26 or 28 drag radials

Dp2008saleen

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I have a 08 saleen 5spd with 3.4 pulley, arh headers and 4.10 gears with 275 40 20 nitto 555rtires. I raced it at the 1/8 mile and went 7.89 at 91mph. I was thinking of getting smaller tires on 15 in rims. I don't know if I should get 26 or 28 in tires.
 

RED09GT

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This belongs either in the Wheels and Tires, Drag, or probably the Chit Chat forum. Go with 28's as 26's are pretty small on these cars. If you have the manual transmission, you will likely run out of rpm's in 3rd at the 1/8th mile with a 26" tire.
 

tjm73

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The tires you have are about 28.5" tall.

What gear did you run the 91 in the 1/8th in? 3rd? If so, you would have been at about 5800 rpm at the top end.
 
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RocketcarX

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Depends on your 60', if you were blowing the tires off on the hit a taller tire might be the answer. The shorter tire will come out of the hole a lot harder BUT will run the RPMs out sooner.
 

redfirepearlgt

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I have a 08 saleen 5spd with 3.4 pulley, arh headers and 4.10 gears with 275 40 20 nitto 555rtires. I raced it at the 1/8 mile and went 7.89 at 91mph. I was thinking of getting smaller tires on 15 in rims. I don't know if I should get 26 or 28 in tires.

4.10's with a 26 would be a pedal fest off the line unless you can get weight transfer to get them to stick. But as mentioned then you run into issues with needing to make a potential shift into fourth before the 1/8th unless you are winding it out and letting the tongue hang out through every gear. I speculate you are making around 480WHP with the 3.4 and LT's. With the stick shift I would suggest a 28x11.50-15LT M/T ET R series bias ply or an equal size in a comparable brand of your choosing. As a reminder if you go 15x10" rim you will have to perform the sway bar relocation which is a simple $30-$40 bracket kit. 15x8's or 17's will fit fine with out the relocation kit.

Best of luck. Sounds like a very nice setup similar to one I had once.
 
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skaarlaj

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Aside from the gearing aspect, use 28's, you'll have Longer contact patch than the shorter tire, also a 28" tall tire is pretty much necessary to fill the S197 wheel well imo.
 

Dp2008saleen

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My 60 ft was 1.82. someone told me 255 60 15 tires also would be a good choice. I was thinking 26 would look to small. I didn't want to spend money and the tires not work. Im trying to get 7.50 in 1/8 mile. My brother has a 69 c10 with a stroker that runs about the same as me, and the Chevy ppl on his videos he put up have big mouths lol

Im at like 3,500 in 3rd at the end of the 1/8 mile
 
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stkjock

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I'd u r only racing the 1/8, I retract my above post and suggest 26"
 

tjm73

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Im at like 3,500 in 3rd at the end of the 1/8 mile

You cannot be only turning 3500 in 3rd in the 1/8 and run 91mph with a 275/40R20 tire.

To go 91mph in 3rd with your stated setup you have to turn about 5800 rpm.

3rd is 1.32 and your axle is 4.10. That's equal to 5.41. So 91mph * 5.41 / 28.5 * 336 = 5806 rpm. If you are only turning 3500, you are only running 55mph. The math doesn't add up.
 

stkjock

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/\ good pick up. Didn't think,of,that
 

RED09GT

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I was running a 275/40 17" NT05R, which was just under 26" and I had to keep upping my rev limiter in order to get through the traps in the 1/8 th mile in 3rd gear. 6700 rpm was where it needed to be.

If you are at 3500 rpm anywhere on the dragstrip after the first 60 feet and before the end stripe, you are doing it wrong.
 

Dp2008saleen

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I will look again when I race.i was thinking 255 60 15 Mickey Thompson's there at 27inchs. That should be perfect for 1/4 or 1/8 mile hopefully
 

RED09GT

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I will look again when I race.i was thinking 255 60 15 Mickey Thompson's there at 27inchs. That should be perfect for 1/4 or 1/8 mile hopefully
That works, a 27" tire is just about perfect for 3rd in the 1/8th and 4th in the 1/4 mile. You can use an 8" wide wheel with that tire as well.
 

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