15" ,16",or 18"
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: down south
15" ,16",or 18"
i am thinking about buying some wheels to race on, but cant make my mind up as to which setup to go with. is it wrth the extra money to by a complete set of 15" for the front and back. the 16" are just not tall enough for my application, although i have heard someone is going to release some very soon in 28". and last the 18", how well do the new drag radials hook as compared to et streets or other tires?
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Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Portland, Oregon. USA
To hook up off the line the bigger the sidewall the better. More tire choices in the 15" also. GoodYear, Hoosier, M/T, Phoenix, M&H, etc. They all offer many widths and compounds in a 28" tire.
JL
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Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Houston, Tx, USA
15" Rims would definately be the way to go if someone would make some that did NOT require shaving the calipers. I'm not shaving my calipers. Make some dam wheels that fit without shaving the calipers. What's the problem here?
Shaving the calipers weakens them and makes them worthless for core tradeins and then you have to shave new ones again. Not worth it.
noelvm
Shaving the calipers weakens them and makes them worthless for core tradeins and then you have to shave new ones again. Not worth it.
noelvm
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Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Palm Coast, FL
Noel, I've explained this several times already, but here's why...
From the axle centerline to the outside of the caliper is 7.5 inches. That gives you an overall diameter of 15" exactly. In order to mount a 15" tire on a 15" rim, the rim can not be more than 14.9" diameter at the bead. So since you need actually a tad over 15" (gotta have some clearance), no 15" rim is going to fit, no matter what.
I have both steel and aluminum 15"s here. Both types only require no more than 1/8 max to be shaved off the caliper. And that's only on the very rear part, because as the caliper tapers back, it kind of ramps up. Do a quick shave, and a quick shot of paint, and no one would ever know.
99REDBOLT, each rim size caters to a different use of the truck.
The 18" Nitto Drag Radial would be good for the guy who wants to mount a sticky tire on a stock rim, drive around like that, and maybe hit the track from time to time.
The 16" rim is good for the average guy whos planning some decent track time, and wants a sticky tire. In this case most likely a Mickey Thompson ET Street. Many people right now run 16s all around. This combo is good for a truck down to about the 12.0 range. Faster than that, and the short sidewall of the ET Streets makes it hard to launch consistantly.
The 15" rim is for the guy who doesn't want to worry about traction problems. There are endless amounts of 15" slicks in all makes and sizes. The downside of this is you will pay more than your average rim price, since these rims are all made just for our trucks.
Some companies are coming out with taller 16" slicks. However my feeling on that, is that you are still better off with a 15". Even if you get a tall 16" slick, you still have 1" less sidewall than if you had a 15" rim. Because of the massive amounts of torque our trucks make, it's pretty important to have a tall sidewall to absorb the shock.
BTW, if anyone is interested, I have a full set of 16s with slicks and street tires (about 2k miles), as well as a set of 15s with slicks (only 3 passes) for sale. check out this link for the details...
http://www.powersurgeperformance.net/used.htm
From the axle centerline to the outside of the caliper is 7.5 inches. That gives you an overall diameter of 15" exactly. In order to mount a 15" tire on a 15" rim, the rim can not be more than 14.9" diameter at the bead. So since you need actually a tad over 15" (gotta have some clearance), no 15" rim is going to fit, no matter what.
I have both steel and aluminum 15"s here. Both types only require no more than 1/8 max to be shaved off the caliper. And that's only on the very rear part, because as the caliper tapers back, it kind of ramps up. Do a quick shave, and a quick shot of paint, and no one would ever know.
99REDBOLT, each rim size caters to a different use of the truck.
The 18" Nitto Drag Radial would be good for the guy who wants to mount a sticky tire on a stock rim, drive around like that, and maybe hit the track from time to time.
The 16" rim is good for the average guy whos planning some decent track time, and wants a sticky tire. In this case most likely a Mickey Thompson ET Street. Many people right now run 16s all around. This combo is good for a truck down to about the 12.0 range. Faster than that, and the short sidewall of the ET Streets makes it hard to launch consistantly.
The 15" rim is for the guy who doesn't want to worry about traction problems. There are endless amounts of 15" slicks in all makes and sizes. The downside of this is you will pay more than your average rim price, since these rims are all made just for our trucks.
Some companies are coming out with taller 16" slicks. However my feeling on that, is that you are still better off with a 15". Even if you get a tall 16" slick, you still have 1" less sidewall than if you had a 15" rim. Because of the massive amounts of torque our trucks make, it's pretty important to have a tall sidewall to absorb the shock.
BTW, if anyone is interested, I have a full set of 16s with slicks and street tires (about 2k miles), as well as a set of 15s with slicks (only 3 passes) for sale. check out this link for the details...
http://www.powersurgeperformance.net/used.htm
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Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Richmond,VA
Noelvm,
Its not alot of shaving that you have to do. If you that worried about it stick to 16in rims and hope the 28in tall slicks for the 16in rims come out soon!!
Its not alot of shaving that you have to do. If you that worried about it stick to 16in rims and hope the 28in tall slicks for the 16in rims come out soon!!
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From: In a House, USA
The real question is does that 1/2" on the contact side make that much difference?
I think it depends on how hard core you want to be about drag racing. There are a heck of alot of choices for 15's.
I think it depends on how hard core you want to be about drag racing. There are a heck of alot of choices for 15's.
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: down south
you have a very good point NEED FOR SPEED. i think i will get some 15" but i am not sure about the prices. seems like every time you rush to get something when it first comes out,you pay alot more.
