Tire question

[Gary Perkinson]

Hey, everyone:
 
 I just want to make sure I have this straight before I take out a second mortgage for tires: If the record in my class (C/CGALT) is 238 mph (which I would be happy as a clam to come within 100 mph of in my little Pinto), then I have to have specifically designed land-speed tires (i.e., the kind Jon is thinking of ordering from the guy in Oregon) on the car, right?     Or are there options that I'm missing?  
 
 Gary

[landracing]

Gary,
 
 Normally your vehicle has to be legal as the what the record is in the class.
 
 Jon

[Gary Perkinson]

Thanks, Jon. I just want to make sure I get the right thing to pass tech, and the rule for 200 mph+ ("Special tires for racing as designated by the manufacturer") just seems a little vague (to this rookie, anyway). But I have time, so I'll follow the tire posts here and make a decision that way....
 
 Gary

[bobh]

Does anyone have the dimensions of LSR tires. Diameter,tread width, and section width. That way I might be able to find some other tire to use for mockup while building a new car.

[RichFox]

You can look into Goodyear Eagles and/or Frontrunners, which are used by many people and seem to work fine. Not to costly and the measurments are avalable from Goodyear

[Bob Drury]

One word of caution, although you see many cars at Bonneville running Goodyear Front Runners, the standard tire is not speed rated for weight.  The LSR tires look exactly like, and carry the same wording on the sidewalls.  Only the code is different.  The LSR tire have a much thicker sidewall and are rated up to 300 mph @ a max load of 1700 lbs., and have a code part# D2028,2029,2031, or D22-4, depending on size.  They cost about 3 1/2 times as much, but in the long run, safety is numero uno. Contact Goodyear Racing for info.            Bob

[jimmy six]

Many of us are using Vintage Dunlop Racing Tires. Kraus in Calif. and Sasco in Virginia list them.  I have personally used the 18x30 and 18x32. They list 16's also with demenisions. Some have run over 240 with them. Dunlop knows what's happening.
 
 I would be VERY cautious.
 
 This is not a fixall for real fast cars but a usable option for some needing a taller tire.(they also look bitchen in a 32 Hiboy roadster on the street)
 
 They have tread which most of the users remove. I removed only the outside edge and ran 216 successfully with the 32". They are pricey but what isn't now days. The set of 32's mounted on 18" forged wheels were less than 1/32" diameter off. Good Luck

[RichFox]

Gary is talking about a 140mph car here. Having had real world experiance with front runners on my Coupe @ 158 and on my Vega @ 177 I can say that they worked great with no sign of any distress. I sold my 28 inch front runners to Bob Dalton who went 202 with my GMC in his liner and 307 with a 258 turbo sbc. Tires are still looking good.

[RichFox]

Gary-of course if you want the car to look cool and you have room in the wheel wells, you could get Goodyear super speedway tires (Taladega tires) for the rear and 24 inch Front runners for the front. Some of the ECTA guys should be able to steer you to some cheaper tires after Daytona

[Gary Perkinson]

Rich--Thanks for the info. Someone in another thread had posted the price list for the Goodyear Eagle Land Speed tires (which I bookmarked), and while the prices momentarily took my breath away     I have to give up on the idea that anything having to do with cars is cheap....
 
 Gary

[RichFox]

I say again, look at Frontrunners. They cost a lot less and have worked for me and many others running at less than breathtaking speeds. Unless you feel you need the best.

[Bob Drury]

Gary, one more thing to remember, on a light car you want narrow tread.  The wider the tread pattern, the less pounds per square inch on the salt, so you may need to add ballast to compensate.

[jimmy six]

Bob D. E-mail me you timing tag came back no such # on your address from the BNI office J.D.

[Sumner]

Here are the Goodyear links:
 
 Front Runner Tires  
 
 Eagle Land Speed Tires  
 
 c ya, Sum

[Gary Perkinson]

Thanks, everyone. The Frontrunners look good to me--anyone know what they're rated to? The Eagles are rated up to 300, according to the site, but the Frontrunner page doesn't say....
 
 Gary