The Hoosier 27.5 x 4.5-17 Drag Front Tire is a purpose-built front runner designed for dedicated drag racing applications where reducing unnecessary front tire size and weight is part of maximizing performance. Featuring bias-ply construction and Hoosier’s Drag Front compound, this tire gives racers a narrow, competition-focused front tire to complete a properly configured drag wheel and tire package. The 27.5 x 4.5-17 measures approximately 27.6 inches in diameter with a 4.8-inch tread width and 7.5-inch section width. Its 17-inch wheel diameter makes it especially relevant to modern performance applications that require additional wheel diameter for brake clearance compared with traditional 15-inch front runners. For properly configured Gen 3 HEMI drag cars, this Hoosier front tire is a strong option for completing a lightweight, track-focused wheel setup.

Building a faster Gen 3 HEMI is about more than adding horsepower. Once a Challenger, Charger, Hellcat, Redeye, Demon, or Scat Pack becomes increasingly focused on drag racing, optimizing the wheel and tire package can help make better use of the vehicle’s performance. A narrow front runner reduces the large contact patch associated with a conventional street-performance front tire and provides a tire designed specifically for straight-line competition.

Hoosier classifies this tire as a Drag Front and uses bias-ply construction rather than a radial design. Hoosier’s current specifications list the 27.5 x 4.5-17 at approximately 27.6 inches in diameter, with an approximate circumference of 86.5 inches, 4.8-inch tread width, and 7.5-inch section width. These dimensions make it possible to plan a front wheel and tire combination around the vehicle’s ride height, rear tire diameter, suspension configuration, and available clearance.

Wheel selection is equally important. Hoosier recommends a wheel width between 3.5 and 4.5 inches, with its published specifications measured on a 4.5-inch wheel. The narrow wheel and tire combination provides the classic front-runner configuration found on serious drag cars, while the 17-inch wheel diameter can provide additional flexibility when building around larger modern braking systems. Actual brake clearance still depends on wheel design, offset, backspacing, and the specific brake package installed on the vehicle.

At approximately 12 pounds per tire, the 18109 is also considerably more competition-focused than the wide front tires commonly installed on modern muscle cars. This makes it an attractive choice when reducing front-end rotating and unsprung weight is part of a dedicated drag racing setup.

For Gen 3 HEMI owners, the Hoosier Drag Front can complement rear slicks or other drag-focused rear tires on vehicles built specifically for straight-line performance. Because this is a non-DOT-approved competition tire, it should be treated as a race tire rather than a street tire.

Whether you’re putting together a lightweight wheel package for a Hellcat, Demon, Redeye, Scat Pack, or another properly configured Gen 3 HEMI platform, the Hoosier 27.5 x 4.5-17 Drag Front Tire delivers the sizing, construction, and race-specific design needed for a dedicated drag setup.

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Specifications & Features

• Manufacturer: Hoosier Racing Tire
• Product Line: Drag Front
• Manufacturer Part Number: 18109
• Product Type: Drag Racing Front Tire
• Tire Size: 27.5 x 4.5-17
• Wheel Diameter: 17 inches
• Construction: Bias-ply
• Compound: Drag Front
• Approximate Tire Diameter: 27.6 inches
• Approximate Circumference: 86.5 inches
• Tread Width: 4.8 inches
• Section Width: 7.5 inches
• Recommended Rim Width: 3.5 to 4.5 inches
• Measured Rim Width: 4.5 inches
• Approximate Weight: 12 lbs.
• Sidewall Color/Style: Black tire with solid white Hoosier lettering
• Front/Rear Position: Front
• DOT Approved: No
• Street Use: No, designed for competition use
• Directional: No
• Asymmetrical Tread Pattern: No
• Tube Required: No
• Stiff Sidewall: No
• Quantity: Sold individually
• Vehicle Compatibility: Universal drag racing application. Vehicle-specific fitment must be verified.
• Gen 3 HEMI Compatibility: Suitable for properly configured Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Hellcat, Redeye, Demon, Scat Pack, SRT8, and other Gen 3 HEMI drag racing builds capable of accepting the specified wheel and tire dimensions
• Year Compatibility: Universal; compatibility depends on vehicle configuration rather than a specific model year
• Recommended Uses: Dedicated drag racing, lightweight front wheel packages, high-horsepower Gen 3 HEMI builds, naturally aspirated race cars, supercharged applications, turbocharged combinations, nitrous builds, and other straight-line competition vehicles
• Primary Benefits: Lightweight design, narrow drag-oriented footprint, purpose-built bias-ply construction, 17-inch wheel compatibility, and dedicated straight-line racing performance
• Fitment Note: Verify brake caliper clearance, wheel width, offset, backspacing, suspension clearance, fender clearance, tire diameter, and compatibility with the rear tire construction before ordering.