Garage 54 wanted to really push the limits of a tire, and their latest experiment did just that. To see what would happen if a tire is spun at the speed of sound, the crew first had to build a custom wheel-spinning rig using a Toyota-sourced 2.5L V6 engine generating around 200 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, mated to an automatic transmission that is paired with a modified differential from a minivan.
They needed to connect an electronic throttle actuator for remote operation as well as safety, but once that was completed, it was showtime. They brought the machine to a shooting range before mounting a 235/40R18 tire with a Y speed rating that is good for speeds of up to 186 mph. An inner tube needed to be installed to maintain its shape without the tire de-beading itself. In the end, they managed to reach a maximum output speed of 10,437 rpm before the tire disintegrated so quickly that the high-speed camera wasn’t able to capture all of the action.
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