16 Inch Wheel Poll

[Johnson954]

I would like to know how many racers would be interested in seeing what 16" steel wheels could do for 9 cars. I've talked to Bill Savage of SCORE and if we have enough interest he will consider the wheel option.

[Johnson954]

I would also ask, if you vote "yes", please add a response and let me know where you currently race, and have raced, especially if you have raced in SCORE.

Thanks,

[ffrank]

Steve, We've raced SCORE, MORE, and SNORE. I voted YES. I dont really understand what it would hurt. If your not breaking spindles, the main benefit will be one tire for all four corners and let your spares do double duty, which would not hurt anyone. Some 9-car guys amaze me with their closed minds. I really hope someone that dosent want it will chime in and let us know why it would be bad..... maybe Im the one with the closed mind?:rolleyes:

[9rocky]

I voted no. I don't believe unless there was a reasonably priced, off the shelf wheel and tire available, there is any reason to change. 9 is a budget class, and some people might feel compelled to "keep up with the joneses" and replace their entire inventory. We have been racing on Super Diggers and 15" wheels since T-rex's walked the earth, and I do not feel there is any benefit to this change. JMO

[ffrank]

Kevin, My thought exactly about keeping things cheap. The benefit would be if all my tires were the same size I can have less spares since they are doing double duty. Many more 16" tires off the shelf availiable than rear selections for 15's. In 15" its either yoks or mickeys . If anyone feels that 16" tires are the key to their winning or losing and replace their entire inventory their nutz. The main question will be the price of the rims. We are already paying close to $80, so what will the 16" run. Personally I will probably never run 16s but then again I am close minded.

[9rocky]

Kevin, My thought exactly about keeping things cheap. The benefit would be if all my tires were the same size I can have less spares since they are doing double duty. Many more 16" tires off the shelf availiable than rear selections for 15's. In 15" its either yoks or mickeys . If anyone feels that 16" tires are the key to their winning or losing and replace their entire inventory their nutz. The main question will be the price of the rims. We are already paying close to $80, so what will the 16" run. Personally I will probably never run 16s but then again I am close minded.


You are wierd anyway Ffffrrraancis. All of your drums are missing a stud.

[ffrank]

True kevin, Very true!:D

[BUDMAN975]

I voted Yes, there would be a major benefit to having all 4 tires the same. lets try something new.

[Johnson954]

A good example of how this could be beneficial, is if you were one of the 3 class 9 entries in the Baja 1000, General Tire is putting up $5000 to the winner if you run their tires. They are offering a 7.50x16 (Navajo) tire, and with that comes full pit support.

[MORE #911]

I voted undecided. I was against it when you proposed it a month or so ago. Now looking to learn what good it could be.

[Haney motorsports]

Can you guys not use the the word CHANGE I'm having a hard time voting yes due to that word.Next your going to mention how general will spread the wealth amongest the classes if we vote yes and we all know where that will lead:D I like Savages response of a tire "option" much better

On a seroius note the main benefit would be more tire options to us point to point racers.....though we have run on a 31" BFG and never had a problem with it,it would be nice to have options to a commercial tire which only comes in a 16" with the height needed.Unless you can get bfg to start producing a 32" narrow/trailer type tire like they use to I'm for it.
Steve can you talk to ray and see if he would/could start producing something in a 16 in for the challenger class?might be a tie breaker

And to be honest with every one I might not run the 16in with the tall tire on the front but in the rear for sure.16's will get you more chrome

[Johnson954]

I actually did ask BFG if they could make a narrower and taller 15" tire, and I got shot down....but hey, I've also called around to find out it would only cost $10K to make a titanium ring and pinion too!!!...I just had to ask.

I'll talk to Ray at C&C to find out what he can do. I'm probably just going to go have some of the wheels made, at least a couple to find out what they will really be like. I didn't want to lay down the money if I wasn't going to be able to use them, but maybe the finished product could make a difference. It is not like I'm going to be able to sell them and make money off of it....maybe Ray will name the wheel after me!

[ACME]

I voted no because I'm fat, grumpy and argumentative plus I heard Obama supports this initiative...

[Johnson954]

One thing that is nice about this poll, is that it is interesting how many people say no, but it is more about how many people say yes. 'Cause honestly, there have been a lot of "no" responses, but not many reasons behind them....

[Shred918]

One thing that is nice about this poll, is that it is interesting how many people say no, but it is more about how many people say yes. 'Cause honestly, there have been a lot of "no" responses, but not many reasons behind them....

With that said I will put in what I think. I am still on the back burner but will be racing soon and honestly I have seen people approach class 9 changes 3 times. They have been shot down every time.

I think we need to just really think about it and make the changes with score for the new rulebook in 2010. That is what everyone is following and it will trickle down.

I do feel there needs to be rule modifications in this class but I dont think now is the time.

[BeanerBoy]

A good example of how this could be beneficial, is if you were one of the 3 class 9 entries in the Baja 1000, General Tire is putting up $5000 to the winner if you run their tires. They are offering a 7.50x16 (Navajo) tire, and with that comes full pit support.

Steve General Tire has 15" tire options!! They are comparable to BFG tires 9 racers have been racing on for years in Mexico!!

Why change to a 16" wheel that has to be custom made that will cost more.There will never be enough of a demand for the 16" steel wheel by the general public to get the price to come down to what the cost of the 15" wheel is.

I run a 15" wheel on the front of my 1600 to keep the weight down so it is not so hard on my link pins. The 16" wheel is going to weigh more than the 15" wheel and every tire for a 16" rim weighs more than a 15", they are a built for heavier loads which is why just about any 16" tire you will find has a Load Range E rating or higher. That is going to be brutal on a 9 cars tiny spindles and ball joints.

