track trim: spare rims + runner tires = safe?

Blackened302

Active Member
Jul 21, 2005
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South TX
so i wanna hit the track soon (finally nearing being able to head back after making some repairs + a little tuning) and i was wondering...

i've heard (and have seen) guys using two spares up front for "runners", but that doesn't seem very safe at all since they're only rated for abot 45mph.

i was thinking... what if i got two spare *rims* cheap at a junkyard, then mounted some *actual runner tires* on them?

anyone ever done this? do they make runner tires in the size of spare tires? (or something that will fit?)


the other solution is to borrow Nacho's weld runners and put some .5" or 1" spacers to clear the calipers, but i'd like a set of my own, even if it means using spare rims as runners + runner tires.

thanks, gents.
 
It would definitely be lighter... not as light as it could be. But your car would be faster. I just don't think I would trust the 45mph rated tires at all. And the price of drag skinnies isn't that high. It's the darn spacers and the actual tires that are pricey.
 
Actually ... If you got GT brakes ............

I remember someone doing Weld Pro Stars and N O T having
to run spacers :D

He cut off the bar on the caliper and had to remove material but .....
he did make it fit with no spacers :)

Anyway ... Yes ... the reason for Pizza Cutters is to save weight :Word:

You get a triple advantage with bigs & littles :nice:

1) light wheel
2) light tire
3) less weight as a total package to turn all the way down the 1320

You can pick up 1 to 2 tenths in the 1/4 with this mod :banana:
but
Some of those wheels don't take to pot holes all that well :rlaugh:

Grady
 
It would definitely be lighter... not as light as it could be. But your car would be faster. I just don't think I would trust the 45mph rated tires at all. And the price of drag skinnies isn't that high. It's the darn spacers and the actual tires that are pricey.

no way i'd use the stock spare tires (as i mentioned) :nono: .

just a thought. i'm borrowing Nacho's welds, but i was curious to see if anyone had used spares (with the proper tires, of course) instead of runners+spacers.
 
I have a Cobra, so I cant use the standard 15" wheel anyways. However you can use the 17' cobra spare, which is aluminum, and run a 17" M&H tire on it. You wont need any spacer, and it'll be light.

Just another option.

And fwiw, most legit tracks wont let you use speed limited tires like that, it def is a risk. Not worth it, imo.