Re: [FWDLK] And the wheel goes round round round... Radial tire convo continues...

[David Homstad <dhomstad@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Charles,

I think the inner tube on drag racing slicks is required because during a
hard launch a tire may slip on the rim and loose its seal. To prevent this,
screws are often set through the wheel rim into the bead of the tire, or
clamps could also be used.

I suspect that bias belted tires are used for most drag slicks because their
sidewalls are stiffer or the tire distorts less under stress. BFG has been
marketing a "drag radial" tire for a few years. I have heard good reports
about its performance. My son liked them.

If the wheel rim is designed for tubeless tires, I see no advantage in using
a tube. Just one more thing to affect tire balance. On rims made before
tubeless tires, a tube is mandatory. I don't think this applies to any
ForwardLook era cars. Maybe in the early 50s?

Dave Homstad
56 Dodge D500

-----Original Message-----
From: cpollock@xxxxxxxx [mailto:cpollock@xxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 7:57 AM
To: David Homstad; L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Re: [FWDLK] And the wheel goes round round round... Radial tire
convo continues...

Hi Dave,
Big HP was a factor in setting up the tires on the Charger, and they were
MUCH larger in the rear than the front.  The Kelly's were SuperChargers,
which, by the way, if you can find them, are the BEST for burnout contests!
Really smoke!  I don't remember what my final sizing was when I did it, but
the radials were 14" on Magnum 500 wheels.
One note of correction though, TA and AAR's did use 15" wheels/tires.  Sorry
about the brainfart.
Now for a question, on cars that are drag raced, the slicks are bias ply,
and they use an intertube, which is for safety.  I wonder if an innertube
with bias ply tires on these FWLK cars would make a difference?  Better?
Worse?
Just a thought,

Charles.
BTW, whoever it was who wrote they had just parted a rusty 60 Saratoga,
thanks, but no thanks.  I have tackled the rust monster before, and I do not
wish to repeat the battle if it is possible to avoid it.  May not be, but
would like to.  I'll take a nice Desert car please, with a trashed interior
over the cut-and-paste that is involved in rust repair on a Midwestern car.
---->>>>
From: David Homstad <dhomstad@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 2004/03/24 Wed AM 02:12:13 EST
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] And the wheel goes round round round... Radial tire
convo continues...

Charles,

I agree. If you had no choice, radials in the rear and bias up front was
better than the reverse. Never tried it myself. You get the worst of both
worlds that way.

For best cornering, the same size all around is best. But sometimes traction
requirements of big HP mandates big rear tires. And it is not practical to
use biggies in front. If carefully chosen for similar characteristics,
especially different sizes of the same series, moderately bigger rear tires
should not be a big issue.

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: Forward Look Mopar Discussion List
[mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of cpollock@xxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2004 9:44 AM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] And the wheel goes round round round... Radial tire
convo continues...

Hi Dave,
I have noticed the same things you are mentioning.  Quality tires= quality
ride, handling, etc.  Just one thing I want to add.
I read someone talking about running radial in front and bias in rear.  Just
so everyone knows, this is a big no-no.  In fact, it is illegal here in
Ohio, and they can impound your car on the spot if they catch you.  My
experience was with my 69 Charger, running old (OLD)radial up front and old
(OLD) Kelly bias plys in back.  I was young and stupid, and that was what
was on it when I bought it.  The car would literally swim down the road,
softly swerving back and forth.  This was very profound at speed.  Needless
to say, I switched to radial all around.  Firestone Firehawks, and I had NO
problems whatsoever the 35,000 or so miles I put on them before I sold it.
Handled dead flat (thanks to huge sway bars front and rear) and wonderfully
in a straight line, 13.20's in stock trim.
As for the mismatched tire sizes, the factory put mismatched size (albeit
14" front and rear) tires on AAR Cudas and TA Challengers in 1970.  Don't
recall the size though.  My advice find a tire shop that likes old cars,
most look down their noses at them.  The Firestone dealer liked the combo on
my car so much they took a picture of it and hung it in the customer lounge!
Anyway,
Stay safe,
Charles- still looking for the cash for the elusive 60 Saratoga (not to
mention the car).