[Roush #1]

The only difference I can think of - other than overall diameter of the tire - when wheel OD is important in a drag race is the availability of tires. I am not aware of anything but drag radials available for 17" wheels. There is a lot of difference in a drag radial and a conventional "slick" ...mainly in the flexibility of the sidewalls which help on initial shock, growing in size as speed increases and more (softer) choices of rubber compounds for the "slicks".