What size tire do you run and why?
12-29-2009, 10:45 AM
#2
I am running 26" Bias Ply, Bias Ply due to weight and the 26" Leaves the OD near stock so the 4.10's work like normal.
Down the line I have a set of 27's ready to go due to the fact you get more side wall and allows cars to work on them better. The "give" in the side wall makes the car work better. IF the car is light (2900-3100) and the suspension is dialed, you can even get a Drag radial to work.
As I see it, Ultimately, its all about the Sidewall Flex, then most need to Up the gear to something that would be too radical for a 26" tall tire and most would be out of gear at the 1/4mi mark, also some people just need a RPM bump in their 1:1 trans gear.
Bias Ply will grow approx 1" more, so you may get some more rpm out of it but either way, have more sidewall IMO, especially on a heavy car is a good thing.
Down the line I have a set of 27's ready to go due to the fact you get more side wall and allows cars to work on them better. The "give" in the side wall makes the car work better. IF the car is light (2900-3100) and the suspension is dialed, you can even get a Drag radial to work.
As I see it, Ultimately, its all about the Sidewall Flex, then most need to Up the gear to something that would be too radical for a 26" tall tire and most would be out of gear at the 1/4mi mark, also some people just need a RPM bump in their 1:1 trans gear.
Bias Ply will grow approx 1" more, so you may get some more rpm out of it but either way, have more sidewall IMO, especially on a heavy car is a good thing.
12-29-2009, 11:07 AM
#5
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I have 26" on right now but i know i'm going to be spinning them with the new parts i have ready to go on. I am going to get some 28's but will also have 4.30's to offset it.
12-29-2009, 11:11 AM
#6
Tire weight is something to consider in a lower power car, but the advantage to the taller tire, is the incrased length of the contact patch. You can only go so wide, after that the only way to grow the area the tire contacts the track with, is to go up in diameter.
Larger diameter tires generally, will make for a more consistant car, but due to the added weight and drag they have they can slow a car down.
Example, now for the sake of saying, let's say the rubber, and gearing and track prep and suspension are irrevelant for the sake of comparing just what the tires can do:
A stock 300 rwhp car probably would have a hard time overpowering a 26x8.5 slick. Now, put all the bolton's on that car and a small cam, bumping it up to 400 rwhp, at this point you may need the 10 inch width to get more of a contact patch. Let's say, that a 10 inch width is as wide as you can go, again to make things simple.
Now, say you put a set of heads on the car, car's now up to 425 rwhp. You may find that you are breaking the tires loose at the hit, this is where more sidewall give can help, so going to a 28x9 might help. Sure it's a little narrower, but the sidewall will absorb some, and you added length to the contact patch... so you didn't really loose anything with that.
Now, you add a 100 shot of nitour, car's spinning again. Now you'll need a 28x10.5 slick, so you have the width back, and you have the sidewll to absorb the hit/help plant the tire on the track. Your contact patch just got a good bit bigger with the added width.
Understand? It's a very VERY general way to look at it, but it should give the insight as to why you would go bigger, for teh sake of the tire's ability ONLY. Now this, I based off the M/T available et drag sizes, you can look at other companies, brands, styles and find other fits. And of course, suspension on the car, track prep, gearing, etc. all have a real world effect, but to compare the ability of the tires, this should help.
Larger diameter tires generally, will make for a more consistant car, but due to the added weight and drag they have they can slow a car down.
Example, now for the sake of saying, let's say the rubber, and gearing and track prep and suspension are irrevelant for the sake of comparing just what the tires can do:
A stock 300 rwhp car probably would have a hard time overpowering a 26x8.5 slick. Now, put all the bolton's on that car and a small cam, bumping it up to 400 rwhp, at this point you may need the 10 inch width to get more of a contact patch. Let's say, that a 10 inch width is as wide as you can go, again to make things simple.
Now, say you put a set of heads on the car, car's now up to 425 rwhp. You may find that you are breaking the tires loose at the hit, this is where more sidewall give can help, so going to a 28x9 might help. Sure it's a little narrower, but the sidewall will absorb some, and you added length to the contact patch... so you didn't really loose anything with that.
Now, you add a 100 shot of nitour, car's spinning again. Now you'll need a 28x10.5 slick, so you have the width back, and you have the sidewll to absorb the hit/help plant the tire on the track. Your contact patch just got a good bit bigger with the added width.
Understand? It's a very VERY general way to look at it, but it should give the insight as to why you would go bigger, for teh sake of the tire's ability ONLY. Now this, I based off the M/T available et drag sizes, you can look at other companies, brands, styles and find other fits. And of course, suspension on the car, track prep, gearing, etc. all have a real world effect, but to compare the ability of the tires, this should help.
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12-29-2009, 11:19 AM
#8
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Thank you for the clarification.
I sold my 15x8 prostars and 26" ETSRs at the end of the season.
They worked well for the old H/C 350, but I'll be looking for a better solution
for next season now that the 383 is in and to support a future N20 build
I sold my 15x8 prostars and 26" ETSRs at the end of the season.
They worked well for the old H/C 350, but I'll be looking for a better solution
for next season now that the 383 is in and to support a future N20 build
12-29-2009, 11:42 AM
#11
Should. I had to beat the inner fender in some, and give the rear bumper cover a slight trim... jsut the inner portion that curves in to wrap around the tire, but that's it.
I run the 28x10.5S tire... sidewalls are a little stiffer then a normal slick, helps with a heavier cars, 4th gen cars from my exp generally work very well on them... I'd put them on right away and you should be in good shape.
I run the 28x10.5S tire... sidewalls are a little stiffer then a normal slick, helps with a heavier cars, 4th gen cars from my exp generally work very well on them... I'd put them on right away and you should be in good shape.
