Drag racing

[spidey07]

Watching some drag racing and the whells look like they have bolts on the tires.

Are the tires actually bolted on? I could imagine they'd need something to hold the sheer insane amount rotational force on that joint.

 

[amdskip]

Actually the newest trend in this is to run them screwless so that it looks better. For the most part they have not had a problem running them without screws. The tires are mostly tubeless also. My dad and I debated running screws or no screws on the new dragster we are building and we ended up running screws for safety reasons.

 

[spidey07]

so they are secured to the wheel with screws?

 

[JustinSampson]

They are usually either screwed on with many screws going through the rim into the rubber, or the rubber is pinched under a lip which is bolted onto the rim (sorry I forget the technical name for this). It depends on what level of racing it is though.

 

[amdskip]

I've never seen a lip that pinches the tire. Yes the screws do hold the tire to the rim but you can run them without screws and not have issues it seems.

 

[imported_Pablo]

Originally posted by: JustinSampson
They are usually either screwed on with many screws going through the rim into the rubber, or the rubber is pinched under a lip which is bolted onto the rim (sorry I forget the technical name for this). It depends on what level of racing it is though.

I think they call those beadlocks? Or at least they do for off-roading...

 

[spidey07]

thanks guys...looking at the close up of the tires I saw many (maybe 50?) screws on the tire.

 

[amdskip]

I think we used 8 screws on our tires. The top fuel cars probably run more screws for their faster speeds. Here's a good picture of tire screws: http://nhra.com/2004/events/ra...hotos/irp/photo09.html

 

[TitanDiddly]

What the heck?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: amdskip
I think we used 8 screws on our tires. The top fuel cars probably run more screws for their faster speeds. Here's a good picture of tire screws: http://nhra.com/2004/events/ra...hotos/irp/photo09.html

thanks!

That's what I'm talking about - the round of screws where the tire meets the wheel.

 

[Evadman]

It is comonly refered to as a beadlock

more pics

 

[iamwiz82]

That is a beadlock rim. Once the tire is seated, that outer ring is tightened down, creating a stronggrip on the tire so it won't fly off. Offroad rigs do it because they run extremely low air-pressure.

 

[spidey07]

beadlock.....tire screwy things....whats the difference.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
That is a beadlock rim. Once the tire is seated, that outer ring is tightened down, creating a stronggrip on the tire so it won't fly off. Offroad rigs do it because they run extremely low air-pressure.

gotcha - so the bead is laid between two plates and screwed down?

So its like a two part wheel? one part is the wheel with another "plate" or "ring" that is fastened to the wheel to lock the bead/tire?

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: spidey07
So its like a two part wheel? one part is the wheel with another "plate" or "ring" that is fastened to the wheel to lock the bead/tire?

It would be 3 piece. there is an outer and inner locking ring. In the 4x4 world, usually only outer beadlocks are used.

Oh, and BTW, beadlocks are not DOT approved in any US state.

 

[amdskip]

On cars like super comp cars, there is no bead lock clamp like that. It's just tire and rim with screws right into the tire.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
What the heck?

Beadlocks are used to keep the tire from slipping in the rim. Improves traction so that the car launches harder. If the tire slips, the car goes nowhere.

 

[DrPizza]

I don't think it's a matter of the speeds that determines the type of joining between tire and wheel... it's the acceleration

edit: or rather the force which causes the acceleration..