Wheel diameter options

[westexgt]

I am using the wide five hub assembly from Tatum on the rear of my mini, and I want to know if I can put a 12" diameter wheel instead of the 15" that is currently on it? The 15" wheel with a 14.50 tire is way too large for this car, I need a 12" wheel and about a 26" tire. What bolt pattern do most mini manufacturers run, because it looks like most use a 12" wheel not the 15" in the rear.

Kevin

[Gene]

I think that is the name of the tire King uses on his cars. They are about 26" and fit on 15" inch wheels. Check with Spencer at El Toro (Belmore).
Gene

[yoshi]

If your running a busa powerplant anything less than 31 inch tall paddles on 15 inch rims won't be enough....

[Seattle Slew]

why do you say that it depends on the gearing as well as the horse power doesnt it

[Bugpac]

yup, smaller tire more torque, larger more speed.

[Seattle Slew]

yeah but you can gear the buggy higher with the smaller tire or gear the buggy lower with the bigger tire and come out the same right you just change sprockets as well as tires i thought. so why would a busa need a large tire. i thought it just needed to be geared right depending on whatever tire you have no matter what motor you pick

[Bugpac]

thats what i think, but yoshi advertises on his sight the 31 tires for safety reasons, i have seen full size cars with 31 tires. 8)

[MC@ Performance Fab]

12'' wheels with a 5 lug vw pattern isnt a off the shelf part, in fact i dont think there is enought room. You might call tatem about a pair of 4 lug hubs and sell the others. 1300x15 tires are a lot of rubber for a mini, when the rpms are down their really going to hurt what little low end there is. Also the gearing is going to be difficult without some form of reduction box or jack shaft. If your are building a heavy car and running 26'' paddles the wider pros are good for more flotation, also going to add more bite. As far as top end speed the smaller tires are faster.

[Bugpac]

Originally Posted by MC@ Performance Fab

12'' wheels with a 5 lug vw pattern isnt a off the shelf part, in fact i dont think there is enought room. You might call tatem about a pair of 4 lug hubs and sell the others. 1300x15 tires are a lot of rubber for a mini, when the rpms are down their really going to hurt what little low end there is. Also the gearing is going to be difficult without some form of reduction box or jack shaft. If your are building a heavy car and running 26'' paddles the wider pros are good for more flotation, also going to add more bite. As far as top end speed the smaller tires are faster.

how is a smaller tire faster, it has to turn more times to cover the same ground? 8)

[Kludge]

Kevin,

Too big in what way?

Too: wide, tall, heavy or need too much HP to spin them up?

You could drop down to a 13.00-15 and have them cut for the power you have.

/Frank