Landracing Forum
Tech Information => Safety => Topic started by: Jack Gifford on July 12, 2019, 02:07:35 AM
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I was thinking that my lakester tires are out-of-date (about 12 years old). But on a quick scan of the rulebook I didn't see any rule about it. Comments?
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This is not really going to answer your question but FWIW. I have some old MT Bonneville tires that have had the rubber rubbed off the sidewalls to expose but not cut cord and with a center contact patch the has a tiny cord showing. They were 350mph rated tires. I have no concern running them to the 180 my car will go. I saw back in the day some clearly old (Firestones I think) tires with a LOT of cord showing pretty much 360 on a high 300mph car that ran (was allowed to run). On the other hand a number of folks on here have stated replacement of front runners and other tires that have some checking in the sidewall rubber. No leaks or anything. I suppose an inspector may take exception but have not heard much in the way of tires being disallowed unless speed rating is not up to snuff (V and Z rated tires etc) or running non racing tires in classes that require them. So it more may come down to your personal comfort level about their safety. Your neck ( and wallet) :evil:
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You're right.... it NOT in the rule book...
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And as DW is fond of saying, don't read into the rule book what isn't there......
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unless you only have two wheels. :roll:
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Surprise- my 12 year old Goodyear Front Runners lose air through the sidewalls. Although they were covered and away from the elements most of their life, there are a multitude of tiny cracks showing on the sidewalls.
Would putting tubes in them be an option?
I see that the 'landspeed' Front Runners (28x4.5-15) are about $750 each. Are there any less-expensive options? SCTA class record is 263 mph.
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Yet another surprise- the old tires on the lakester are NOT Goodyear 'Landspeed' (D2956), they are 'Dragway' (D1966)! I had given the prior owner the benefit-of-the-doubt and assumed he ran the landspeed version. But since he had a one-way run of 263 mph at Bonneville, the Dragway version is apparently satisfactory. So... I guess I just need to buy four new D1966's at only about $200 each.
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There have been several threads about tubes (in front runners). My feeling is that there is no real consensus good or bad=- though most comments fall more on the negative side. Ask the mfg is a common one and they say not to do it. Here are a couple threads: http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php?topic=17722.msg323466#msg323466
http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php?topic=12281.msg213413#msg213413
http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php?topic=16776.msg305733#msg305733
http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php?topic=10638.msg180452#msg180452
http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php?topic=480.msg4049#msg4049
And so on. I had to dismount my tires yesterday. Was a bitch getting them off as had used some bead sealer on a couple as they were leaking there. Took wheels to be welded with a chassis/racecar builder who has done some work for us. Well experienced guy. He basically said not really any way to stop the leaks and if is just a day or two, put up with it, air them up as needed before running. I have heard of people putting a thin layer of some dish detergent to try to seal the side wall stuff. Am pretty sure a can of "fix a flat" is not a good idea either.
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Our Goodyear drag frontrunners were only a couple of years old and leaked through the sidewalls. Covered but out in garage.
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I called Goodyear tech a couple weeks ago just to ask about the sidewall dry cracks on my tires (the LSR rated ones) and he said they do not include any UV protection in the tires so they will begin cracking right away. He said unless you see come cords through the cracks they should be ok.
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I too have had Front Runners crack in what seems like a short amount of time.
What's interesting is my 15 year old sand paddle tires that are stored next to them have no cracks and the paddles get a lot more use (abuse) than the Front Runners.
Don
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..."He said unless you see come cords through the cracks they should be ok."
Isn't that a little discomforting? What does the "unless" part mean? Just ok? And whose eyes are making that decision?
For motorcycles, 10 years is the max, so I'm starting a collection of 10 year tires which show no wear and are of no use to me.
Tom