Wheel tubs are a pretty easy to understand piece of the car, but getting the right size and installing them correctly isn’t always done as nicely as one might hope. In fact, wheel tub size and placement is one of the things that is a pain in the ass if you have to change it later in a car, so getting it right the first time should be your priority. And while this video is specifically talking about drag racing tubs, don’t forget that pro touring machines are more and more often adding wheel tubs since the tire size has increased so much in the past few years. Regardless of what your project is or isn’t, if you are installing wheel tubs then you should pay attention to this video.
One thing to note from the video, which is commonly overlooked, is how a tire actually grows inside a wheel tub as the vehicle goes down the track. Tires don’t typically grow symmetrically, and because of this you will find that the place most likely to see tire rub is actually on the upper front portion of the tub in front of the front to back center line. Because of the dynamics that go on with a large bias ply slick, and the fact that the car will actually be lower at speed, these kinds of tires will rub a tub in spots you wouldn’t expect. Even in a tub that is 47 inches in diameter!
Watch the video and you’ll see what we mean.
