Drag radials

[wreckwriter]

The lack of comment to this leads me to believe that 20s would not be a good thing?

[GRRRR8]

Too low of a profile. 17s or 18s max.

[wreckwriter]

OK, thanks Charlie.

[GRRRR8]

I am going to see if I can get a set of 4 for drag use only, that way we can have matching on it. I do understand what you have been saying. You dont want mismatched at ANY time.

[wreckwriter]

I am going to see if I can get a set of 4 for drag use only, that way we can have matching on it. I do understand what you have been saying. You dont want mismatched at ANY time.

If nothing else, mismatched is going to look weird it seems. Sorry for so many questions on this but I just can't seem to wrap my head around it. For some reason I just don't seem to "get it" so I'm really hoping someone who knows this stuff will post up some specific wheels and tires that are available and will do a good job. Converter goes in soon so I know I have to start looking at this.

[GRRRR8]

The most important thing is tire height. 17,18,19 it does not matter, allthat matters is they are 26.8 to 27 inches tall. If youhave 17s on the rear and they are 27 inches tall and you have 19s on the front and they are 26.8, the car will sit level and the only difference will be the look of the wheel. I will try to find some pics.

[wreckwriter]

I appreciate it Charlie. So which part of the tire specs indicates the height, the first number (i.e. 225, 275, etc), right?

[GRRRR8]

Yes and no. 275 is width, 50 in the sidewall 17 is the rim. You can go to any tire site and it will tell you the tire height and width on a specific rim.

[EcoBrick Bob]

I appreciate it Charlie. So which part of the tire specs indicates the height, the first number (i.e. 225, 275, etc), right?

Best way to understand all this is to go to TireRack's website and go to G8 tires. Then when you pick a tire, go to specs. This will show you the rim size that they are using for the numbers. You can also scan down to look at other tire sizes and how they compare.

I would do this for several different brands in the G8 size. You will see that they are close in spec. but not exactly the same.

As for going with 17's - you might be able to pick up some decent clearance wheels that you acquire 4 of. Just remember the front rims need to be a 40 offset or smaller.

RRM

[chiefpontiac]

Reasoning behind using a narrower 17 instead of 18 or 19 can be as follows.

Regardless of the wheel size you can maintain ride height with outside diamet. In fact a 225/60-16 as found on 97-03 Grand Prixs is identical in diameter to the 18's and 19's shipped oem from Pontiac.

The larger the wheel the less sidewall you have and to get a clean takeoff with more traction and less spin a taller sidewall will allow a certain amount of flex or windup that can be to your advantage. Fullest amount of traction will come from pure slicks as wide as will fit - but you'll notice most successful dragsters have very small wheels and large sidewalls. That won't work with G8 brakes and even 16's probably will interfere (haven't tried it yet) But an aside from drag traction but related is snow and wet traction, where www.tirerack.com highly recommends narrower 17s for snow tires.

Ultra-skinny front tires for front in drags would be advantageous in reducing drag on front end thus benefiting e.t. -remember you don't have to turn in teh 1/8 or even 1/4 until you get to the end.