NHRA, Goodyear, Ford, SFI, Force test new bead lock wheel design

A tire and wheel sits attached to the Landing Gear Test machinery at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio prior to a load test.

NHRA, John Force Racing, Goodyear, Ford and the SFI Foundation began testing a new bead lock wheel design for Top Fuel and Funny Car rear tires last week at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. The group spent three days at the facility testing.

The Landing Gear Test Facility at Wright Patterson Air Force Base is one of the most sophisticated in the country and allowed the group to test near-track conditions on the load experienced on Top Fuel and Funny Car rear tires. Additional tests are planned, with the goal to have the SFI Foundation develop a bead lock wheel specification for both nitromethane categories sometime in 2009.

"The high loads on a Top Fuel or Funny Car tire and wheel during a run are difficult to duplicate outside the race track," said Glen Gray, vice president of technical operations for NHRA. "But the Landing Gear Test Facility at Wright Patterson Air Force Base has the type of equipment necessary to complete such a task."