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Wheels-Tires 245 45 17 Sufficient?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Detroiit
  • Start date Start date Feb 11, 2015

Detroiit

Active Member
May 27, 2014
305
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38
Detroit MI.
Feb 11, 2015
#1
  • Feb 11, 2015
  • #1
It almost spring and I need some good tires. I have 17x8 rims at this time so if possible i'd like to save some money and use these rims. I know people say 275's will fit on an 8 inch rim and others say don't do it. I will not put a 275 on an 8 inch rim.. SO... Basically, will a 245 /255 drag radial be sufficient in containing the almost 500 rwhp my stang puts out? Or should I pony up.. (lol) and buy a 9 inch or possibly 10 inch rim? Is a 245/255 series tire capable of a containing a supercharged launch?
 

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...
5 Year Member
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Feb 11, 2015
#2
  • Feb 11, 2015
  • #2
Stick? Or auto? With that much power it's going to be hard to get a 17" wheel/tire to grip.
 

Detroiit

Active Member
May 27, 2014
305
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Detroit MI.
Feb 11, 2015
#3
  • Feb 11, 2015
  • #3
A5literMan said:
Stick? Or auto? With that much power it's going to be hard to get a 17" wheel/tire to grip.
Click to expand...
Its a 5 speed manual.
 

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...
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#4
  • Feb 11, 2015
  • #4
At the track you're going to need a wrinkle wall tire. The MT pro series is arguably the best. For the track I'd go with some light weight 15" rims and a 275/60-15 Mickey. Running a 245/255-17" tire isn't going to bring very good results.
 
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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,216
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Massachusetts
Feb 12, 2015
#5
  • Feb 12, 2015
  • #5
You probably arre going to want a 15" wheel, with a 275 width rear tire.

If i had to run 17's i'd prob slap a 275 DR on an 8" rim. If you are really into those rims, look into having them widened. I have the same rims and briefly looked into widening them to a 9.5" rim
 

2000xp8

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Aug 8, 2003
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Feb 12, 2015
#6
  • Feb 12, 2015
  • #6
A 275 is too much for an 8 inch wheel. I run it on an 8.5 and even that is a bit much.

It's more about the tire itself than it is the width anyway. So if you want to run a 245 drag radial, that should be fine. 30mm's isn't going to make or break you with 500rwhp.
Nothing is going fall into the perfect category on the street.
You just have to learn to drive. I've done it for years and it's fine (when the weather is good). If you are a throttle masher, no tire is good, so...
 
Last edited: Feb 12, 2015

85rkyboby

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Feb 12, 2015
#7
  • Feb 12, 2015
  • #7
How do you base how much pressure one would need to be in the tire on the track?
 

2000xp8

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Feb 13, 2015
#8
  • Feb 13, 2015
  • #8
85rkyboby said:
How do you base how much pressure one would need to be in the tire on the track?
Click to expand...

Practice, you pick a starting point, then usually let a little out each run, until you find the best pressure. It can be a time consuming endeavor.
 
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A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...
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#9
  • Feb 13, 2015
  • #9
85rkyboby said:
How do you base how much pressure one would need to be in the tire on the track?
Click to expand...
I always based it on experimentation. But a bias ply tire likes low press around 12-15#. Always remember though that after you do a burnout and make a pass the tire will gain some pressure(from the heating the tires). I would make a pass noting air press,launch rpm,appx air temps,etc. I usually start @13# with M&H dot tires. Keep track of 60ft times/and 1/4 ET. I'd drop press or add until times were consistent. A bias ply with low press is more unstable at high speeds(end of track) than a radial. With a stick car it's really hard to get a radial to 60ft unless you have a great suspension and really know what you're doing(I don't fit those categories). The radials like more air pressure than a bias ply. My buddy runs 15-18# in his radials and around 10# in the slicks. Slicks are faster but not by much. He ususally runs mid 9's to 9.80 with either tire.
 
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85rkyboby

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#10
  • Feb 13, 2015
  • #10
@2000xp8 @A5literMan Thanks for going that far into detail! Noted.
 
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Detroiit

Active Member
May 27, 2014
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Detroit MI.
Feb 13, 2015
#11
  • Feb 13, 2015
  • #11
I picked up some Weld's 15x10 with some decent M/T ET Drag Slicks on them for $130. I was told they were on a fox before and more recently on a 99 turbo stang. I gather they dont use numbers like 315 30 19 on slicks? I did measure them from the ground up its 26 inchs. Im assuming they are 26 x 10.5 x 15 but not sure.





I had my bro in laws 315's on the fox and they would of worked with a little work so im hoping the 10 inch wide is gonna be ok.
 

Detroiit

Active Member
May 27, 2014
305
59
38
Detroit MI.
Feb 13, 2015
#12
  • Feb 13, 2015
  • #12
A lot of good information here.
 

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...
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Feb 16, 2015
#13
  • Feb 16, 2015
  • #13
If they have a 6.5" back spacing they should fit and work well.
 

Detroiit

Active Member
May 27, 2014
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Detroit MI.
Feb 16, 2015
#14
  • Feb 16, 2015
  • #14
A5literMan said:
If they have a 6.5" back spacing they should fit and work well.
Click to expand...
They stick out way to much.. I need something else.. Live and learn
 

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...
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Feb 16, 2015
#15
  • Feb 16, 2015
  • #15
Detroiit said:
They stick out way to much.. I need something else.. Live and learn
Click to expand...
Oops. Yeah they have to be 6.5" or they stick out. I looked at a pair recently myself. They were 5.5" and wasn't going to work. On a 8" wheel you need 4.5" fyi and I assume 5.5" on a 9" but not positive on that
 

Detroiit

Active Member
May 27, 2014
305
59
38
Detroit MI.
Feb 20, 2015
#16
  • Feb 20, 2015
  • #16
A5literMan said:
Oops. Yeah they have to be 6.5" or they stick out. I looked at a pair recently myself. They were 5.5" and wasn't going to work. On a 8" wheel you need 4.5" fyi and I assume 5.5" on a 9" but not positive on that
Click to expand...
Ya the sun did shine on me I picked up 2 brand new 17x9 saleen replica 5 star chrome wheels and 2 brand new MT ET Streets in 275 40 17 all for $500
 
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