MT Sportsman skinnies at the track - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

11syn3rgy · 11-12-2014, 07:05 PM

Hey guys,

I would like to know your thoughts on the MT Sportsman 'skinnies' for a 17x4.5 rim. I like the idea that they are 28" tall and that they are a radial, but I've read a few things saying that the load rating might not be up to par for a supercharged Camaro? I'm trapping at around 124 right now and should be 126-127 in the spring. Just want to make sure that I'm buying the right skinnies. I'm not a huge fan of bias ply, and was wondering if anyone has these 28" tall MT's and have run them at the track with similar or higher speed.

Please advise. Thanks!

Mikes fast ss · 11-12-2014, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 11syn3rgy

Hey guys,

I would like to know your thoughts on the MT Sportsman 'skinnies' for a 17x4.5 rim. I like the idea that they are 28" tall and that they are a radial, but I've read a few things saying that the load rating might not be up to par for a supercharged Camaro? I'm trapping at around 124 right now and should be 126-127 in the spring. Just want to make sure that I'm buying the right skinnies. I'm not a huge fan of bias ply, and was wondering if anyone has these 28" tall MT's and have run them at the track with similar or higher speed.

Please advise. Thanks!

The bias ply m&h front runners are great. There are no issues with them. I wouldn't have second thoughts especially since you have concerns about the rsdial skinny.

white ZL1 · 11-12-2014, 07:11 PM

I think a rep from M/T said that they should be fine at speeds above 130 as long as we're not talking about sustained high speeds?

11syn3rgy · 11-12-2014, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by white ZL1

I think a rep from M/T said that they should be fine at speeds above 130 as long as we're not talking about sustained high speeds?

Yeah, I saw that too. I appreciate the reply. I'm not too concerned about the 130 mph since I would only be there for a very short time. I'm just wondering if the 'load rating' becomes dangerous at this speed? I want to be able to drive to the track which is about 50 miles away. If it rains, bias plys scare the crap out of me.

Mikes fast ss · 11-12-2014, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 11syn3rgy

Yeah, I saw that too. I appreciate the reply. I'm not too concerned about the 130 mph since I would only be there for a very short time. I'm just wondering if the 'load rating' becomes dangerous at this speed? I want to be able to drive to the track which is about 50 miles away. If it rains, bias plys scare the crap out of me.

If you're driving to the track in the rain you have bigger issues than having bias front runners. Lol

11syn3rgy · 11-12-2014, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikes fast ss

If you're driving to the track in the rain you have bigger issues than having bias front runners. Lol

HA!! No doubt. I meant if I have to drive home in the rain. That actually happened last summer. Bias plys would not have been good on that drive home. We can't predict the weather ya know.

DarkCry956 · 11-13-2014, 06:38 AM

I daily drive the bias ply. No problems. If your worried about rain then the problem will be in whatever rear tires your running. Only complain I might have is that they're bouncy. Steep driveways, speed bumps and things like that either scrape the front bumper or long tubes headers scrape. I just had to learn to go SLOW in those situations

11syn3rgy · 11-13-2014, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkCry956

I daily drive the bias ply. No problems. If your worried about rain then the problem will be in whatever rear tires your running. Only complain I might have is that they're bouncy. Steep driveways, speed bumps and things like that either scrape the front bumper or long tubes headers scrape. I just had to learn to go SLOW in those situations

Ok, thanks for the feedback. Doesn't anyone run these new MT Sportsman skinnies? They were all the rage on this forum earlier in the year.

Merc · 11-13-2014, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikes fast ss

If you're driving to the track in the rain you have bigger issues than having bias front runners. Lol

I run the bias ply M&H skinnies with slicks, but I only drive Pumpkin about a mile or so from our shop to the track. No issues, but never in the rain.

BMR Sales · 11-13-2014, 10:46 AM

I have the M/T Sportsman skinnies on my personal car. It's not supercharged, so I don't have that extra weight up front, and obviously I'm not trapping up at the numbers you are, but I have been to the track a few times with them, and they seem to work just fine on my car. No issues. I was advised to keep them aired up to about 50 psi because of the load rating, which I do. FWIW, I do think they handle the wet roads much better than the bias-ply M&H's that I used to have on my car. Can't say the same for the rear M&H drag radials, but that is to be expected.

11syn3rgy · 11-13-2014, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMR Sales

I have the M/T Sportsman skinnies on my personal car. It's not supercharged, so I don't have that extra weight up front, and obviously I'm not trapping up at the numbers you are, but I have been to the track a few times with them, and they seem to work just fine on my car. No issues. I was advised to keep them aired up to about 50 psi because of the load rating, which I do. FWIW, I do think they handle the wet roads much better than the bias-ply M&H's that I used to have on my car. Can't say the same for the rear M&H drag radials, but that is to be expected.

