What tires are you fast guys running at 200+ at Wilmington?

[FoundSoul]

Thanks all...  I'll skip on the ice skates I suppose...

As for not being able to fit 26" tires for Bonneville... My Bonneville tires are 5" wide, so 28" tall isn't a problem.  It's just the concrete track tires where it gets tight as they're more than twice as wide.  The fender lips are already rolled for maximum clearance, I can't mod the body further due to class restrictions AFAIK, so I can pretty much only go up in ride height to make more room if that's what's needed...  or run a narrower tire.  I was blowing the 225 drag radials off when I finally gave it some throttle in 4th gear at 170mph, I need more tire...  255 might do it, but I'd like to fit the 275's if I can.

I may just have to put a little more rake in the car in order to fit Mickeys or R6's.  Maybe I'll buy both and see if there's any real difference in fitment.

[MIKE MATY]

Looks like the biggest tire I can fit will be a 275/50/15 unless I lift the back of the car some and let them hang out, which I'd rather not do.  I think that 275 should do alright though.

Talked to Diamond Racing Wheels today, they're going to make a set of wheels in the proper offset to fit these.

Still working through tire choice...  these three are available in 275/50/15


Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial  -- I'm afraid these are a hair too tall  -- 26.2".  I'd have to raise the rear a bit to fit these to keep them from scraping the fender arches if I hit a bump...

Nitto NT555R - 25.71" tall

Hoosier R6 - 25.7" tall

Either of those should fit I think, might be close, if I have to lift the rear it won't be much.

Thoughts on these Nittos and Hoosiers? 

I called Nitto, his corporate response was not to use them over 1/2mile.  I asked for his personal thoughts and he said I'd be fine.  Haven't talked to Hoosier yet, but I expect they'd say similar.

We run the 275/50/15 mickey. No manufacture will recommend a tire for the mile. Basically they say if you do run them monitor the pressures for gain. You want the least amount of pressure gain with the most amount of grip.

[FoundSoul]

Just ordered up a pair of 275/50/15 Mickey ET Street's and a pair of Diamond Racing 15x9" wheels with what I believe to be the proper backspacing.  Thanks for all the help guys!

[javajoe79]

Make sure you run the backing plates with the diamonds if required. They don't tell you when they are so you should ask.

[FoundSoul]

Backing plates?  I thought that was just for aluminum rims? 

<Running off to find a rulebook...

[FoundSoul]

On a separate note.... the Mickey ET Street 275/50/15's came in.... and there's no way they are going to fit without making changes that cause other problems.  I should have trusted my measurements I suppose, but was worth a try.  I'd have to lift the car 2 full inches in the rear to fit them.  Or widen out the rear fenders a LOT, which isn't legal....

Back to the drawing board...  and MT doesn't offer much in a smaller tire.  Looks like Hoosier R6 in 245/50/15 may be my best bet.  It's 1.6" more treadwidth over what I had, and should fit without issue...

[MIKE MATY]

On a separate note.... the Mickey ET Street 275/50/15's came in.... and there's no way they are going to fit without making changes that cause other problems.  I should have trusted my measurements I suppose, but was worth a try.  I'd have to lift the car 2 full inches in the rear to fit them.  Or widen out the rear fenders a LOT, which isn't legal....

Back to the drawing board...  and MT doesn't offer much in a smaller tire.  Looks like Hoosier R6 in 245/50/15 may be my best bet.  It's 1.6" more treadwidth over what I had, and should fit without issue...

235/60/15 is way smaller.  they have a 255 also  send them back.

[FoundSoul]

Width is much better on those, height is difficult though.... especially on the 27.1" tall 255's. 

275's are going back... working on a better solution...

[MIKE MATY]

Width is much better on those, height is difficult though.... especially on the 27.1" tall 255's. 

275's are going back... working on a better solution...

The 235s wouldnt be too bad.  Would be better then the ice skate BFGs you have.

[FoundSoul]

BFG's are out for sure.  At least part of the problem I had with them was too much pressure, but alas, I got some less than ideal advice somewhere along the way. 

Are the Hoosier R6's that bad?  I can fit 245's that way...  they're pricey, but whatever the best solution is...

[MIKE MATY]

BFG's are out for sure.  At least part of the problem I had with them was too much pressure, but alas, I got some less than ideal advice somewhere along the way. 

Are the Hoosier R6's that bad?  I can fit 245's that way...  they're pricey, but whatever the best solution is...

No clue on the hoosiers probably not a sizable difference between the two. I would go with the mickey 235s  before I tried something not proven.

[javajoe79]

Some wheels that diamond makes need to be run with a backing plate between the wheel and hub if the hub is a smaller diameter then the wheel flange. You should confirm this with diamond before you run those wheels. We ran their wheels and had wheel stud failure due to this.

[Joe Timney]

For all of you who run steel wheels and alum. hubs like the Wilwood Disc Brake kits:

[manta22]

Joe;

Circle Track magazine had a tech article on this subject a number of years ago. The basic reason for the wheel's needing to be seated against the hub is that the wheel surface is slightly "dished" and this acts like a Bellville washer when the lug nuts are tightened. This spring force resists loosening of the lug nuts under vibration and stress.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[Joe Timney]

The big issue is that it cracks the hub from the stud to the outside edge. We have seen it several times over the last several years.