I certainly don't know anything about going very fast over a salt flat, but after a google search regarding tire profiles and compounds, it seems the consensus is that "narrow is more betterer." After reading from this:
http://saltflats.com/traction.htmlAnd then there's this excerpt:
"I overheard a discussion between a couple of motorcycle guys a while back. Both these guys were speed limited by traction on the salt. They both rode very powerful Nitrous fueled bikes. They were comparing the differences between two popular “Z” rated tire brands. Dunlop and Metzler. While Traction was a significant problem for both of them, the only discussion I heard was about which tire was most resistant to “chunking”. That is, throwing pieces of rubber out of the face of the tread face, due to power loading and the immense centrifugal forces. Concerns about running a tire that will simply survive outranks traction problems. Catastrophic tire failure at high speed often results in serious wrecks."
That statement kinda scares a risk taker straight.
"Experience shows that narrow tires provide better traction at Bonneville. Bonneville traction strategy requires just about the opposite to what works at the local drag strip.
My own unproven theory explaining this fact is that, at speed, wide tires sort of “Hydroplane” on this bit of loose material. I also suspect that wide tires at speed are near “Hydroplaning” on air alone. It must take “some” time to force the air outward towards the side of the tire, and at “some” speed, air would pile up and be forced under the tire, eventually providing about the same traction one finds on an Air Hockey table. The narrow tires, especially ones with little tread, a rounded profile, run at maximum recommended inflation pressures, have less tendency to trap air and seem better able to bite thru the loose dusting on top. The proof of this is in the pudding. Look at the photos of the Bonneville cars that have proven to be fast. Drive tires on the successful cars and bikes are, narrow with a very pronounced round profile. That round shape, combined with high tireair pressure yields a very small “tire contact patch”. As unlikely as that combination sounds, it is the proven winner on the salt."
I know this was discussed previously in the thread, but I thought there was some useful info there.
As for wheels? How about some super narrow Excels, laced with some 6 gauge Buchanan spokes, trued to perfection?
