Top Sportsman ?? Tire size

wupracing · 12-31-2008, 09:20 PM

What size rear tire does most Top Sportsman cars run..
Also do you need Beed Locks wheels on a Low 7 second car 1/4 or 4.80s 1/8 mile

rick lester · 01-01-2009, 03:19 AM

As far as the bead lock goes, I would say yes. You might get away with wheel screws, but you would be better off to go that extra step and be safe. Back in 82 the old man had a super gas mustang, we always entered it in the world of wheels car show in d.c. every january. We had put new welds and goodyear slicks (with tubes) on and didn't put screws in the rims for show. At end of show sunday night he pulled car out on road and did as everybody does, or at least use to do, a burnout. As the motor was screaming and the rims were turning , the slicks didn't move as fast as the rims were. How they didn't come off is still a guess to all of us. Just think if they had come off, might have injured or killed dozens of people lined up to watch. Now just think if your going thru the traps at 180? and that happens. If you look at any other websites you will see 50% screws 50% bead lock. Bead locks are coming more the standard on drag radial cars, even some stockers have them. Don't cheat yourself out of safety, your life could depend on it someday. And to quote rev. Lovejoy's wife from THE SIMPSONS, "Think of the children!". As far as the tire goes, it all depends on what brand you like best, 'cause they all have diff. sizes. I would check out all tire manufacters and see what there specs are. Call them too, I'm sure there are hot lines that have tire techs that will steer you in the right direction. How close is your car ready? If there are any races and/or test and tunes going on that have similair combos, look and ask. 10.5w cars are running in the mid 6 sec. zone, but you might not want to go that route. Good luck and happy new year. STOCKERS RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rick.

Carl Juliano · 01-03-2009, 03:57 PM

The popular tires in Top Sportsman are the Goodyear 1490's and the 1022's. The Hoosier C06 is also popular and that is what I use. You dont "need" beadlocks unless you are over 200mph. Non beadlock is fine for 7sec cars. Think back all the years Pro Stock ran 7's on reg rims without an issue. Tire growth at high mph was the reason for the beadlocks at 200+

dynomo · 01-05-2009, 12:16 PM

There is a reason that all pro stock cars years ago where required to run bead loc wheels topsportman cars are running just as fast as pro stock cars where at that point and in some cases faster if you run only 1/8 mile maybe you'd be alright but I have run both and it's nice to be able to mount your own tires on the bead locs the only draw back to them is they are heavy and will in most cases slow a mid to high 7 second car down a little and it'll get worse if the heavy 1490 tires are used but if you plan on running with the 6 second boy's the beadlocks and the 1490's are the ticket especialy on marginal tracks

wupracing · 01-08-2009, 06:15 PM

How much difference in ET with the 1490's tires and Bead locks over the Non Bead locks

ts polara · 01-12-2009, 11:37 AM

Beadlocks will help going down track as the car is more stable.
They are heavier but safer..

wupracing · 01-12-2009, 09:28 PM

The car we bought has Bead locks wheels with a tire size of 17x34.5x16
I think we are going to switch to 17x33.5x16 when we get the car ready.
As we still have not decided on a motor yet.We are looking at a 632ci. we will run mostly Pro Am races.

12-31-2008, 09:20 PM	#1
wupracing Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maxton N.C. Posts: 155 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Top Sportsman ?? Tire size What size rear tire does most Top Sportsman cars run.. Also do you need Beed Locks wheels on a Low 7 second car 1/4 or 4.80s 1/8 mile

01-01-2009, 03:19 AM	#2
rick lester Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Littlestown PA Posts: 163 Likes: 9 Liked 4 Times in 1 Post	Re: Top Sportsman ?? Tire size As far as the bead lock goes, I would say yes. You might get away with wheel screws, but you would be better off to go that extra step and be safe. Back in 82 the old man had a super gas mustang, we always entered it in the world of wheels car show in d.c. every january. We had put new welds and goodyear slicks (with tubes) on and didn't put screws in the rims for show. At end of show sunday night he pulled car out on road and did as everybody does, or at least use to do, a burnout. As the motor was screaming and the rims were turning , the slicks didn't move as fast as the rims were. How they didn't come off is still a guess to all of us. Just think if they had come off, might have injured or killed dozens of people lined up to watch. Now just think if your going thru the traps at 180? and that happens. If you look at any other websites you will see 50% screws 50% bead lock. Bead locks are coming more the standard on drag radial cars, even some stockers have them. Don't cheat yourself out of safety, your life could depend on it someday. And to quote rev. Lovejoy's wife from THE SIMPSONS, "Think of the children!". As far as the tire goes, it all depends on what brand you like best, 'cause they all have diff. sizes. I would check out all tire manufacters and see what there specs are. Call them too, I'm sure there are hot lines that have tire techs that will steer you in the right direction. How close is your car ready? If there are any races and/or test and tunes going on that have similair combos, look and ask. 10.5w cars are running in the mid 6 sec. zone, but you might not want to go that route. Good luck and happy new year. STOCKERS RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rick.

01-03-2009, 03:57 PM	#3
Carl Juliano Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Queens, NYC Posts: 294 Likes: 226 Liked 64 Times in 25 Posts	Re: Top Sportsman ?? Tire size The popular tires in Top Sportsman are the Goodyear 1490's and the 1022's. The Hoosier C06 is also popular and that is what I use. You dont "need" beadlocks unless you are over 200mph. Non beadlock is fine for 7sec cars. Think back all the years Pro Stock ran 7's on reg rims without an issue. Tire growth at high mph was the reason for the beadlocks at 200+ __________________ Carl Juliano TS 1275 John Juliano SG 151 Carl Sr.

01-05-2009, 12:16 PM	#4
dynomo Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 47 Likes: 0 Liked 7 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Top Sportsman ?? Tire size There is a reason that all pro stock cars years ago where required to run bead loc wheels topsportman cars are running just as fast as pro stock cars where at that point and in some cases faster if you run only 1/8 mile maybe you'd be alright but I have run both and it's nice to be able to mount your own tires on the bead locs the only draw back to them is they are heavy and will in most cases slow a mid to high 7 second car down a little and it'll get worse if the heavy 1490 tires are used but if you plan on running with the 6 second boy's the beadlocks and the 1490's are the ticket especialy on marginal tracks

01-08-2009, 06:15 PM	#5
wupracing Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maxton N.C. Posts: 155 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Top Sportsman ?? Tire size How much difference in ET with the 1490's tires and Bead locks over the Non Bead locks

01-12-2009, 11:37 AM	#6
ts polara Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Home Of The Free. Posts: 62 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Top Sportsman ?? Tire size Beadlocks will help going down track as the car is more stable. They are heavier but safer..

01-12-2009, 09:28 PM	#7
wupracing Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maxton N.C. Posts: 155 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Top Sportsman ?? Tire size The car we bought has Bead locks wheels with a tire size of 17x34.5x16 I think we are going to switch to 17x33.5x16 when we get the car ready. As we still have not decided on a motor yet.We are looking at a 632ci. we will run mostly Pro Am races. __________________ Kevin Mclamb IHRA H/R & Top/Sportsman #9416