last long with everyday driving
Get 4.10s, 2 spare stock rims and get some Mickey Thompson 3743 biasplys for the rears and you will run high 12s with the mods you have. You can dump it at 5000 rpm and not break loose. The tires run for about 180 each from Jegs.
Bring one of those crappy $20 jacks to swap your tires out at the track. The M/Ts won't last long with everyday driving
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They might fit on 8", but are they safe? I saw 275s mounted on an 8" wheel, and it was scary.
jwgroovin, I went with the MT Drag Radials, 275/40-17s (on 17x9 chrome bullitts to match my other wheels): http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/strip_e...eet_radial.html
I live about 20 miles from the tracks around here. So I can swap the tires at home and just drive to the track. I take it easy and don't try any WOT right turns on the way
, and everything is fine. However, I sometimes have my wife and son with me at the track, so we can then bring a pickup truck too and throw the tires/floor jack in the back.
EDIT: BTW, the two tires and extra wheels cost me about $750 total.
jwgroovin, I went with the MT Drag Radials, 275/40-17s (on 17x9 chrome bullitts to match my other wheels): http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/strip_e...eet_radial.html
I live about 20 miles from the tracks around here. So I can swap the tires at home and just drive to the track. I take it easy and don't try any WOT right turns on the way
![Icon Rolleyes](https://themustangsource.com/forums/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
EDIT: BTW, the two tires and extra wheels cost me about $750 total.
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Originally posted by don_w@November 21, 2005, 12:26 AM
They might fit on 8", but are they safe? I saw 275s mounted on an 8" wheel, and it was scary.
jwgroovin, I went with the MT Drag Radials, 275/40-17s (on 17x9 chrome bullitts to match my other wheels): http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/strip_e...eet_radial.html
I live about 20 miles from the tracks around here. So I can swap the tires at home and just drive to the track. I take it easy and don't try any WOT right turns on the way
, and everything is fine. However, I sometimes have my wife and son with me at the track, so we can then bring a pickup truck too and throw the tires/floor jack in the back.
EDIT: BTW, the two tires and extra wheels cost me about $750 total.
They might fit on 8", but are they safe? I saw 275s mounted on an 8" wheel, and it was scary.
jwgroovin, I went with the MT Drag Radials, 275/40-17s (on 17x9 chrome bullitts to match my other wheels): http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/strip_e...eet_radial.html
I live about 20 miles from the tracks around here. So I can swap the tires at home and just drive to the track. I take it easy and don't try any WOT right turns on the way
![Icon Rolleyes](https://themustangsource.com/forums/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
EDIT: BTW, the two tires and extra wheels cost me about $750 total.
John
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Originally posted by jwgroovin@November 21, 2005, 3:46 AM
I'm doing the math in my head, but from the sizes in your sig, it appears the rear tires are a little over an inch SMALLER in diameter than your front tires, right? 255/50 on the front, 275/40 on the back? No problems with that?
John
I'm doing the math in my head, but from the sizes in your sig, it appears the rear tires are a little over an inch SMALLER in diameter than your front tires, right? 255/50 on the front, 275/40 on the back? No problems with that?
John
#8
With the M/T's comes the added expense of a new clutch. I ran the Mickey Thompson 3743's on the stock rims and made 13 passes before the stock clutch took a dump. I had no issues with those tires on the stock rims. They are a little rounder than I would like but no issues.
#9
Originally posted by rhoover2@November 27, 2005, 2:29 PM
With the M/T's comes the added expense of a new clutch. I ran the Mickey Thompson 3743's on the stock rims and made 13 passes before the stock clutch took a dump. I had no issues with those tires on the stock rims. They are a little rounder than I would like but no issues.
With the M/T's comes the added expense of a new clutch. I ran the Mickey Thompson 3743's on the stock rims and made 13 passes before the stock clutch took a dump. I had no issues with those tires on the stock rims. They are a little rounder than I would like but no issues.
#10
Originally posted by dustindu4@November 20, 2005, 9:05 PM
Get 4.10s, 2 spare stock rims and get some Mickey Thompson 3743 biasplys for the rears and you will run high 12s with the mods you have. You can dump it at 5000 rpm and not break loose. The tires run for about 180 each from Jegs. Whole setup shouldnt cost more than $1000
Bring one of those crappy $20 jacks to swap your tires out at the track. The M/Ts won't last long with everyday driving. If you take your spare out (you should be anyway), you can fit both tires in the trunk
Get 4.10s, 2 spare stock rims and get some Mickey Thompson 3743 biasplys for the rears and you will run high 12s with the mods you have. You can dump it at 5000 rpm and not break loose. The tires run for about 180 each from Jegs. Whole setup shouldnt cost more than $1000
Bring one of those crappy $20 jacks to swap your tires out at the track. The M/Ts won't last long with everyday driving. If you take your spare out (you should be anyway), you can fit both tires in the trunk
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Even though a lot of guys swap tires and just leave them and jacks laying around at my local tracks, I'm a little nervous about doing it myself. At one track, I just slap on the MTs in my garage, and make the 20-mile drive to the track. At the other, I usually have my wife drive a pickup truck, so I can swap at the track and keep everything in there.
