ET sacrifices running 17" wheels

DMAN302

My mom says thanks for the pearl necklace.

Nov 8, 2003

2,120

2

59

windsor, Canada

May 27, 2006

#1

• May 27, 2006

• #1

Just curious as to what disadvantage 17's are in regards to the 1320 vs a smaller wheel? I currently run 275/40/17 BFG dr's on the rear and have been told this is not nearly a good size for the track. On the street the car will often want to slip and slide quite a bit, but once she grabs there's some good stuff going on...what would a 15" or 16" wheel give me as an advantage with a simular tire?

 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

15 Year Member

Nov 11, 2003

6,945

1,598

223

Northern KY

May 27, 2006

#2

• May 27, 2006

• #2

Because the rim takes up all the diameter of the wheel, you don't have enough tire sidewall to wrinkle, which lets the tire plant easier. Look at any picture of a car hooking with slicks and you'll see the sidewall wrinkle...you want this. With low profile tires, you don't get enough, and this forces the tire to break lose.

 

25thmustang

Mustang Master

Sep 5, 2003

2,021

85

99

Montgomery, NY

May 27, 2006

#3

• May 27, 2006

• #3

My avatar says it best, a 17" wheel wont do that as well. Now not saying one wont work, but might not work as well. A friend of mine has been low 1.6 60's on 17" ET Streets with a car slightly faster than mine (my brother now owns the tires), but a drag radial seems to be tougher to get hooking and can use all the contact patch it can get.

Any tire will work with the right set up, but the larger dia. rims are harder to get traction from.

 

DMAN302

My mom says thanks for the pearl necklace.

Nov 8, 2003

2,120

2

59

windsor, Canada

May 27, 2006

#4

• May 27, 2006

• #4

excellent explanation..

 

TC93

Well-Known Member

Sep 11, 2000

2,075

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57

Ellerslie GA 31807

May 28, 2006

#5

• May 28, 2006

• #5

Me and a buddy have been low 11's on 275/40/17 Sticky Mickey drag radails. I cut a 1.61 sixty and he has a best of 1.57..

 

8

8950HO

New Member

Mar 31, 2005

658

2

0

May 28, 2006

#6

• May 28, 2006

• #6

85_SS_302_Coupe said:

Because the rim takes up all the diameter of the wheel, you don't have enough tire sidewall to wrinkle, which lets the tire plant easier. Look at any picture of a car hooking with slicks and you'll see the sidewall wrinkle...you want this. With low profile tires, you don't get enough, and this forces the tire to break lose.

Click to expand...

Maximum Motorsports essentially told me the same thing.

Another issue is weight.The bigger the wheel the more weight there is which doesn`t help performance.

I asked them why someone would put 18`s on a fox body and they said it`s mainly for the bling factor.

They did say that some race cars do run 18" wheels,but these wheels are really light weight and super expensive.