Ameer Randolph
Top fuel dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of up to 341.58 miles per hour. These cars are powered by 15 to 20 gallons of nitromethane fuel, which is converted into 11,000 horsepower. Given the high-performance nature of these vehicles, it is no surprise that the cost of maintaining them is significant. One of the most critical components of a top fuel dragster is its tires, which are specifically designed to handle the extreme speeds and acceleration that these cars are capable of. But how much does a top fuel tire cost?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost of a single tire | $917 |
| Tire height | 36 inches |
| Tire width | 17.5 inches |
| Weight | 48 pounds |
| Expected mileage | 1.5 miles |
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What You'll Learn
Top Fuel dragster tires cost $917 each
Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 341.58 mph and finishing 1,000-foot runs in 3.641 seconds. To put that into perspective, that's less than a third of the time a Porsche 911 Turbo takes to reach 60 mph.
These dragsters are powered by 15 to 20 gallons of nitromethane fuel, which is converted into 11,000 horsepower. All that power is channelled through a pair of bias-ply drag slicks, which cost $917 each. These tyres are 36 inches tall, 17.5 inches wide, and weigh 48 pounds each. They're manufactured in Akron, Ohio, and can be found in the Goodyear Racing catalogue under part number 2747.
Each tyre is expected to last eight runs or a little over 1.5 miles. To get the most out of them, racers perform a burnout before their run to clean and heat the tyres. This also applies a layer of fresh rubber to the track, improving traction during launch. The massive torque generated by Top Fuel dragsters can cause the sidewalls of the tyres to wrinkle and the tread to ball up at the front of the contact patch, which expands the contact patch to almost 250 square inches.
Given the intense forces exerted on these tyres, it's no surprise that they carry a hefty price tag of $917 each.
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They last for eight runs
Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 341.58 mph and finishing 1,000-foot runs in 3.641 seconds. To put that into context, that's 0-100 mph in less than a second.
The tires on these cars are put under immense pressure. They are warmed up for 80 seconds before a run, and the run itself, including tire warming, takes about 100 seconds. After each run, the tires are often dragged up and down the track to coat the surface with rubber for improved grip. This means that each tire only lasts for eight runs, or a bit more than 1.5 miles.
Each tire costs around $917, so it's a costly business. The tires are 36 inches tall, 17.5 inches wide, and weigh 48 pounds. They are manufactured by Goodyear in Akron, Ohio.
The rear tire pressure is heavily regulated by Goodyear Tire and Rubber on behalf of the NHRA, at 7 psi (48 kPa). This is the absolute minimum pressure allowed.
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That's a distance of 1.5 miles
Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 341.58 mph. They can accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in less than a second. This means that the tires of these cars are subjected to a lot of pressure and torque. The tires are 36 inches tall and 17.5 inches wide, and weigh 48 pounds. They cost around $917 per tire and are expected to last only 1.5 miles, or eight runs. That's a distance of 1.5 miles.
The massive torque applied to the rear axle shifts the load of the car rearward and tries to twist the tire on its 16-inch beadlock rim. The sidewalls wrinkle as the tire shrinks in radius by more than six inches, and the tread effectively balls up at the front of the contact patch. This compression of the tire expands the contact patch to almost 250 square inches, larger than two side-by-side sheets of 8.5-by-11-inch paper. The compression of the tire also shortens the final-drive ratio, allowing for a harder launch.
After the car launches, the tire releases the stored torque, and the tire grows back to its original size. The rear tire pressure is heavily regulated by Goodyear Tire and Rubber on behalf of the NHRA, at 7 psi (48 kPa). This is the absolute minimum pressure allowed to maintain the safety of the driver and audience.
The tires are also warmed up before each run through a process called a burnout, which helps to heat the tires' rubber and improve traction during launch. This process also applies a layer of fresh rubber to the track surface, further improving traction.
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They're 36 inches tall
Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 341.58 mph and finishing 1,000-foot runs in 3.641 seconds. They are the only dragsters with the massive torque to effectively use and abuse huge rear tires. These tires are 36 inches tall, 17.5 inches wide, and weigh 48 pounds each. They cost around $917 per tire and are expected to last for eight runs or about 1.5 miles.
The massive torque channeled through the rear axle shifts the load of the car rearward and twists the tire on its 16-inch beadlock rim. The sidewalls wrinkle as the tire shrinks in radius by over six inches, and the tread balls up at the front of the contact patch. This compression of the tire expands the contact patch to almost 250 square inches, larger than two side-by-side sheets of 8.5-by-11-inch paper.
After the car launches, inertia increases the tire to up to 38 inches in diameter, simultaneously lengthening and narrowing the contact patch. The rear tire pressure is heavily regulated by Goodyear Tire and Rubber on behalf of the NHRA, at 7 psi (48 kPa), the absolute minimum pressure allowed. Before their run, racers perform a burnout to clean and heat the tires, which also applies a layer of fresh rubber to the track surface, improving traction during launch.
The engine is warmed up for about 80 seconds. After the warm-up, the valve covers are removed, the oil is changed, and the car is refueled. The entire process, including tire warming, takes about 100 seconds, resulting in a "lap" of about three minutes. After each lap, the engine is disassembled and examined, and any worn or damaged components are replaced.
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They weigh 48 pounds
Top fuel tires are 36 inches tall, 17.5 inches wide, and weigh 48 pounds each. They are powerful enough to turn 15 to 20 gallons of nitromethane fuel into 11,000 horsepower, achieving a 3.7-second, 335-mph 1000-foot run. Each tire costs $917 and is expected to last for eight runs, or about 1.5 miles.
Weighing 48 pounds each, these tires are heavy-duty and built to withstand the extreme forces exerted during drag races. The weight of the tires contributes to their stability and traction, ensuring they can handle the high speeds and rapid acceleration.
The weight of the tires is also a factor in their durability. At 48 pounds, these tires are designed to withstand the intense heat, friction, and pressure generated during a race. The weight helps to dissipate the heat and reduces wear and tear, allowing the tires to last for multiple runs before needing to be replaced.
The 48-pound weight of top fuel tires is a result of careful engineering and optimization. It strikes a balance between providing sufficient traction, stability, and durability while minimizing weight to ensure optimal performance and speed.
The weight of the tires also has implications for safety. Heavier tires can help to improve the overall stability of the vehicle, reducing the risk of spinouts or loss of control. Additionally, the weight of the tires contributes to the overall inertia of the vehicle, which can impact its acceleration and deceleration capabilities.
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Frequently asked questions
Top fuel tires, manufactured by Goodyear, cost over $900 each.
Top fuel tires are expected to last only 1.5 miles, or about eight runs.
The rear tire pressure is regulated by Goodyear Tire and Rubber on behalf of the NHRA at 7 psi (48 kPa).
Top fuel tires are 36 inches tall and 17.5 inches wide.
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