How To Choose The Best Drag Race Wheels For Your Car

If you have the need for speed, you may participate in a drag race from time to time. A drag race is a competition between two vehicles racing side by side in a straight line for a distance of a quarter mile. These races are often held on monitored drag strips or race tracks, and in most scenarios, whoever makes it to the finish line first wins the race. Having the right drag race tires and wheels can mean the difference between winning and losing a race. That’s why, in this blog, we’re going to go over some tips for choosing the best drag race wheels for your car.

Since 1989, RC Components has been recognized as the premier manufacturer of aftermarket and custom automotive drag race wheels and motorcycle wheels. Our brand is most known for our innovative wheel designs, quality, and an unmatched seven year chrome warranty. Browse our catalog online or contact us today with any questions!

Finding The Right Drag Tires

When it comes to shopping for drag race tires, there are a variety of options to choose from. While the hunt for new rubber may seem a bit overwhelming at first, the first thing you’ll want to do is break down each tire by its construction to decide what you need. All tires are not created equal, and depending on your intended usage, the kind of tire you choose is critical to your car’s speed and performance. For street cars, you’ll want to look at DOT-rated tires. These are automobile tires that have passed the strict Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations for street driving. In order for a tire to be approved for street use, a tire must meet specific standards such as hydroplane resistance, tread depth, and sidewall stiffness. For street use, the bare minimum tread depth is 2/32nds, while most drag radials are in the 5/32nds range.

The two main types of DOT drag tires are radials and bias-ply. Drag radials offer the driver a sturdy sidewall for cornering and they also have less rolling resistance than bias-ply tires. Drag radials use a unique soft compound which is great for the track, however, driving them on the street is going to eat them up pretty quickly. It’s important to note that most tire manufacturers have a disclaimer about mixing bias-ply tires with radials on the same car.

Many drag race professionals say that the sticking point for choosing your tire design is the transmission and whether you have a clutch or a torque converter. Carl Robinson of Mickey Thompson Tires said, “A clutch car will work much better with bias-ply ET Street tires. I’m not saying radials won’t work, but it takes a sophisticated clutch and suspension to take advantage of the reduced rolling resistance of a radial early in the run.” Robinson also noted that power adders with stock suspension has really pushed the use of tubes in bias ply tires. The tubes are there to provide additional support for the bias construction, especially when it comes to the sidewall. Before you purchase a new set of tires, be sure to speak with an automotive professional.

If you’re shopping for drag race wheels online, be sure to check out RC Components’ large selection of automobile and motorcycle wheels. We offer a diverse array of wheel designs and we have grown to over 10,000 dealers worldwide in 36 different countries. All of our premier products are designed, engineered, and manufactured under one roof in Bowling Green, KY. If you have any questions about our products or you’d like to learn more about our drag race wheels, contact our friendly staff of professionals today!