I run those same Hoosiers and love them; they stick like mad and are super predictable.
A race car won’t go far without wheels and tires, right?
Cobra Automotive’s Curt Vogt, our guide on our 1965 Mustang vintage racer, races on either 15x7- or 15x8-inch American Racing Torq Thrust D wheels. They are light, strong and he sells them for about $120 each.
Our car came with a set of 15x7-inch Torq Thrust D wheels, and Curt told us they were perfect for our class and looked quite serviceable once his machinist pressed in some lug inserts.
Why the lug inserts? Mounting and dismounting the wheels from the car scores the wheel’s lug seats. The Cobra Automotive part number for these inserts is 100-SLNI, and 20 of them cost us $92. Modifying our wheels and pressing in these inserts set us back another $300.
As for tires, Curt traditionally runs Goodyears–like a 25.5-inch-diameter 600-15 with a 3.70:1 final drive.
But since we have always vintage raced on Hoosiers, we talked to Jeff Speer, the company’s product manager. He suggested that we start with Hoosier 25.5/8.5-15 HOTD R. This vintage racing radial has an overall diameter of 25.2 inches.
We will start with the Hoosiers on our modified American Racing wheels. Once we get going, we can always pick up another set.
I run those same Hoosiers and love them; they stick like mad and are super predictable.
Torque thrusts are the only wheels I would want for this car.
More information on the lug inserts please. Including how the wheel is modified to accept them.
I think it would make a great, short (?) video.
I am not asking for much am I?
I plan on a set of LW80 17x8s(at least in back, front may end up being 17x7 depending on whether I think my '66 will fit them):
I am a big fan of mini-lite style wheels on a vintage mustang...the specific sizes available are anywhere from 15s, 16s, or 17s(possibly 18s if you want ridiculously large wheels)
Admittedly they do look better on a coupe than a fastback....but doesn't everything?
While I like the looks (I have a set of TT's for my '66 Mustang) I'd look for a lighter wheel for racing. Even inexpensive Bassett D-hole steel wheels in 15 X 7 are about 3 lbs. per wheel lighter than the TT D's which would decrease braking distances and increase the acceleration rate by reducing the MOI while only costing about $80.00 a wheel.
In reply to Wicked93gs :
I like the look of those. And I agree, just about everything looks better on a set of Minilites.
In reply to Tom1200 :
Glad to hear that. Looking forward to trying the car out.
In reply to Noddaz :
They sent the wheels to a machine shop that milled the wheels and pressed in the inserts. I wasn't able to watch it happen. I don't think it was much more magical than this though.
In reply to NOT A TA :
As the story (about to go to print) in the June issue outlines, we got the TT wheels essentially for free off another car we were going to start with. We might look at different options once we get a second set of wheels, which we will be needing.
In reply to Tim Suddard :
I'd love to hear what you think; I find the sidewalls to have a good bit of wind up which makes them super predictable.
If you haven't driven on treaded bias plys in a while don't forget the move around alot; the secret is to let them.
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