No Traction-Please Help!
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 1,612
From: Michigan & Florida
No Traction-Please Help! I have a '00 'Vert C5 and a yank 3200 was just installed along with a set of LPE headers. I went from getting a few 1.9 range 60' times up to a best of 2.07 
! The car is all over the track, like the tires got oiled. I'm running the stock tires (run-craps) at 25lbs, but pressure seems to make no diff. Car has stock 3.15 gears. Can I run the front 17" wheel size on the rear and hopefully get a little more sidewall flex and switch to ET streets, or do I need more, like a switch to different rate front shocks? Car has the '45 ride control/active handling. Also, I got the boot 
for running a 12.50@114 for not having a rollbar 
! Anyone hear of a move to try and change this more than 40 year old NHRA rule. Seems a bit dated, as cars today are much safer, I think. Thanks.
! The car is all over the track, like the tires got oiled. I'm running the stock tires (run-craps) at 25lbs, but pressure seems to make no diff. Car has stock 3.15 gears. Can I run the front 17" wheel size on the rear and hopefully get a little more sidewall flex and switch to ET streets, or do I need more, like a switch to different rate front shocks? Car has the '45 ride control/active handling. Also, I got the boot for running a 12.50@114 for not having a rollbar ! Anyone hear of a move to try and change this more than 40 year old NHRA rule. Seems a bit dated, as cars today are much safer, I think. Thanks. I think you answered your own question of the tractione issue by saying you use run craps. Go get some tire. I have talked to a couple guys at the track running their 17 inch rims out back with M/T ET Streets and I plan on doing the samething with my stock wagon wheels
12 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by Crypt keeper
I think you answered your own question of the tractione issue by saying you use run craps. Go get some tire. I have talked to a couple guys at the track running their 17 inch rims out back with M/T ET Streets and I plan on doing the samething with my stock wagon wheels
... DR's are a must. Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 1,612
From: Michigan & Florida
I've heard that the ET's are easier on the drivetrain than the BFG. Don't know. I have been told that 295/40 is the widest tire without tubbing. Any comment would be appreciated. Thanks. Mike
I have seen a vette run 305s with no rubbing. No mini tub kit. Looked great. From what I have seen from some of the regular drag racers a mt et is the tire of choice and is much easier on the drivetrain.
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Forest Hill, Maryland
Originally Posted by grinder11
I've heard that the ET's are easier on the drivetrain than the BFG. Don't know. I have been told that 295/40 is the widest tire without tubbing. Any comment would be appreciated. Thanks. Mike
With you being an auto, you should be okay with drag radials, but for some reason people don't break the rear as often if they use E.T. Streets. I have seen tires wider than 295 on vettes, but it really depends on the wheel size and offset.
Last edited by 98UltraZ; Nov 21, 2004 at 12:49 PM.
Trending Topics
9 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,252
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
Grinder, a high stall converter and stock run flats are not a good combination for the track.
Your really need at a minimum drag radials. There are available in 17" sizes to fit our Vette front wheels.
BFG 275 17 is a good choice. I run them on stock front wagon wheels and I 60' low 1.6s. I also run ET Streets with skinnies (depending on the event I am running) and the 60's are pretty much the same (but the wheels are lighter so there is some ET gain but we are taking hundredths of a second).
The new NHRA will get you to 13.49 because you have a vert. There was some talk of a Pure Stock designation that would allow running a vert to 11.49 but most tracks have not adopted this.
Your really need at a minimum drag radials. There are available in 17" sizes to fit our Vette front wheels.
BFG 275 17 is a good choice. I run them on stock front wagon wheels and I 60' low 1.6s. I also run ET Streets with skinnies (depending on the event I am running) and the 60's are pretty much the same (but the wheels are lighter so there is some ET gain but we are taking hundredths of a second).
The new NHRA will get you to 13.49 because you have a vert. There was some talk of a Pure Stock designation that would allow running a vert to 11.49 but most tracks have not adopted this.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 1,612
From: Michigan & Florida
Originally Posted by REDGAR
Grinder, a high stall converter and stock run flats are not a good combination for the track.
