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25" versus 29.5" front tires

hemiman426 said:
25" tire is good for index with a trans brake,smaller tires will gve you a good light,but your walking a fine line,if you go back and look at all old drag car photos they had big tire for roll out,ask the experts like bret kepner on facebook that adjust his reaction times with tire pressure,but depends how your car is set up,a lot goes into reaction times,how you react to the tree,front tire size,how the front end lifts up or on a wheelstand if pulls the front wheel out of the beams,raer end ratio,rear tire size,convertor,most of all how you stage and where you put the ire everytime,might be up to 50 things that goes into reaction time,
Click to expand...
------------THIS ! IF U REACT QUICKER TO COMPENSATE, A TALLER TIRE WILL GIVE U A ROLLING START AT THE BEAMS, by staying in the beam longer.
 
I am talking about reaction time when racing against a .4 Pro Tree.
The only way I can get my reaction time DOWN is to go with a 25" tire because I cannot anticipate a PRO LITE.
The full .5 SPORTSMAN TREE is a different story...you can leave sooner (and cut a better light) because you can anticipate when the last yellow light is going to come on.
 
Sometimes unfortunately racers have to sacrifice appearance for competitiveness . I like the look of filled
front wheelwells, but most pro-tree racers use the shortest tires they can that will keep the headers or oilpan off the ground. I had 23" frontrunners on my car, but it didn't look TOO ridiculous because of tiny front wheelwells.
 
Mike Gaines said:
I am talking about reaction time when racing against a .4 Pro Tree.
The only way I can get my reaction time DOWN is to go with a 25" tire because I cannot anticipate a PRO LITE.
The full .5 SPORTSMAN TREE is a different story...you can leave sooner (and cut a better light) because you can anticipate when the last yellow light is going to come on.
Click to expand...

How heavy is ur car? Anything over 3000lbs, you will be at a major disadvantage no matter how short front tires are on a .400 pro tree . Just saying
 
As an old dumb guy (me), the short tire will work well for you. Who cares about appearance if you go 10.00. Just my opinion.
 
Last edited:
Can you go in deep? Has way more effect on R/T than tire diameter. Even if you can't go full deep a few bumps in will help. Higher rpm on the brake will help also. .But nothing like practice on the hand held under Pro-tree conditions. You should be able to hit the Pro and the Full at the same R/T with-in .01.
Doug
 
dvw said:
Can you go in deep? Has way more effect on R/T than tire diameter. Even if you can't go full deep a few bumps in will help. Higher rpm on the brake will help also. .But nothing like practice on the hand held under Pro-tree conditions. You should be able to hit the Pro and the Full at the same R/T with-in .01.
Doug
Click to expand...
look up bret kepner on facebook,he can answer all questions
 
Wasn't Brett Kepner the ol' "Mr Dirt" in Bracket Racing USA Magazine? That magazine taught me tons of tricks to be a better drag racer! Wish it was still around. SS and DI too!
 
Mike Gaines said:
Well, after getting some real expert explanations on front tire size, roll-out, etc, etc. from our fellow racers here on B-Body Site,I am going to do the following:
1) Buy a pair of 25" front tires.
2) Go racing
Thanks everyone for your input.
Click to expand...
After all this expert input, no one mentioned what the 25" tire might be capable of doing for your nice oil pan and headers. Can you say scuff, smash, trailer clearance issues, and of course headlight adjustment. The car will be easier to wash.
 
glassman said:
After all this expert input, no one mentioned what the 25" tire might be capable of doing for your nice oil pan and headers. Can you say scuff, smash, trailer clearance issues, and of course headlight adjustment. The car will be easier to wash.
Click to expand...
no one also mention if this was a deadicated drag car or street car,must be a drag car where talking about is because of reaction times
 
hemiman426 said:
yea i would be worried about front tire size then being a drag car,and driving it on the street,maybee get 2 sets of front tires and wheels
Click to expand...

Mike if you can avoid speed bumps, oil pan should be pretty safe. Bigger street tires are sure an option.
 
When I switched from a 25" front to a 27 on my Cuda I never could get my reaction time back where I liked it. So when I built my 67 I went back to 25's and have no complaints. Honestly the wheel well openings on our cars isn't very large and a 25 looks fine. Mine does sit low and ground clearance is at a premium but I can and do drive it on the street. I am just careful. I believe you will be happy with the choice I know I definitely like the RT I'm getting.
 
cudatom said:
When I switched from a 25" front to a 27 on my Cuda I never could get my reaction time back where I liked it. So when I built my 67 I went back to 25's and have no complaints. Honestly the wheel well openings on our cars isn't very large and a 25 looks fine. Mine does sit low and ground clearance is at a premium but I can and do drive it on the street. I am just careful. I believe you will be happy with the choice I know I definitely like the RT I'm getting.
Click to expand...
I will find out about my Reaction Time at the next race with the 25 inch tires/
 
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