Light Wheels & Sticky Tires For Launch...?

WarBaby · Mar 14, 2012

I'm trying to arrive at an ideal combination of tires and rims for launching my `11 RCSB 2WD Hemi ST. Curiously, the factory 17 X 7 steel rim weight seems very elusive--I've read numbers from 23 to 33 pounds each. Does anyone know with certainty?

To the point, I have a K&N CAI and 14" straight-through muffler. I plan on 4.10 factory LSD gears, Y-pipe, removal of trailer hitch/spare tire/tailgate plus an Edge 2800 stall TC (it is also my daily driver). My truck is lowered 2" in the rear. I would like to use M&H 275/50R17 drag radials that are 28" tall (stock height is 31.6"). M&H specifies a 9" rim for that tire. I have found several 17 X 9 Ultra wheels that weigh between 24 and 25 pounds that are "supposed" to fit. I am thinking about using General Grabber UHP 275/55R17 up front (and on the rear for the street).

Since a tuner is not yet available (and might never be), I intend to have some 1/4-mile fun with the stock engine but...the truck must hook. I want 60' times under 1.8 seconds. Otherwise, there is scant motivation for me to proceed. I haven't spent much money on these plans...yet. So I have to ask you experienced guys, will these mods achieve my goals? Your input will be greatly appreciated before I make an expensive mistake! :Hey:

Thanks!

Tom/TN

TheSatinPumpkin · Mar 14, 2012

SST 17x9 are around 24-25 lbs. You can run Offroad alloy or Durango alloys which are also around 25lbs but only 17x8 but you can prob use your M&H just fine with them.

Some folks screw in Hoosier 28x10 17 to the 17x8 oem alloys.

I run Toyos 275/55/17 (17x9 XD Addict Alloys) on the front and 305/45/18 Nitto Nt555r Drag Radials (18x9 XD Addict Alloys) in the rear for 10 months of the year.

I use to have a set of screwed in slicks but sold them since i had lost interest of doing track times.

chefred uses Procomp rears and is running 12's not sure what his 60ft is.

BlackRamHemi · Mar 14, 2012

Sounds like a good plan,
The only possible issue I see is without correcting your tire size/speedometer with a tuner,
you may hit the governor (105mph) before the end of the quarter and fall on your face well short of the traps.
at about the 1000' mark you'll be moving around 90 MPH, but your speedo will register 105 mph and the governor will retard your the throttle.
(about 10% smaller tire = speedo reading about 10% too fast)

I have a similar list of mods on my 10' RCSB 4x4 (about 300 pounds heavier than a 2wd rcsb)
and get 13.8's @98 MPH, 60' times are 1.8's (with a tune) but only an open diff with shitty 3.55's, DA here is usually over 2500'
only weight reduction was the spare removed. (tailgate and bakflip tonneau still on)

I run M/T 295/45R17 ET Street DR's on all 4 corners and often use 4WD auto for a full throttle launch since I added the Street Edge 2800 stall TC.
in ideal conditions with good track prep, a fresh layer of traction promoter I can still hook in 2WD.

Total weight for tire and wheel combo(17"x9" Moto Metal alum wheel) = around 60lbs ea.
that's about 30 pounds lighter than my 305/50 Terra Grappler's on stock 20's I use for the street.
(truck is a half second slower on my street tires) effective gear ratio goes from 3.55 to 4.30:1 when I swap to my M/T's

Tires measure about 11" wide x 27" tall mounted. DOT legal so I can swap them at home and drive them to the track.

If I had a rear locker or limited slip and 4.10's I bet I could hit 1.7's for a 60 footer in 2WD. current best 60' is 1.870

TheSatinPumpkin · Mar 14, 2012

Nice to see you posting again

BlackRamHemi · Mar 14, 2012

Get'n rev'd up for race season again after a LONG Winter hibernation.

Track re-opens end of April
and with any luck the evening air will still be cold enough to get our DA down.

HemiSwagg · Mar 14, 2012

You are right! Getting 17's will need a tuner to compensate for the 105 mph guvna. SUCKS...I want the same set up u have BlackRamHemi.

Thinking I will put some DR's on my stock 20x9's and get a set of SRT 22X10's for my daily set up till a tuner comes out.

