Sylvie Willis
Top Fuel dragsters are powerful machines, capable of burning 15-20 gallons of nitromethane in a 3.6-second, 335-mph 1,000-foot run. The tires on these dragsters are an integral part of their performance, providing massive grip to harness the car's 11,000 horsepower. Manufactured by Goodyear in Akron, Ohio, these tires are 36 inches tall, 17.5 inches wide, and weigh 48 pounds each. With a price tag of over $900 per tire, they are an expensive but essential component, lasting only about 1.5 miles or eight runs before needing replacement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tire Cost | $900+ |
| Tire Weight | 48 pounds |
| Tire Dimensions | 36 inches tall and 17.5 inches wide |
| Tire Life | 8 runs or 1.5 miles |
| Tire Manufacturer | Goodyear |
| Tire Location | Akron, Ohio |
| Tire Type | Bias-ply drag slicks |
| Tire Function | Provide massive grip and increase speed |
| Tire Use | Distort and develop flat spots during deceleration |
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What You'll Learn
Goodyear tires cost $900+
Goodyear tires for Top Fuel dragsters cost $917 per tire. These tires are specifically designed for drag racing and are an essential part of the vehicle's performance. Each tire is expected to last for only 1.5 miles, or around eight runs, before needing to be replaced.
The high cost of these tires can be attributed to their specialized design and construction. They are engineered to withstand the extreme demands of drag racing, where they must handle high speeds, rapid acceleration, and intense braking. The tires play a critical role in the performance of the vehicle, and their quality and condition can significantly impact the outcome of a race.
Goodyear Racing offers the part number 2747 tire, which measures 36 inches tall and 17.5 inches wide, weighing 48 pounds. These tires are manufactured in Akron, Ohio, and are designed to deliver the immense power generated by Top Fuel dragsters. The cost of $917 per tire reflects the advanced technology and materials used in their construction, ensuring optimal performance and safety on the dragstrip.
The short lifespan of Top Fuel dragster tires is a result of the extreme conditions they endure. During a race, the tires experience tremendous stress, with each run generating enough heat to require a burnout to warm the rubber beforehand. The intense acceleration and braking also contribute to rapid wear, making it necessary to replace the tires frequently to maintain optimal performance and safety.
While the cost of Goodyear tires for Top Fuel dragsters may seem high, it is a reflection of their specialized nature and the critical role they play in the sport. These tires are designed to provide the ultimate in traction, stability, and durability within the specific context of drag racing, where performance and safety are of the utmost importance.
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Tires last 1.5 miles
Top Fuel dragster tires are not your average set of wheels. They are purpose-built to handle the incredible demands of drag racing and are an integral part of the vehicle's performance. Each tire costs around $900 to $917 and is expected to last for about 1.5 miles. That's roughly eight runs or 1000-foot runs.
These tires are massive, standing at 36 inches tall and 17.5 inches wide, and weighing in at 48 pounds each. They are manufactured by Goodyear in Akron, Ohio, and are specifically designed to provide massive grip throughout the entire run. The tires are heated before the run to optimise their performance, and as the dragster launches, the tires expand in diameter, sometimes reaching 38 inches, while the contact patch lengthens and narrows. This reduces rolling resistance as the vehicle accelerates.
The incredible forces exerted on the tires during a run can lead to distortion and flat spots as the car slows down. The tires play a critical role in the performance of Top Fuel dragsters, and their design and engineering have advanced significantly over the years to keep up with the increasing speeds and demands of the sport. The work of tire engineers at each stage of a run is crucial to the overall performance and safety of the vehicle.
While the tires may only last a short distance, their impact on the speed and performance of Top Fuel dragsters is significant. The cost of the tires is a small price to pay for the thrill and glory of drag racing, and the used tires even have a "retirement" of sorts, sometimes being repurposed for slower classes or used to coat the track with rubber for improved grip.
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Tires weigh 48 pounds
Top Fuel dragsters are impressive machines, capable of burning 15-20 gallons of nitromethane in a 3.6-second, 335-mph 1000-foot run. They are powerful machines, with 11,000 horsepower, and they require robust tires to match. These tires are no ordinary rubber donuts; they are active parts of the driveline, providing massive grip and handling enormous horsepower.
