track trim: spare rims + runner tires = safe?

Blackened302

Active Member

Jul 21, 2005

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South TX

Sep 20, 2007

#1

• Sep 20, 2007

• #1

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.

 

earleys94gt

Active Member

Aug 31, 2003

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Ashley, Ohio

Sep 20, 2007

#2

• Sep 20, 2007

• #2

I would imagine that if you could find runner tires to fit that it would work.
But I always thought that the whole point of skinnies was less weight

 

Blackened302

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Jul 21, 2005

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Sep 20, 2007

#3

• Sep 20, 2007

• #3

ah yes, didn't consider the weight factor of spares+tires VS. actual skinny rims + tires...


although, i think *spares+tires* will be lighter, still, than two *Bullitts+street tires*..

 

gcomfx.com

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Oct 22, 2002

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Republic, MO

Sep 20, 2007

#4

• Sep 20, 2007

• #4

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.

 

final5-0

Mustang Master

Apr 6, 2003

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DFW Texas

Sep 20, 2007

#5

• Sep 20, 2007

• #5

Actually ... If you got GT brakes ............

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

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

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
but
Some of those wheels don't take to pot holes all that well

Grady

 

Blackened302

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Jul 21, 2005

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South TX

Sep 20, 2007

#6

• Sep 20, 2007

• #6

gcomfx.com said:

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.

Click to expand...

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

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.

 

SublimeRT

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Jan 25, 2003

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Clarksville, TN

Sep 20, 2007

#7

• Sep 20, 2007

• #7

I haven't ever used spare wheels for skinnies, but I've seen it done no problem with some decent tires on them. There's a guy that goes by the name JumpinJackFlash over on ModularFords that does it. You can see in this video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FLH7s0w1dlA

 

Joe 5.0

Founding Member

Feb 1, 2002

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Macomb, MI (metro detroit)

Sep 21, 2007

#8

• Sep 21, 2007

• #8

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.