FD tire "attachment device" rule

[protomor]

Figured we could use some lively discussion here.

For anyone who doesn't know. Our resident FD pro drifter was DQed suddenly for using a "chemical sealant" to keep his tires from debeading.

The rule:

WHEELS Beadlocks, wheel screws and any additional form of attachment device between wheel and tire is prohibited.

Normally, I call BS about "I didn't know, it was a gray area". But a chemical isn't really a "device". The rule isn't very specific. Plus I think they should have warned him, made him change tires to something that wasn't using it, and take away a 5 min or something to make up for it.

[JesterMX6]

don't they normally use soap to help tires mount at most tire shops? sounds like that would fall under the category too.

[Scullyman]

don't they normally use soap to help tires mount at most tire shops? sounds like that would fall under the category too.

The Soap is just to get the tire onto the wheel, it doesn't provide any other assistance once its dry. Im assuming Chelsea used bead sealer which sounds pretty normal to me, either way, a warning would have been nice. Its not like he is the resident FD bad boy breaking rules constantly. If his name was Forsberg, or Whiddett, or Gittin, they wouldn't even have though twice about this issue. The popularity contest BS is getting old.

[protomor]

Most tire places I talked to don't use lube unless they absolutely have to. I did tires with achilles and they stopped using lube like 2 years ago IIRC. The heat at LB last year, we had tires spinning on the rim. You'd take the tires off and see the melted rubber on the sealing surface. So it's not just the low pressures debeading, it's the tires literally spinning on the rim.

[jalopi]

seems like a nit picky rule considering that FD has no power limits for their cars

[Mikestokman]

My question is, If fd is all about "the show" as they put it, and they have 1000hp cars trying to get as much grip as possible, to make as much smoke and speed as possible to impress new and existing fans, then why do they care about what holds the tire on? And why do they continue using tracks that are garbage such as osw? If you watch where Jeff Jones' tire debeaded, it was right on that giant jump in the transition. Thats bs if you ask me. All the drivers should just start running 35 psi in their tires and pussy footing around the track just to prove a point. Look at Denofas run last year at long beach where he basically qualified with a blown motor by bumping up the tire pressure. No smoke, not as much noise, not very exciting. It's a stupid rule altogether if you ask me...

[Novablue454]

Yeah, it seems like a ridiculous rule to disallow anything to keep the tire on. Seems like a major safety concern.

[jalopi]

i wonder if knurling the bead seat would help. technically it's not a device, but then again neither is bead sealer

[protomor]

then why do they care about what holds the tire on?

I think the point of the cars in most respects is to sell consumer items. Beadlocks (while commercially available) makes drifting not look as accessible to the regular people. All of those cars LOOK like cars you'd normally see on the street. That's why the rules don't allow you to mod pickup points and cut back beyond chassis mounting points.

Although, with that line of thinking, adhesive sprays to keep your tires on should be allowed.

[Gmfwd]

Sucks Denofa has to run such low pressures to keep competitive on the GT radials. Everyone is running low pressures but his looks a little extreme. Gotta do what you gotta do I guess

[Mikestokman]

A lot more people then just Chelsea debeaded tires that day though, and they were on different brands of tires.

Protomor, if that was the case then mad mikes beadlock looking rotaforms should have been disallowed aswell..

[DavidD123]

I think it's BS, a sealant isn't a device, especially when the rule only talks about mechanical devices.

[protomor]

Protomor, if that was the case then mad mikes beadlock looking rotaforms should have been disallowed aswell..

How?

[jalopi]

boy oh boy, those could just be aesthetic but damn do they look like beadlockers

[Mikestokman]

How?

"I think the point of the cars in most respects is to sell consumer items. Beadlocks (while commercially available) makes drifting not look as accessible to the regular people. All of those cars LOOK like cars you'd normally see on the street."

[protomor]

Bead locks rims are like fashion. eh. doesn't count to me.

[Novablue454]

boy oh boy, those could just be aesthetic but damn do they look like beadlockers

They're fake, he calls them "beadlOOks"