Running spares at the track?

I've got a line on a set of pretty much new slicks that a buddy of mine has. They came off his lightning and happen to be perfect for stock fbody wheels. SO i was thinking of putting the slicks on a pair of stockers, and maybe running some sort of front runner on a pair of spares(read dougnuts) I have. I think I have seen a mach 1 doing something similar but I was wondering if it is safe or even worth considering at all.


The whole idea is to be able to go back to regular strret tires for driving and have a dedicated race tire/wheel combo. The drag radials are just getting chewed up by this car racing every weekend and about every other day street driving. Oh yeah and to do all this on the cheap. I know that always works out soooo well!:rolleyes:

Don't know if you're talking about the wheels that the spare tires are mounted on or the whole spare wheel & tire combo. But either way those are only intended for temporary low speed usage and are not safe at drag racing speeds.

Don't know if you're talking about the wheels that the spare tires are mounted on or the whole spare wheel & tire combo. But either way those are only intended for temporary low speed usage and are not safe at drag racing speeds.

You are correct! If he's talking about using the space-saver wheels and tires for front skinnies? A track tech person with any experience "will not" allow those on the track. I think they're rated for about 45 MPH.

WD

That and the fact that they are very heavy. No point in it. My safety is not worth it.

yea dude unless u wanna kill urself dont do that... just use ur 4 salad shooters.... they are pretty light themselves

I've read all the above before but I can't think of a good reason why it would be "any" more dangerous than any other "skinny" wheel. It's a steel rim, made for the car, clears the brakes without any grinding required, uses the original lug nuts with the original thread reach, no "spacer" required, on what can't be any worse than the cheap tires that often end up on "skinnies" and may be even safer.
I know OEM specs are for temporary use at low speeds but thats obvious compared to the stock 245/16 or whatever the original tire is. I would not recommend road racing with these tires or even driving in heavy traffic but we're talking about going in a straight line on a dragstrip. How can an aluminum wheel that only fits because you grind your calipars down for clearance, use a spacer which places more load on your spindles and bearings, and in some cases not replacing your wheel studs with longer ones to have a the proper amout of thread reach. Did I miss anything?
There may be some good reason but I can't think of one, especially considering all the modifications required to run a typical 15" skinny on our cars. Even without the modifications how is it safer?

and maybe running some sort of front runner on a pair of spares(read dougnuts) I have.

No I wasn't talking about the spare tires. I was talking about the steel rim and mounting some sort of front drag tire on it. What about the steel wheel itself is not safe? I do not intend to use the stock spare tire.

I have ZR1s on the car now and there is no way that these spares with a front drag tire will weigh as much. If I had a set of stock wheels lying around then I'd just slap some tires on the front's and roll with it but I don't. So before I go and buy a set of four salad shooters I want to know if I can use what I have, plus two stock wheels.

Weigh them. I suspect the steel wheels may be heavier than the standard salad shooters. I have been racing a few years and I don't even want to line up next to someone with with that type of rim becasue I want to know what else has been mickey moused.

I think you are better off to stay stock or find an appropriate wheel for your purpose. There is no sense going skinny and small if you don't save weight and get laughed out of the track.

I've read all the above before but I can't think of a good reason why it would be "any" more dangerous than any other "skinny" wheel. It's a steel rim, made for the car, clears the brakes without any grinding required, uses the original lug nuts with the original thread reach, no "spacer" required, on what can't be any worse than the cheap tires that often end up on "skinnies" and may be even safer.
I know OEM specs are for temporary use at low speeds but thats obvious compared to the stock 245/16 or whatever the original tire is. I would not recommend road racing with these tires or even driving in heavy traffic but we're talking about going in a straight line on a dragstrip. How can an aluminum wheel that only fits because you grind your calipars down for clearance, use a spacer which places more load on your spindles and bearings, and in some cases not replacing your wheel studs with longer ones to have a the proper amout of thread reach. Did I miss anything?
There may be some good reason but I can't think of one, especially considering all the modifications required to run a typical 15" skinny on our cars. Even without the modifications how is it safer?

Aluminum drag rims as designed and tested for their purpose, going high speeds at the drag strip.
Spare wheels are too, but their purpose is to go on the car for a limited time at a low speed. The manufacturers are not going to spend thousands to test spare wheels to 100+ mph.

I'd consider any skinny that would reduce the incidence sway at the big end when I run ET Streets. I've lifted more than a few times because of it, I think it's worse in a stick car, and yes I've played with the tire pressures.

Anybody know of a skinny that will bolt up to our cars without any modifications?

Aluminum drag rims as designed and tested for their purpose, going high speeds at the drag strip.
Spare wheels are too, but their purpose is to go on the car for a limited time at a low speed. The manufacturers are not going to spend thousands to test spare wheels to 100+ mph.

Yup all true, but it's not that complicated, it's just a wheel. I just don't see why one wheel is safer especially aluminum vs steel.

Yup all true, but it's not that complicated, it's just a wheel. I just don't see why one wheel is safer especially aluminum vs steel.

Put whatever wheels you want on your car, then go down to Texas Motorplex (top-end NHRA tack). And if you pass tech you're good to go!

WD

Put whatever wheels you want on your car, then go down to Texas Motorplex (top-end NHRA tack). And if you pass tech you're good to go!

WD


You first! ;)

You first! ;)

I run at Ennis all the time, OKC isn't that far away! However, I meet all the NHRA requirements; every SFI component (damper, flexplate), dual drive shaft loops, Wolfe Cage to 10.00, 5-point harness and Strange w/ C-Clip eliminators and Weld wheels.

WD

Well you have a pretty fast car Engineer, congrats! I'm actually even closer to the track than Dallas, but the 1/4 mile means getting into 4th and streching her legs. Ever since I bought the ET Streets I have to worry about that "sway". It takes some of the "fun" out of it for sure. In the 1/8th I get her in the top of 3rd and she sometimes sways but it's worse at the higher speeds in 4th. Car is decent fast, 383 by owner, LE, 847, FLP's, 4.11's. Last fall I ran a 12.5 first pass and my opti blew so I was done. I think there's more in it.
About the skinnys, I think a lawyer at GM must have insisted on that sticker so someone who drives indefinitley on the spare can't sue when they have a wreck. It only makes sense that a smaller contact patch will have less traction and be dangerous compared to the full size tire. On the street I think those instructions are a good idea and should apply to any skinney. I think some Bogarts might be on the way to my house sometime. :cool:

I really like the track at Ennis, and my car runs about 2 to 3 tenths faster down there. I want to come down for the National Dragster Challenge at the Motorplex in July, but I have a points race conflict up here.

WD

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