I am thinking about getting drag radials for my car.

Either getting a set of 15'' aluminum IROC rims for the back or a set of 16'' IROC rims for the back ( I would still get extra rims becuase I do not permanntly want drag radials on the car).

With the stock 16'' rims, does everyone run 245/50/16 drag radials or 255/50/16??? I hear 255s fit fine, so why not get the slighter wider tire, right?

 

i would run the 255s

 

Well theory states that a 15" wheel would be better because the sidewalls will be taller and absorb more of the shock than the shorter sidewalls.

That theory is true for true slicks, but I'm not sure about drag radials. Being radial tires, they won't give much on the sidewalls. Not as much as a bias ply anyway.

Jegs.com has a chart that tells you what the outter diameter of the variable sizes are. http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...36&prmenbr=361

Stock diam. is around 25.5" so something within a 1/2" will work fine there.

And you can get any width you want for racing as long as the offset/backspacing on the wheel is set right. But if you plan on stock 8" wheels, then 255 is about all you can do.

AJ

 

Yes, but 15" IROC wheels are 7" wide while the 16" wheels are 8" wide. You really can't push much beyond a 235 tire on a 7" wide wheel, where an 8" can take a 255 no problem.

Why not some cheap 15x8 (or wider) aftermarket wheels? Since matching the wheel style doesn't seem to matter to you.

 

you can run a 255/60/15 tire on a 7 inch rim. thats what i run for rear meats. up front front i run a 235 width. anyway i was looking in BF Goodrich's tire size guideline thing and they suggest that 255/60/15 is the largest width that can fit on a 15 x 7 rim. however, i know i have read of people on this board that have run upto 275 widths on a 7 inch rim, apparently without problems. for my drag tires, i run 27 x 9.5 cirlce track car slicks (radial construction; they have stiff side walls) on stock, 15 x 7 trans am rims. i havent had any problems yet and these slciks help reduce my traction issues somewhat, although not enough, but hey the tires were only 40 (no tax) each, mounted and balanced.

as for L98IROCZ89's original question, i would run the 255 width DRs, or if they are going to be track only tires and wheels, maybe try a slightly larger width even. i am not sure if they make DRs in as many widths as regular street tires, as i have never seriously looked into purchasing DRs.

 

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Hmmmm. So if I get 15x7 rims I can fit 255's? I understand the taller sidewall may have the slight advantage, but width is the main importance to me I think. But if I could get a 255 on a 15 rim then I should get those then, best of both worlds... right?

 

i would definetly go for a 255/60 tire ...they will will fit on a 15 inch rim no problem at all.

 

As a matter of fact, considering the fact that I would be getting extra rims and they would only be on the car for racing, I might as well get slicks right?

Now... right now I have 245/50/16 tires which are 26'' tall. If I got 255/60/15 they would be 27'' tall. Is that still ok? That won't rub anywhere or casue any problems??? Accoring to a website calculator that would be a 26.0 x 10.0 - 15 slick.... does that seem right? That is .3 wider than my existing 245/50/16s... that will fit? Or should I just get 245/60/15 slicks which would convert to 26.0 x 8.5-15??

 

i run a 27 inch tall circle track slick for my drag tires. they dont rub or anything. my is stock ride height. my friend uses the same tires on his car, which has been lowered a bit. he doesnt have any problems either.