Another Tire Width Question!

[38flattie]

I searched, and read several threads mentioning this, but no definitive answers.


I ordered Goodyear 28.0 X 4.5 - 15 Front Runners for the rear, and Goodyear 25.0 X 4.5 - 15 Front Runners for the front of the car. These will go on Bab Sage welded rims. From what I had read, narrower seemed the way to go.

Only one of our team has any experience at the salt flats. He tells me he feels the tires will be to narrow, and that we need to be in the 10" wide range. I had read where some of the guys felt the wider tires were unstable, although the speeds where they became unstable varied.

This is for a /BVGC and /BVGCC car. If we get to 160 mph, I'll be pretty happy, and at 170 I'll have done what I set out to do.

Can I get a little advice here, or opinions based on experience?

Thanks in advance!

[bvillercr]

We are one of the very few that are running wide tires.  We have had no issues with them, and are the fastest team using them.  We are running in the 300+ range.  We have never ran the skinny tire so we have no comparison of the two.  We have very little to no tire slippage in high gear, more credit to the suspension than the tire I believe.  A lot of opinions on this will surface.

[836dstr]

I'm going to "Stan Back" you.

If you have already ordered the tires, why are you asking the question now?

(sorry Stan)

Tom

[38flattie]

I'm going to "Stan Back" you.

If you have already ordered the tires, why are you asking the question now?

(sorry Stan)

Tom

Fair question, but not a big deal. I haven't ran the tires, and can sell them if necessary.

I'd rather find out I need different tires now, than after I've ran them!

[836dstr]

Bob,

I was pulling your chain, before Stan had the chance.

Actually your tire combo is one of the most common in LSR. The reason most racers use these is that over time these seem to work best. You can always experiment after getting some baseline runs.

"BonnevilleRacer" has a chassis and aero package that really works for them!

Others trying the wide rear tires have not been as successful.

Experimentation is what makes LSR challenging.

Tom

[Glen]

Most of the wide tire issues come from short wheel base cars like fast sports type. Seems like the speeds around 200+ is where they tend to get loose. I have seen more spins over the years from the timing stands they I can count. A lot of it is driver error trying to drive out of it and over correcting. The pedal works both ways as does getting the chute out when the tail starts wagging the dog. Common sense rules.

[38flattie]

Thanks Bvillercr , Glen, and Tom!

Tom, before I bought the tires, I searched and read posts, and was convinced that this tire combo was a good one for us. Whe one of the team members, with experience, questioned the tire choice, I was obligated to look at the decision again.

One of  nice things about having several individuals involved, is the constant questioning and researching by everyone!

Sometimes, this means going back and changing things.

Several times!

...or more.

[jl222]

  With your hp and speeds your tires should be fine, however when you see a bville car with narrow tires, on a chassis dyno spinning the tires trying to make 800 hp and were making 2300 hp without spinning, I say use skinny
tires

                     JL222

[Tman]

Horrible tires, you should ship them up here to Sodak and I will put them to use for you!

[Avanti Kid]

A few years ago, my brother Al (Pantera Kid) and his son were racing at Bonneville with the narrow Goodyear front runners (4.5" wide) with no problems at 210mph, but the Pantera team from Sweden brought their Pantera across the pound with a AA engine and very wide rear tires, we told them they would have problems and they did in spinning out at around 180 mph, we told them to change to narrow rear tires and they finally took our advice and later did around 218 mph, which made them very happy, so in most cases, not all cases, narrow tires is safer, kind of like when you drive in the rain you will hydroplane sooner with wide tires vs narrow tires, the same is true on the salt, you have more tires pressure per Sq inch with narrow tires, thus better traction. But this is a issue with many opinions,  Dave

[bvillercr]

A few years ago, my brother Al (Pantera Kid) and his son were racing at Bonneville with the narrow Goodyear front runners (4.5" wide) with no problems at 210mph, but the Pantera team from Sweden brought their Pantera across the pound with a AA engine and very wide rear tires, we told them they would have problems and they did in spinning out at around 180 mph, we told them to change to narrow rear tires and they finally took our advice and later did around 218 mph, which made them very happy, so in most cases, not all cases, narrow tires is safer, kind of like when you drive in the rain you will hydroplane sooner with wide tires vs narrow tires, the same is true on the salt, you have more tires pressure per Sq inch with narrow tires, thus better traction. But this is a issue with many opinions,  Dave

Wow that almost 40 mph.  Maybe we should switch, we could so 340 mph at the 3!

[jimmy six]

You should not have a problem. How narrow did Sage do the wheels for you? Hopefully 5" on the back and 4" on the front. With the tires off the rims bolt them to you car on the spot they are going to run and see how true they are. .000" out of round and side run out is acceptable. Do it again with the tire on and inflated to the pressure you are going to run (I would guess 60 psi) Tire machines screw up rims. I true wheel/tire combo on the car whe a 6" belt sander.........

If after a few runs if your car starts to hunt...Buy some M&H's for the front................Good Luck

[38flattie]

Thanks guys!

I couldn't get 4" from Sage, so all rims are 5"- that was as narrow as I could get.

Quote-000" out of round and side run out is acceptable. Jimmy, is this really the acceptable number? I think I probably have some work to do!

[jl222]

A few years ago, my brother Al (Pantera Kid) and his son were racing at Bonneville with the narrow Goodyear front runners (4.5" wide) with no problems at 210mph, but the Pantera team from Sweden brought their Pantera across the pound with a AA engine and very wide rear tires, we told them they would have problems and they did in spinning out at around 180 mph, we told them to change to narrow rear tires and they finally took our advice and later did around 218 mph, which made them very happy, so in most cases, not all cases, narrow tires is safer, kind of like when you drive in the rain you will hydroplane sooner with wide tires vs narrow tires, the same is true on the salt, you have more tires pressure per Sq inch with narrow tires, thus better traction. But this is a issue with many opinions,  Dave

  Try bicycle tires all kinds of pressure per sq inch , ever seen narrow tires on sprint cars? Oh yea long time ago.
  Ever wonder why they changed?
  I love skinny tires on other cars

                   JL222

[bvillercr]

Actions speak louder than words do.   There may be some tire slipage early but not much.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLG0JFzazrs