I'm even going to try something new this weekend. I'm going to the local 1/8-mi track on Friday night (driving on the MTs). I won't get home until around 12:30am. Then at about 6:00am, I'm making a 90-mile drive north of San Diego to run on Fontana's 1/4-mi track. And I will be driving on the MTs... no support truck this time... and not a lot of sleep either.
I'm even going to try something new this weekend. I'm going to the local 1/8-mi track on Friday night (driving on the MTs). I won't get home until around 12:30am. Then at about 6:00am, I'm making a 90-mile drive north of San Diego to run on Fontana's 1/4-mi track. And I will be driving on the MTs... no support truck this time... and not a lot of sleep either.
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#12
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Originally posted by don_w@November 28, 2005, 11:34 PM
Even though a lot of guys swap tires and just leave them and jacks laying around at my local tracks, I'm a little nervous about doing it myself. At one track, I just slap on the MTs in my garage, and make the 20-mile drive to the track. At the other, I usually have my wife drive a pickup truck, so I can swap at the track and keep everything in there.
I'm even going to try something new this weekend. I'm going to the local 1/8-mi track on Friday night (driving on the MTs). I won't get home until around 12:30am. Then at about 6:00am, I'm making a 90-mile drive north of San Diego to run on Fontana's 1/4-mi track. And I will be driving on the MTs... no support truck this time... and not a lot of sleep either.![Frown](https://themustangsource.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif)
Even though a lot of guys swap tires and just leave them and jacks laying around at my local tracks, I'm a little nervous about doing it myself. At one track, I just slap on the MTs in my garage, and make the 20-mile drive to the track. At the other, I usually have my wife drive a pickup truck, so I can swap at the track and keep everything in there.
I'm even going to try something new this weekend. I'm going to the local 1/8-mi track on Friday night (driving on the MTs). I won't get home until around 12:30am. Then at about 6:00am, I'm making a 90-mile drive north of San Diego to run on Fontana's 1/4-mi track. And I will be driving on the MTs... no support truck this time... and not a lot of sleep either.
![Frown](https://themustangsource.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif)
#13
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Originally posted by jwgroovin@November 29, 2005, 4:00 AM
Man, I wish I lived out in San Diego. I want the one on the left (uh, referring to your avatar.). Oh, and the year round track access...
Man, I wish I lived out in San Diego. I want the one on the left (uh, referring to your avatar.). Oh, and the year round track access...
Oh... the left one was my favorite too.
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#15
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Originally posted by Mongoose@November 28, 2005, 9:27 PM
Who is going to watch his tires and jack while he is racing? I go to the track alone and would not want my gear ripped.
Who is going to watch his tires and jack while he is racing? I go to the track alone and would not want my gear ripped.
#16
Originally posted by don_w@November 28, 2005, 11:34 PM
Even though a lot of guys swap tires and just leave them and jacks laying around at my local tracks, I'm a little nervous about doing it myself. At one track, I just slap on the MTs in my garage, and make the 20-mile drive to the track. At the other, I usually have my wife drive a pickup truck, so I can swap at the track and keep everything in there.
I'm even going to try something new this weekend. I'm going to the local 1/8-mi track on Friday night (driving on the MTs). I won't get home until around 12:30am. Then at about 6:00am, I'm making a 90-mile drive north of San Diego to run on Fontana's 1/4-mi track. And I will be driving on the MTs... no support truck this time... and not a lot of sleep either.![Frown](https://themustangsource.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif)
Even though a lot of guys swap tires and just leave them and jacks laying around at my local tracks, I'm a little nervous about doing it myself. At one track, I just slap on the MTs in my garage, and make the 20-mile drive to the track. At the other, I usually have my wife drive a pickup truck, so I can swap at the track and keep everything in there.
I'm even going to try something new this weekend. I'm going to the local 1/8-mi track on Friday night (driving on the MTs). I won't get home until around 12:30am. Then at about 6:00am, I'm making a 90-mile drive north of San Diego to run on Fontana's 1/4-mi track. And I will be driving on the MTs... no support truck this time... and not a lot of sleep either.
![Frown](https://themustangsource.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif)
#17
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Originally posted by atomic_il@December 6, 2005, 5:07 PM
bah that's more than enough sleep
bah that's more than enough sleep
As it turns out, the weather didn't cooperate, and I didn't race either place.
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