Slicks vs. Drag Radials

Kmelfi11 · 07-01-2009, 10:37 AM

im looking for a new tire and dont know which to go with. these wheels are not road driven so its all track. i heard slicks are better for your car with launching since its a softer sidewall but dont know much about negatives. i will be switching to 4.10's and want to keep it 26in tall since im n/a. http://summitracing.com/parts/MTT-3054/ thats what i think would be best for me but need some advice.

since i ran 12.8 ive done coil overs/struts, 31spline rear, rear shocks, new upper and lower control arms, no sway bar, will be removing the rear seat, summit star track wheels and 4.10's in the next few weeks and i think thats it... in all ive lost about 150lbs a little under 100 of that being wheels. with the new setup im hoping to break the 1.6x 60ft and 12.49 mark. think my goals are realistic?

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Stkjock · 07-01-2009, 10:46 AM

Slicks will hook better off the line and last longer for track use. They will feel "squishy" on the big end and may give you a feel of the rear end "floating" around.

DRs will hook nearly as well (at your power levels they should be near equal IMHO) will feel solid on the top end.

The link you have there is a 28" tall tire tho.

Here's the 26"s
http://summitracing.com/parts/MTT-3053/
http://summitracing.com/parts/MTT-3052/

What rim are you using?

bluebeastsrt · 07-01-2009, 01:25 PM

I've ran both types of tires on front & rear drive cars and for a track only tire I'd go with the slick. That floating fealing STKJOCK decribed above, I only really felt when I was out of the throttle and slowing down. Thats where you really feal them float.

Demon 340 · 07-01-2009, 02:58 PM

ive run both DRs and slicks in a 26x15x11.5 and with hoosier Quick time pro (DRs) and the same sized hoosier slicks, my short times were about the same...and i was running 12.30s-12.40s. the downfall to running slicks is that at many of the tracks where i have run, slick cars run in a seperate class and in that class youll likely be the slowest car. that might not matter to you but i didnt like it...my car was streetable running against cars with lexan and parachutes...

Projectquick · 07-01-2009, 02:59 PM

Your 60s are already pretty low so with the suspension upgrades and DRs I could see you getting almost .2 of your 60' time so that is about .3 or .4 on the big end.

Kmelfi11 · 07-01-2009, 07:00 PM

thanks a lot guys! and sorry was rushing to find the link post thread and head to work. i have summit star's 15x8's for the rear. slicks is the way im going, someone at the track last night was tellng my dr and i just wanted to check

.2 off the short end really ads up on the long end, didnt realize how big of a jump it was.

Demon 340 · 07-01-2009, 10:54 PM

what tires did you pull a 1.85 with? what track are those numbers from?

JD1969 · 07-01-2009, 11:08 PM

A high 12 car does not need a slick IMO. A GOOD modern drag radial will work fine and he will be able to drive it to and from the track (legally). Besides that, when I see a slow (relative) car on a slick, I tend to think the owner does not know how to set up a suspension. I went mid 11's with a 1.5 60 foot on a 275 M/T dr.

Kmelfi11 · 07-02-2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ride Of The Month

what tires did you pull a 1.85 with? what track are those numbers from?

i had 17x8 in the front and 17x10.5 with nitto dr on them with that run, and it was at atco nj.

this is a pic from that day

AmericanSpeed · 07-02-2009, 09:47 AM

What tires/wheels are you running on the front? Running radials on the front with a bias ply on the rear will give you more of the "floating" feeling on the big end due to the difference in how the tires react.

A good DR will give you enough grip to max your 60' with the power level you are at now, though a slick will allow you more wiggle room to accomplish that same 60'.