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28"x9" tire clearance

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sparky714
  • Start date Start date Jun 15, 2025

Sparky714

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#1
  • Jun 15, 2025
  • #1
Anybody run the Mickey Thompson 28x9x15 slick? Wheels they're mounted on are 8" wide with 5 1/2" backspacing. Car is an '89 LX, no quad shocks and MM control arms with adjustable spring perches. I massaged the inner fenders with a BFH. Looks like it should be enough clearance to me, but wondering what you guys think. I usually run a 26" tire, but want to give a 28" a try to see if I can improve times a little.
 

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JD1964

there is enough sticking out to grab on to
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#2
  • Jun 16, 2025
  • #2
How much will that tire grow in diameter at high speeds? There doesnt look like much room for expansion or suspension travel
 
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Sparky714

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#3
  • Jun 17, 2025
  • #3
JD1964 said:
How much will that tire grow in diameter at high speeds? There doesnt look like much room for expansion or suspension travel
Click to expand...
That's why I'm asking. I've never run a 28" bias ply, just 26". I know there's lots of guys that do. Looking for some real world experience and any tips.
 

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time
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I have 275 Drag Radial on my 89'
Measures 28" X 10"
On a 10" wide double bead-lock 15" wheel
Rolled the fender lip and a little 5 lb hammer near the upper spring perch.

 
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Sparky714

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#5
  • Jun 17, 2025
  • #5
Bullitt347 said:
I have 275 Drag Radial on my 89'
Measures 28" X 10"
On a 10" wide double bead-lock 15" wheel
Rolled the fender lip and a little 5 lb hammer near the upper spring perch.

Click to expand...
No rubbing issues on launch? My fenders are rolled also. I know a bias will grow a little at speed, but if you don't have issues with that tire stuffed in there, I think I'll be fine. Great looking car too!
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
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#6
  • Jun 17, 2025
  • #6
Bullitt347 said:
I have 275 Drag Radial on my 89'
Measures 28" X 10"
On a 10" wide double bead-lock 15" wheel
Rolled the fender lip and a little 5 lb hammer near the upper spring perch.

Click to expand...
All meat and potatoes
 

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time
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#7
  • Jun 18, 2025
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Sparky714 said:
No rubbing issues on launch? My fenders are rolled also. I know a bias will grow a little at speed, but if you don't have issues with that tire stuffed in there, I think I'll be fine. Great looking car too!
Click to expand...
No issues on launch.
The only time I get rub is going around a corner or over a bump.
Sidewall flex is the cause. Only 17-18 psi in the tire.
I never had any issues with the 26 X 8.5 Hoosier.

Here are two pics, first is stationary at the line, the other is at launch.
You can see that the rear fender is higher at the hit, it maintains that gap during the whole run.



 
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93gtmustang

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#8
  • Jun 18, 2025
  • #8
Sparky714 said:
Anybody run the Mickey Thompson 28x9x15 slick? Wheels they're mounted on are 8" wide with 5 1/2" backspacing. Car is an '89 LX, no quad shocks and MM control arms with adjustable spring perches. I massaged the inner fenders with a BFH. Looks like it should be enough clearance to me, but wondering what you guys think. I usually run a 26" tire, but want to give a 28" a try to see if I can improve times a little.
Click to expand...
I bought 28x9 Hoosier Slicks and thought the clearance was too tight. I even bought a fender roller. I never ran them.
My car really squats when it launches. I knew they would rub. I went back to the 26x9's.
My car is a 93 GT. Less clearance than a LX I believe.
I had them on 8" wide rims 5-1/2" back spacing no quad shock too.
 
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Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time
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93gtmustang said:
I bought 28x9 Hoosier Slicks and thought the clearance was too tight. I even bought a fender roller. I never ran them.
My car really squats when it launches. I knew they would rub. I went back to the 26x9's.
My car is a 93 GT. Less clearance than a LX I believe.
I had them on 8" wide rims 5-1/2" back spacing no quad shock too.
Click to expand...
If it squats on launch, then the rear suspension geometry is not correct.
The rear should lift. It is planting/driving the tires into the ground a that point.
If it squats, it is trying to lift the rear tires off of the ground.
 
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93gtmustang

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  • Jun 18, 2025
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Bullitt347 said:
If it squats on launch, then the rear suspension geometry is not correct.
The rear should lift. It is planting/driving the tires into the ground a that point.
If it squats, it is trying to lift the rear tires off of the ground.
Click to expand...
I guess stating that "it really squats" was the wrong terminology lol.
I don't know.
Looks like a good launch to me.
 

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Bullitt347

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If anybody really wants to learn how your rear suspension works and how to make the appropriate adjustments to it,
Join a Heads-Up small tire drag class.
I went 8.5 Outlaw racing where you are limited to a 26 X 8.5 slick or a 235/60/15 Drag Radial.
If you want to hook up on that small of a tire you have to have the rear suspension sorted out really well.
I managed to get a 1.26 60' in a 3,150lb car.
Went 5.33 @ 134mph in the 1/8
I was one of the "slow" cars...



26 X 8.5 Hoosier ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
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93gtmustang

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#12
  • Jun 18, 2025
  • #12
Bullitt347 said:
If anybody really wants to learn how your rear suspension works and how to make the appropriate adjustments to it,
Join a Heads-Up small tire drag class.
I went 8.5 Outlaw racing where you are limited to a 26 X 8.5 slick or a 235/60/15 Drag Radial.
If you want to hook up on that small of a tire you have to have the rear suspension sorted out really well.
I managed to get a 1.26 60' in a 3,150lb car.
Went 5.33 @ 134mph in the 1/8
I was one of the "slow" cars...



26 X 8.5 Hoosier ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Click to expand...
Thats not slow! I'm slow!
1.6 60'
7.5 1/8 mile 12.2 1/4 mile 3030 lb. car with driver.
It's only a 345hp bracket car. BMR control arms. Stock springs. Drag shocks.
I race at Lebanon Valley Dragway. They have No Time No Rules 1/8 mile small tire, big tire, a few other classes I can't remember.
I swear some of those cars are doing under 4 seconds in the 1/8. It's crazy. You should come down and run it.

NO TIME NO RULES Drag Racing

NO TIME NO RULES Drag Racing, West Lebanon, NY. 3,001 likes · 120 talking about this. Sports Event
www.facebook.com
 
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Noobz347

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93gtmustang said:
4 seconds in the 1/8
Click to expand...

That translates to what... a 7 or 8 second 1/4 mile? That [is] crazy.

I remember when 10 second cars were like unicorns. Often talked about but rarely seen.
 
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Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time
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  • Jun 19, 2025
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Noobz347 said:
That translates to what... a 7 or 8 second 1/4 mile? That [is] crazy.

I remember when 10 second cars were like unicorns. Often talked about but rarely seen.
Click to expand...
A 4.80 in the 1/8 would be a solid 7.5-7.7 1/4 mile run.

When I was running 5.55 in the 1/8th the car went 8.60 in the 1/4 mile.
 
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Sparky714

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#15
  • Jun 19, 2025
  • #15
93gtmustang said:
I bought 28x9 Hoosier Slicks and thought the clearance was too tight. I even bought a fender roller. I never ran them.
My car really squats when it launches. I knew they would rub. I went back to the 26x9's.
My car is a 93 GT. Less clearance than a LX I believe.
I had them on 8" wide rims 5-1/2" back spacing no quad shock too.
Click to expand...
I've got adjustable shocks and control arms with adjustable spring perches, so I don't think the squat will be a problem. Going to bolt them on and do some street launches and see how they do. If they give me too many issues, there may be 4 wheels and tires for sale.
 
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