I do not feel the 16" wheels will give any advantage, I just think it will cause more front end failures which will in turn make running class 9 more costly for those running the 16s.

[doug969]

That is going to be brutal on a 9 cars tiny spindles and ball joints.

I just think it will cause more front end failures.


Yes!! Please change to 16" for everyone, daddy needs new shoes. j/k Corey your such a bummer on things, goshhhhhhhhhh

[harleys dad]

I voted no because I'm fat, grumpy and argumentative plus I heard Obama supports this initiative...
I like that responce Jeff, 7.5016s have been proven to be very hard on 1600 cars front end parts, what do you think they would do to a ball joint front end if they are hard on 1600 cars with big stuff. Just wondering. I have to agree with Cory, broken spindles will be more commin with 16s, and feed back in the steering will be more to deal with than a 15.

[Johnson954]

Denman Tires makes two different 7.50X16's. One is 31.7" tall, is 10 ply, and only weighs 34lbs, and the other is 32.2" tall, 8 ply, and weighs 39lbs(that is without anything shaved off either one...the 32.2" tall has a lot of tread too). M/T's are the lightest of the rear tires and they are 37lbs. I don't know what ply they are, but they are weak! The baja pro front tires are really light at 28lbs, but they have a really weak side wall too(and are almost 30" tall). Most trailer tires that I've used on the front are about 32-34lbs and anywhere from 29 to almost 30" tall. Currently I run an 8 ply Carlisle tire that weighs about 33lbs and is 29.5" tall....and I have never had one go flat.

Not sure how good these denman tires are, but I've seen people running them. It seems to me that if the rims are comparable in weight, then you might be heavier on the front, but could save considerable on the rear. There is no reason you could not still run 15's on the front if it proved to be a huge disadvantage. The rear is what I was really looking at.

I was looking to run the 31.7" tires all the way around. If I could shave 2lbs off each tire, and the rims were the same weight as the 15", then I could save 1lb on each front wheel from what I'm running right now and gain almost an inch of ground clearance. In the back I would save 5lbs per wheel (10 lbs of unsprung rotating mass off of the tranny and motor), I would loose about an inch of ground clearance in the rear over the M/T's, but it would be comparable to the Yoks. I would have the same spare for all four corners, and be running a 10 ply tire all the way around.

I just thought it would be worth a try....

http://www.denmantire.com/catalog/p20.pdf

[doug969]

Denman Tires makes two different 7.50X16's. One is 31.7" tall, is 10 ply, and only weighs 34lbs, and the other is 32.2" tall, 8 ply, and weighs 39lbs(that is without anything shaved off either one...the 32.2" tall has a lot of tread too). M/T's are the lightest of the rear tires and they are 37lbs. I don't know what ply they are, but they are weak! The baja pro front tires are really light at 28lbs, but they have a really weak side wall too(and are almost 30" tall). Most trailer tires that I've used on the front are about 32-34lbs and anywhere from 29 to almost 30" tall. Currently I run an 8 ply Carlisle tire that weighs about 33lbs and is 29.5" tall....and I have never had one go flat.

Not sure how good these denman tires are, but I've seen people running them. It seems to me that if the rims are comparable in weight, then you might be heavier on the front, but could save considerable on the rear. There is no reason you could not still run 15's on the front if it proved to be a huge disadvantage. The rear is what I was really looking at.

I was looking to run the 31.7" tires all the way around. If I could shave 2lbs off each tire, and the rims were the same weight as the 15", then I could save 1lb on each front wheel from what I'm running right now and gain almost an inch of ground clearance. In the back I would save 5lbs per wheel (10 lbs of unsprung rotating mass off of the tranny and motor), I would loose about an inch of ground clearance in the rear over the M/T's, but it would be comparable to the Yoks. I would have the same spare for all four corners, and be running a 10 ply tire all the way around.

I just thought it would be worth a try....

http://www.denmantire.com/catalog/p20.pdf



I have some 16" wheels with BFG traction tires shaved but on centerlines your more then welcome to try out. I know that its an aluminum wheel and not a fair shot but there here if you want

[Johnson954]

I have some 16" wheels with BFG traction tires shaved but on centerlines your more then welcome to try out. I know that its an aluminum wheel and not a fair shot but there here if you want

I might take you up on that, just because I would love to see what it is like for my own personal satisfaction....We can't talk about "aluminum" on here though...that's a bad word on the 9 car forum...that and "change"

I would also like to know what they weigh vs. a 15" steel wheel and a 33" M/T

[doug969]

I might take you up on that, just because I would love to see what it is like for my own personal satisfaction....We can't talk about "aluminum" on here though...that's a bad word on the 9 car forum...that and "change"

I would also like to know what they weigh vs. a 15" steel wheel and a 33" M/T


I'll see if I can get a rough weight for ya

[Johnson954]

I'll see if I can get a rough weight for ya

This might help :D

YouTube - brian regan UPS

[M.Harvey1600]

i race a 1600 car and run 16" rims on the fronts... i voted yes because it could b a good option for the 9 car guys to keep their beam out of the dirt... that was the argument Damen Jefferies gave me when we built our car because when he drove class 9 he had the beam in the dirt more times than he liked... if you like the 15" rims then you can still run them but also work on building your spare package with the 16" rims... just my opinion...

[Johnson954]

i race a 1600 car and run 16" rims on the fronts... I voted yes because it could b a good option for the 9 car guys to keep their beam out of the dirt... That was the argument damen jefferies gave me when we built our car because when he drove class 9 he had the beam in the dirt more times than he liked... If you like the 15" rims then you can still run them but also work on building your spare package with the 16" rims... Just my opinion...

sweet!!!

[5racer]

well if you guys find someone to make 16in wheels for your nine cars see if they will make 16 alum wheels also sence btr has droped the ball for 3 years now .