Author Topic: Another 130mph tire question  (Read 5215 times)

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Offline DrBil

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Another 130mph tire question
« on: July 28, 2013, 10:07:25 PM »
 Newbe: I would like to run my Gen 3 Z28 this year at WOS. I need tires, been searching the internet for tires and info. Is there a shop/dealer in the North West or Utah that specializes or is helpful in LSR tires. I am in Oregon. I also noticed on the Goodyear racing site they have spacific LSR tires 28"X 10"W X15" for $240 and the 25"X 4.5W X15" are $595 ...$ 1000 difference. 28" are a little tall.  I suspect I dont really need LSR s for 130mph but the ZR s are pretty wide. I have read all the info posted about narrow tires are better.

Offline gande

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Re: Another 130mph tire question
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2013, 11:18:47 PM »
What tires do you have on the car now? What is their speed rating?

Offline trimmers

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Re: Another 130mph tire question
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2013, 06:10:35 AM »
If your car has OEM "ZR" tires, they'll be fine.  Don't worry about the stated width restriction - if they're the original tires that came on the car - they're acceptable.   Otherwise, they just have to be rated (H, V, W, Y, or "ZR") for 130MPH or more.   You don't need any fancy LSR tires.   Some actual "competition class" cars even run street tires - provided they're rated for speeds above their existing class record.

A bigger problem is likely to be the requirement for metal valve stems and caps.  TPMS-equipped cars (2007 and newer) generally have rubber valve stems.  I suppose you could just have the metal ones installed, but it's actually illegal for tire service providers to disable TPMS.  And, you'd have that stupid idiot light on (and perhaps even flashing) if you did.  Additionally, if your TPMS is disabled, you'll probably lose any ability to turn off traction and/or stability control.  I've even heard that newer sensors can't be tricked by putting all of them into your spare tire (or a single pressurized container), either.

I face that same problem, as I plan on running my new car in the 130MPH Club this year.  The good news is that Tire Rack (and probably others) has TPMS sensors with metal valve stems. The bad news is that they ain't cheap.  I ordered mine Friday, and the set of four is about $180.00 shipped - for a Ford.  Then you'll have to have the new sensors installed and have your car reset to trigger them, as well as another mount and balance job.  So, the cost for metal valve stems will be near $300.00!

Thanks to some idiots (plus their lawyers and Congress) who rolled their cars because they didn't check their tire pressure, we're stuck with this crap! 

So, I'll have to reject your car if you come through WoS Tech with rubber valve stems. 
------------- 1 of just 3 in all 3  -------------
USFRA 130 MPH Club 09/18/2008 136.757
USFRA 150 MPH Club 09/17/2009 152.162
Bonneville 200 MPH Club 09/15/2019 218.600
Best Run: 253.080 MPH 09/14/2019 #6556

Offline Texican

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Re: Another 130mph tire question
« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2013, 02:39:21 PM »
  I might suggest that you give these folks a call; perhaps you can set up an appointment where they can get you in and out in good time.I would certainly avoid Les Schwab.
I've heard stories about somewhat unprofessional treatment of customers.
The size you need and rating is probably an "order in from the whse" type of deal;
and might require a deposit ahead of time.
This can easily be done over the phone.

They have supplied Ray Buck and myself with a good percentage of our tire needs over the last few years.

The location is a short distance South of I-80.

It's also a short distance from Harbor Freight, if there some one time use widget that got left behind.

http://www.yellowpages.com/salt-lake-city-ut/mip/waynes-american-car-care-center-1142138

Regards,
Jim
« Last Edit: July 29, 2013, 02:42:35 PM by Texican »

Offline Seldom Seen Slim

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Re: Another 130mph tire question
« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2013, 03:28:54 PM »
Unh, I've found a way to avoid seeing that silly-azz yellow light reminding me that the wheels I've got on the car or the truck aren't the factory ones and don't have the TPMS thingies in 'em.  It turns out that a 1/2" x 1/2" piece of electrical tape placed on the plastic cover of the dash display will effectively make the flashing light become invisible. :roll:  It's worked very well for me in my trucks and Nancy's cars. :evil:
Jon E. Wennerberg
 a/k/a Seldom Seen Slim
 Skandia, Michigan
 (that's way up north)
2 Club member x2
Owner of landracing.com

Plan B

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Re: Another 130mph tire question
« Reply #5 on: July 29, 2013, 03:40:13 PM »
Generic steel wheels -- ebay
Relatively inexpensive H rated tires -- TireDiscounters, BigO, PepBoys, etc.
Steel valve stems -- any of the above
New, open lug nuts -- any of the above


Have fun and good luck on the 130 course ... it's a lot of fun but not nearly as easy as it appears to be or as some think it is.

DS

see Slim for dashboard tape ................

Offline trimmers

  • Jeff in Boise
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Re: Another 130mph tire question
« Reply #6 on: August 01, 2013, 11:55:50 PM »
There's no requirement for open lug nuts in the 130MPH Club. 

Slim's electrical tape fix may work well to cover the TPMS warning light on trucks, and "everyday" cars.  On the more exotic stuff, it may keep you from disabling traction/stability control if it's illuminated.  On my car, I have a conveniently-located button that allows me to switch from "normal" to "Sport Mode", or to turn it off completely.   I want to retain that capability, but if that won't bother you - then do it!

I received my TPMS sensors with aluminum valve stems today, and they'll go in after this weekend's autocross.  And yes, they do thread onto their bases - unlike the rubber-stemmed ones.  The instructions say to torque them to 35 in-lbs.   

Since the metal TPMS stems can be ordered separately (about $20.00 for a set of four), I'm hoping they can be attached to the OEM sensors.  It looks like they can, but I won't know for sure until next week week when I have the tires pulled off the wheels. 
------------- 1 of just 3 in all 3  -------------
USFRA 130 MPH Club 09/18/2008 136.757
USFRA 150 MPH Club 09/17/2009 152.162
Bonneville 200 MPH Club 09/15/2019 218.600
Best Run: 253.080 MPH 09/14/2019 #6556

Offline trimmers

  • Jeff in Boise
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Re: Another 130mph tire question
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2013, 07:00:50 AM »
Broke down my 2013 Ford wheels and tires yesterday.  Discovered that Tire Rack's metal valve stems will attach to the OEM TPMS sensors.   They're $3.99 each plus shipping.   I don't know if you'll need to buy just the valve stems, or both stems and sensors for other makes and models, but perhaps Tire Rack can tell you.

I'm running on my snow tires at the moment.  They have no sensors, and the warning lights and audio came up immediately when I started the car after their installation.   However, I was still able to select all three modes of stability control - not that I'll need to while running snow tires in August. 

So, the stock wheels are now out for powder coat.  They'll go back together with the OEM sensors and new metal stems and caps  (Tire Rack caps are plastic) for the 130MPH Club, and we'll find out how fast a stock Focus can go in a mile.  I'm betting close to 130MPH, but no cigar. 
------------- 1 of just 3 in all 3  -------------
USFRA 130 MPH Club 09/18/2008 136.757
USFRA 150 MPH Club 09/17/2009 152.162
Bonneville 200 MPH Club 09/15/2019 218.600
Best Run: 253.080 MPH 09/14/2019 #6556