Ran across a set of M/T 26x4.5-15 front tires the other day. Like brand new for a hundred bucks. Grabbed them up and then had to buy some Weld draglites for them, 3.5 width. With lug nuts and long studs have lots of bucks tied up in them. Now I am wondering if I was a dumba** in doing so, was having lots of trouble on the reaction time a few years back. Was running XP 2000 tires on 14in wheels, they were 26in tall. Switched to some very small, 23in ones, and improved the RT's considerably (for an old bastard). Now I have just gone back to the same setup, however the weight savings with the new ones is considerable and the tread width(4in compared to 7in) may help. Will keep you all informed on the first time out.
I think the weight and rolling resistance improvements will outweigh any R?T woes personally, but it will definately take a bit of getting used to.
That and a "good" race alignment should help you out alot, but i'm sure you already knew that!! A super stock racer I know recently put titanium studs and billet aluminum lug nuts on his car so he could pick up .002, talk about dedication!!!!
I had the same problem....kind of.....when I went from a 26 inch front tire to a 25 inch......redlighted my first 3 attempts until I finally realized to lower the RPM by 200. Its a game of inches!
I switched from 24.5" VW radials to 26" GY Frontrunners....redlighted right away, but since I got used to them it seems to be a bit more consistent than the old radials were. Maybe it was just me, I don't know. I do know that it doesn't dart around near as bad on the big end with the GY's though.
New tires Well after removing the rotors and putting in 3in long wheel studs and open end nuts, was ready to try them out. First pass had a .594 light and the front end shook on the top end. Was import shootout night saturday so with over 200 of the little buggers plus the street and truck radial classes, got only that one tnt for the night. Getting from the pit to the staging lanes was like being in rush hour traffic only worse. Come Sunday tried it again in time trials, this time changed where I look at the bottom orange(now am staring at the very top of the bulb) had a .534, still shaking at 105mph. Next trial is a dollar jackpot round where those that want to can throw in a buck and the best RT gets the pot. Need the bucks so I go for it, .484 red and still shaking. Won the first round with a .537 and ran 9.41 on a 9.37 out of the gas at 1000ft. Then had a .603 and flat got treed with his .530. Bought back and dialed another 9.37 and ran a 9.43 full out and was beat by a dead on run and .520. Bringing the car home and finding what is with the shake, got an idea it's the wheels off center on the rotor?????? They had a wheel standing contest before eliminations paying 400 for the highest and 400 for the longest. First cat out is a nice 80's stang with a 514 and some goofy gas. He adjusts the four link, raises the wheelie bars and gives it a 250hp shot at launch. comes up and up and up for 100ft then the back tires cease to contact the track. Backs of the throttle and left slick touches and sends him toward the railing, almost flips over but saves it and comes down hard and blows the top out of the left strut and bends the wheel and tire up, most awesome wheelie I have ever seen. Before it's down he has traveled almost 300 ft on the bumper etc. He is third in the points and not happy with the damaged car but a fellow racer lends him his to run in eliminations. He also was awarded the trophy and the full 800.00 for the effort. Oh yeah, and a new pair of jockey shorts to replace his soiled ones. Next car up is a 74 Blazer with BB Cheby and gas, short wheel base he blasts it up pretty good but breaks an axle and ends up in the fence and scattering spectators to safer viewing area. The other contestants did not come close to the stangs show. Guy next to me got it perfect on his camera and is going to send a copy so I will try and post it if I get it. With one win Sunday, might have got knocked out of the top ten, but double point day is coming up and maybe I can kick a** and make a good showing. Hope I don't offend anyone with these long posts but just trying to relate good racing stuff for others to enjoy.
C'mon Dave. You know we love this stuff! Keep 'em coming and good luck on your next outing. We'll be expecting a full report.
Those wheel standing contest they have down south are crazy I bought a outlaw street car video off of racingjunk.com and it had some footage from a contest.....those guys a freakin' nuts! The hell of it is there are some real fast and SUPER sharp cars that enter those things. I think I will go home and watch it!