Goodyear manufactures these tires in their Akron, Ohio plant. The tires stand tall at 36 inches and are 17.5 inches wide, weighing 48 pounds each. They are listed as part number 2747 in the Goodyear Racing catalog and cost $917 per tire. Each tire is expected to last eight runs or about 1.5 miles. Considering the extreme conditions they endure, it is no surprise that these tires need to be replaced frequently.
The weight of the tires, at 48 pounds, is a crucial factor in their design. This weight helps to counter the immense forces exerted on the tires during a dragster's high-speed run. The tires play a critical role in the performance and safety of the vehicle. When the dragster launches, the tires expand due to inertia, growing to up to 38 inches in diameter. This expansion reduces the contact patch, allowing the final-drive ratio to increase for higher speeds.
As the dragster slows down, the tires distort and can develop flat spots. However, parachutes are deployed to assist in slowing down, reducing the stress on the tires. The weight of the tires contributes to their ability to withstand these extreme forces and ensures that they can provide the necessary traction and stability during the intense acceleration and deceleration of a Top Fuel dragster run.
The 48-pound weight of the tires is a testament to the engineering and technology that goes into designing these specialized tires. It demonstrates the attention to detail required to create tires that can handle the unique demands of Top Fuel drag racing.
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Tires are 36 inches tall
Top Fuel dragster tires are no ordinary tires. They are active parts of the driveline, designed to withstand the massive torque of a dragster. These tires are engineered to deliver on power and logic, with each element carefully crafted to act in a predictable way and order.
A single Top Fuel dragster tire costs around $917 and is expected to last only 1.5 miles, or about eight runs. These tires are 36 inches tall, 17.5 inches wide, and weigh 48 pounds each. They are identified as part number 2747 in the Goodyear Racing catalog.
The process of preparing and using these tires is fascinating. Before a run, the tires are heated through a burnout process. Once the full-power run begins, the tires experience incredible forces. The sidewalls wrinkle as the tire compresses, expanding the contact patch to almost 250 square inches—larger than two side-by-side sheets of 8.5-by-11-inch paper. This compression also shortens the final drive ratio, resulting in a harder launch.
As the dragster accelerates, the tires grow. By the time the vehicle reaches its top speed, the tires can expand to a diameter of up to 38 inches. This increase in diameter lengthens the contact patch while narrowing it simultaneously, reducing rolling resistance as the dragster achieves its maximum velocity.
After their glory days on the track, some of these tires find new life in slower classes, while others become "draggers." Draggers are used to coat the track with a layer of rubber between runs, enhancing the grip for the high-performance tires that follow.
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Tires are 17.5 inches wide
Top Fuel dragster tires are not your average car tires. They are active parts of the driveline, and each tire costs around $917. These tires are expected to last only 1.5 miles, or about eight runs. They are massive, standing at 36 inches tall, 17.5 inches wide, and weighing 48 pounds each.
The tires are an essential component of Top Fuel dragsters, which turn 15 to 20 gallons of nitromethane fuel into 11,000 horsepower. The tires help these dragsters achieve a 3.7-second, 335-mph 1000-foot run. The width of the tires, at 17.5 inches, is crucial to providing the necessary traction and stability for such high speeds.
The physics of these dragster tires is fascinating. Before the car launches, the tires are heated through a burnout, and the rubber compresses, expanding the contact patch to almost 250 square inches. This compression also shortens the final-drive ratio for a harder launch. As the car accelerates, the tires grow in diameter, reaching up to 38 inches, which lengthens the contact patch and helps the vehicle achieve higher speeds.
The massive torque generated by Top Fuel dragsters allows them to utilize these large rear tires effectively. The tires play a critical role in the performance of the dragster, and their unique characteristics contribute to the thrill and glory of drag racing. After their racing life, some tires find new purposes, such as coating the track with rubber to enhance grip for other vehicles.
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Frequently asked questions
Top Fuel dragster tires cost around $900 to $917 each.
Top Fuel dragster tires are expected to last for about 1.5 miles or eight runs.
Top Fuel dragster tires weigh 48 pounds each.
Top Fuel dragster tires are 36 inches tall and 17.5 inches wide.