Perfect, thanks man. I think I'm going to go with the MT Sportsman's. I'll just keep them aired up to 50-55 psi all of the time.

11syn3rgy · 11-13-2014, 01:58 PM

I just received this reply from tech support at Mickey Thompson regarding these radial "skinnies"...

"At the track you are fine for both speed rating and weight as it is short distance ¼ mile max. You just don’t want to run those on the street."

I thought others were driving these on the street without issue? What am I missing.

mrvenicess · 11-13-2014, 03:47 PM

I have the Sportsman skinnies and while they are great at the track I hate them on the street! I guess if you just drive in a straight line but do you really want to go around corners with a 5" wide tire?

BMR Sales · 11-13-2014, 04:00 PM

I drive mine on the street like 98% of the time, haven't had an issue yet!!! No, they aren't going to handle or grip like a normal wider tire. But as long as you realize that your car is set up for drag racing (i.e. skinny/fatty), and don't try to attempt high speed cornering, they're fine. Now I wouldn't "daily drive" on them, but my car is not a daily driver....more of a weekend cruiser/racer.

11-12-2014, 07:05 PM	#1
11syn3rgy JT Synergy RS/2SS Drives: 2011 Camaro RS/2SS (L99) Synergy Join Date: May 2013 Location: Hager City, WI Posts: 697	MT Sportsman skinnies at the track Hey guys, I would like to know your thoughts on the MT Sportsman 'skinnies' for a 17x4.5 rim. I like the idea that they are 28" tall and that they are a radial, but I've read a few things saying that the load rating might not be up to par for a supercharged Camaro? I'm trapping at around 124 right now and should be 126-127 in the spring. Just want to make sure that I'm buying the right skinnies. I'm not a huge fan of bias ply, and was wondering if anyone has these 28" tall MT's and have run them at the track with similar or higher speed. Please advise. Thanks!

11-12-2014, 07:11 PM	#3
white ZL1 Drives: none Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: DFW area Posts: 1,844	I think a rep from M/T said that they should be fine at speeds above 130 as long as we're not talking about sustained high speeds?

11-13-2014, 06:38 AM	#7
DarkCry956 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Texas RGV Posts: 794	I daily drive the bias ply. No problems. If your worried about rain then the problem will be in whatever rear tires your running. Only complain I might have is that they're bouncy. Steep driveways, speed bumps and things like that either scrape the front bumper or long tubes headers scrape. I just had to learn to go SLOW in those situations

11-13-2014, 10:46 AM	#10
BMR Sales Drives: Race Car Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Seffner, FL Posts: 6,226	I have the M/T Sportsman skinnies on my personal car. It's not supercharged, so I don't have that extra weight up front, and obviously I'm not trapping up at the numbers you are, but I have been to the track a few times with them, and they seem to work just fine on my car. No issues. I was advised to keep them aired up to about 50 psi because of the load rating, which I do. FWIW, I do think they handle the wet roads much better than the bias-ply M&H's that I used to have on my car. Can't say the same for the rear M&H drag radials, but that is to be expected.

11-13-2014, 01:58 PM	#12
11syn3rgy JT Synergy RS/2SS Drives: 2011 Camaro RS/2SS (L99) Synergy Join Date: May 2013 Location: Hager City, WI Posts: 697	I just received this reply from tech support at Mickey Thompson regarding these radial "skinnies"... "At the track you are fine for both speed rating and weight as it is short distance ¼ mile max. You just don’t want to run those on the street." I thought others were driving these on the street without issue? What am I missing.

11-13-2014, 03:47 PM	#13
mrvenicess Drives: 2013 CRT ZL1 auto Join Date: May 2010 Location: Venice Fl Posts: 1,443 View My Garage	I have the Sportsman skinnies and while they are great at the track I hate them on the street! I guess if you just drive in a straight line but do you really want to go around corners with a 5" wide tire?

11-13-2014, 04:00 PM	#14
BMR Sales Drives: Race Car Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Seffner, FL Posts: 6,226	I drive mine on the street like 98% of the time, haven't had an issue yet!!! No, they aren't going to handle or grip like a normal wider tire. But as long as you realize that your car is set up for drag racing (i.e. skinny/fatty), and don't try to attempt high speed cornering, they're fine. Now I wouldn't "daily drive" on them, but my car is not a daily driver....more of a weekend cruiser/racer.