Drag Racing Tech - NA Tires - Radial or Radial Slick

Well my radial slicks on the car are just about shot. I'm debating on weather i should put the same tire back on (Hoosier) or switch to a MT drag radial. The car is a NA cam only car that has gone a best of 1.42 60'. Also the car is launched off of the trans brake. What do you recommend? Any feedback with NA cars launched off of the brake would be best.

Automatic + transbrake = ET Street radials

Automatic + transbrake = ET Street radials

I personally haven't been able to hook the MT radial off the brake, even with my old 408 which made alot less power than my current set up but that was a 28" tire.
For what I've read and talked to guys the MT radials are great for what Phil says auto, transbrake etc but more with power adder cars I think where you can control the initial hit.
unless you are going to use a 2 step where you can control the launch rpm i don't think those tires are gonna like a 5k transbrake hit much.
They guy runs 7 sec 1/4's so I certainly am not doubting the tire can do what he says :)
I just haven't been able to do it and your suspension is similar to mine so JMHO.

need more info.....what size radials are you currently running and at what ET is the car averaging?

I personally haven't been able to hook the MT radial off the brake, even with my old 408 which made alot less power than my current set up but that was a 28" tire.
For what I've read and talked to guys the MT radials are great for what Phil says auto, transbrake etc but more with power adder cars I think where you can control the initial hit.
unless you are going to use a 2 step where you can control the launch rpm i don't think those tires are gonna like a 5k transbrake hit much.
They guy runs 7 sec 1/4's so I certainly am not doubting the tire can do what he says :)
I just haven't been able to do it and your suspension is similar to mine so JMHO.
Yeah thats what im worried about, although the car does have a harlan 2 step. I went to atco a few weeks ago and cut a 1.45 best 60' but the track prep was horrible. Is there any mph gain from a radial slick to a radial?
need more info.....what size radials are you currently running and at what ET is the car averaging?

+2283 DA 10.82@125. The car has a 30" tire on it now with 4.30 gears. I launched at 3600 off of the brake to cut a 1.45 but track prep sucked. I cut a 1.41 back in the fall or should i say winter lol

I honestly don't think you need a 30" tire with that power level and you might be surprised that launching off the footbrake will get you better 60's. Maybe you should try the 325 50 15's on the footbrake.

LS1 Shoot me a PM I may have some input that you may want to consider.

LS1 Shoot me a PM I may have some input that you may want to consider.

we're all interested in the input bro', what's the :secret: ?? :jest:

No secret, just curious if he has looked at a couple other factors that may impact the results, such as gearing, tire weight, etc. Things that make a big difference when dealing with limited power.

No worldly information that's for sure. I just want to know what he's looked at and what he hasn't to be able to give a more informed answer.

Better yet just call me (860-832-9075) Be easier that way.

I honestly don't think you need a 30" tire with that power level and you might be surprised that launching off the footbrake will get you better 60's. Maybe you should try the 325 50 15's on the footbrake.

Car Needs the 30in tire to kill the gear a little bit

No secret, just curious if he has looked at a couple other factors that may impact the results, such as gearing, tire weight, etc. Things that make a big difference when dealing with limited power.

No worldly information that's for sure. I just want to know what he's looked at and what he hasn't to be able to give a more informed answer.

Better yet just call me (860-832-9075) Be easier that way.
my phone is all screwed up i just sent a pm
Car Needs the 30in tire to kill the gear a little bit

yes i need a 30" tire with some good air ill be trapping perfect.

Thats a heavy ass tire to drag down the backhalf . . . .

Thats a heavy ass tire to drag down the backhalf . . . .

whats how the car is setup. :read:

Car Needs the 30in tire to kill the gear a little bit

oh I see. Stick with what works then. you can get the 30" Hoosier with the lightweight construction. I'm sure it would be much lighter than a 30" et street radial that's for sure.

Thats a heavy ass tire to drag down the backhalf . . . .

It's alotta tire but you can get the lightweight one and I run 20psi in mine so it's traps nice and high as opposed to pulling a growing slick. No way it's as heavy as a 28" MT street radial and even if it is it's gotta be close.

I have read the thread. That Hoosier puts more rubber in contact with the ground anyway. Just a couple of grooves in them radially correct? A MT ET Street radial in 30 inches is going to be heavy as hell. If Hoosier offers a lightweight construction as stated thats a big plus.

The Hoosier radial slick has no grooves at all. They look like a regular full on slick and they are quite pliable but the have a radial construction with Zero growth. it's a great tire and you can run up to 22 psi on a good day.

can you please send me a link to the lightweight version of the hoosier radial slick ?

I like both Hoosier and M/T radials, IMO not much difference between the 2..

I run the 30x9x15 radial slick, 4.56 gears with my little LS1 347 and run 10.teens @ 132 mph with 1.31 to 1.33 60 fts. Now, during the summer months we stwich to a 29x10.5x15 regular slick and run 10.30's @ 130 with 1.38 to 1.41 60 fts.

Coach

can you please send me a link to the lightweight version of the hoosier radial slick ?

C06 compund is the light weight ones.

Coach

I like both Hoosier and M/T radials, IMO not much difference between the 2..

I run the 30x9x15 radial slick, 4.56 gears with my little LS1 347 and run 10.teens @ 132 mph with 1.31 to 1.33 60 fts. Now, during the summer months we stwich to a 29x10.5x15 regular slick and run 10.30's @ 130 with 1.38 to 1.41 60 fts.

Coach

so you switch it up to make up for the slick track Coach?

here's the link:
http://www.hoosiertire.com/speccat.pdf

scroll down to drag tires, I use # 18214 but I suggest you try # 18209 which is probably the same one Coach uses.

The weight can play a huge factor. For example a mt street radial is about 35 lbs in a 295/65/15, whereas a Hoosier drag dot is 27. Now move up to a radial slick and you can find them from both manUfacturers in a 29-30" tire that weigh 22-23 lbs. I'll have some hard #'s next week, as I'm switching from the hoosier 295's to the mt radial slick in a 29.5/9.0.

so you switch it up to make up for the slick track Coach?

here's the link:
http://www.hoosiertire.com/speccat.pdf

scroll down to drag tires, I use # 18214 but I suggest you try # 18209 which is probably the same one Coach uses.
Thanks that is the tire im leaning towards right now.

The weight can play a huge factor. For example a mt street radial is about 35 lbs in a 295/65/15, whereas a Hoosier drag dot is 27. Now move up to a radial slick and you can find them from both manUfacturers in a 29-30" tire that weigh 22-23 lbs. I'll have some hard #'s next week, as I'm switching from the hoosier 295's to the mt radial slick in a 29.5/9.0.
Any reason going from the hoosier to mt ??

so you switch it up to make up for the slick track Coach?

here's the link:
http://www.hoosiertire.com/speccat.pdf

scroll down to drag tires, I use # 18214 but I suggest you try # 18209 which is probably the same one Coach uses.


In the summer when the track temp is up to 160 degree temps I have to go to the the regular slick to hook up. The radials will not hook up on the hot tracks that we run at.

Coach

Coach,
How much do you think i would suffer from a 10" tire opposed to a 9" tire?

CO6 Hoosier Radial Slick.

CO6 Hoosier Radial Slick.

Thats exactly what i bought, thanks rick