I am currently doing 2.3 60ft's at 15.01 in the 1/4 at 2600 feet above sea level with just a cherry bomb muffler and K&N drop in ; )

HemiSwagg · Mar 14, 2012

Edit: actually 3600 ft. above sea level

WarBaby · Mar 14, 2012

I was not aware of the governor/tuner issue. Thanks for the heads-up on that and all other informative replies. A temporary solution for me (until tuner availability) might be to run our local 1/8 mile track instead of our 1/4 mile track...heh heh!

There are a couple of cocky eco-boost pilots around here whose personalities could benefit from some therapeutic humility. Being compassionate toward my fellow man, I am willing to render that therapy to them...a la 5.7 Hemi.

BlackRamHemi · Mar 14, 2012

Last Fall there was an ext cab eco douche talking up his ride at the track,
I kept trying to line up with him but he would always jump to a different lane to get away from me

(we usually have have 4 or 5 lanes that merge into 2)

He was running low to mid 15's and wanted nothing to do with me when he saw me pulling high 13's,

even my buddy with a 10' QC 4x4 Hemi (on stock 20's running 14's) couldn't get him to bite.

He swore he'd be back with upgraded turbo's/tuning next time out, I sure hope so, I've got some new toys on order too ,
also got a couple SRT8 Jeeps to teach a lesson too (again) this year Cant Wait to get Back!

chefred112 · Mar 14, 2012

I have to spray to get 1.7 60's, I need a tq verter to get 1.8's (and I'm modded heavily)... i think your first goal is to get sub 2.0 60's , dr's, tq verter definitely helps but since you don't have a tuner it will be difficult altho the 4th gens are pretty quick...

chefred112 · Mar 14, 2012

your truck is sexy blackram in track mode!! i can see why most would avoid you...i would..at first

WarBaby · Mar 14, 2012

Great info guys...! :smileup:

WarBaby · Mar 19, 2012

For anyone wanting to know the official weight of late model Ram ST 17" X 7" steel rims...it is 32 pounds. I found it in an obscure .pdf file on the Dodge website.

moparornocar72 · Mar 19, 2012

thanks for the info. reps to ya!

TheSatinPumpkin · Mar 20, 2012

ramrt1993 · Mar 20, 2012

kay9 said:
You can get some oem rim specs below

2004
http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2004/docs/intro/twlnwv.pdf

2006
http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2006/docs/intro/twlnwv.pdf

2007
http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2007/docs/intro/twlnwv.pdf

2008
http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2008/docs/intro/twlnwv.pdf

2009
http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2009/docs/intro/twlnwv.pdf

2010
http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2010/docs/intro/twlnwv.pdf

2011
http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2011/docs/intro/twlnwv.pdf

2012
http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2012/docs/intro/twlnwv.pdf

According to that, the R/T wheels aren't any heavier than all the other wheels..I guess the only disadvantage would still be the 32" OD.

dodgert · Mar 20, 2012

Well i know for a fact the 2011 r/t rims and tires are way over 75 pounds each i had to ship 4 of them to philly and that was without air/ and my new kmc slides are pushed around the 75-80 pound range to

ramrt1993 · Mar 20, 2012

dodgert said:
Well i know for a fact the 2011 r/t rims and tires are way over 75 pounds each i had to ship 4 of them to philly and that was without air/ and my new kmc slides are pushed around the 75-80 pound range to

Yes, I know, I've weighed mine on a shop scale while rotating my tires. But that's with the tires. Wheel for wheel without tires, the R/T wheel is about the same weight as a sport wheel or any other 20 wheel. Although it looked like the 17 inchers were a good bit lighter.

dodgert · Mar 20, 2012

ramrt1993 said:
Yes, I know, I've weighed mine on a shop scale while rotating my tires. But that's with the tires. Wheel for wheel without tires, the R/T wheel is about the same weight as a sport wheel or any other 20 wheel. Although it looked like the 17 inchers were a good bit lighter.

Ahh got ya but you mean to tell me air and a tire adds almost 40 pounds

ramrt1993 · Mar 20, 2012

dodgert said:
Ahh got ya but you mean to tell me air and a tire adds almost 40 pounds

That's not the point..what I'm saying is, R/Ts don't necessarily have a disadvantage to other Ram because of a heavier wheel.

Light Wheels & Sticky Tires For Launch...?

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