Your really need at a minimum drag radials. There are available in 17" sizes to fit our Vette front wheels.
BFG 275 17 is a good choice. I run them on stock front wagon wheels and I 60' low 1.6s. I also run ET Streets with skinnies (depending on the event I am running) and the 60's are pretty much the same (but the wheels are lighter so there is some ET gain but we are taking hundredths of a second).
The new NHRA will get you to 13.49 because you have a vert. There was some talk of a Pure Stock designation that would allow running a vert to 11.49 but most tracks have not adopted this.
Your really need at a minimum drag radials. There are available in 17" sizes to fit our Vette front wheels.
BFG 275 17 is a good choice. I run them on stock front wagon wheels and I 60' low 1.6s. I also run ET Streets with skinnies (depending on the event I am running) and the 60's are pretty much the same (but the wheels are lighter so there is some ET gain but we are taking hundredths of a second).
The new NHRA will get you to 13.49 because you have a vert. There was some talk of a Pure Stock designation that would allow running a vert to 11.49 but most tracks have not adopted this.
12 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From: Dayton, Ohio
I ran BFG DR's all this summer in the 275/35/18" size and manged a few Low 1.8 60' times. My best was a 1.808 and this yielded my best ET to date. with an auto you may not be hitting the tires as hard as I do with a manual. If the track was holding traction I was launching upwards to 4.5-5K. you may want to reasearch the same items I am, A stock set of 17" fronts mated to the MT ET streets which is 270/40/17" size. This will mount on the factory 17X8.5" rims. If you are worried about breakage I think the ET setup is the way to go.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 1,612
From: Michigan & Florida
Originally Posted by REDGAR
Grinder, a high stall converter and stock run flats are not a good combination for the track.
Your really need at a minimum drag radials. There are available in 17" sizes to fit our Vette front wheels.
BFG 275 17 is a good choice. I run them on stock front wagon wheels and I 60' low 1.6s. I also run ET Streets with skinnies (depending on the event I am running) and the 60's are pretty much the same (but the wheels are lighter so there is some ET gain but we are taking hundredths of a second).
The new NHRA will get you to 13.49 because you have a vert. There was some talk of a Pure Stock designation that would allow running a vert to 11.49 but most tracks have not adopted this.
Your really need at a minimum drag radials. There are available in 17" sizes to fit our Vette front wheels.
BFG 275 17 is a good choice. I run them on stock front wagon wheels and I 60' low 1.6s. I also run ET Streets with skinnies (depending on the event I am running) and the 60's are pretty much the same (but the wheels are lighter so there is some ET gain but we are taking hundredths of a second).
The new NHRA will get you to 13.49 because you have a vert. There was some talk of a Pure Stock designation that would allow running a vert to 11.49 but most tracks have not adopted this.
9 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,252
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
I have a 4400 stall converter with 4.10 gears.
Vette Doctors custom grind cam, kooks headers, ls6 manifold and front way bar removed. I do have Hal adjustable shocks but they have not done anything to really help the 60' The car is custom tuned by The Vette Doctors, who are now doing mail order tuning as well.
Also use a line-lock for a cosistent burnout of the BFG drag radial or ET Streets, depending on the day.
The problem is not street tire can really handle the hit from the converter on the track. You seem to have confliciting goals. Your really need to have the strip tires for the strip.
For the street, lots of folks are using Michelin Pilots and love them. For me, I use Firestone Firehawk EMT but don't do any hard hitting on the streets.
Vette Doctors custom grind cam, kooks headers, ls6 manifold and front way bar removed. I do have Hal adjustable shocks but they have not done anything to really help the 60' The car is custom tuned by The Vette Doctors, who are now doing mail order tuning as well.
Also use a line-lock for a cosistent burnout of the BFG drag radial or ET Streets, depending on the day.
The problem is not street tire can really handle the hit from the converter on the track. You seem to have confliciting goals. Your really need to have the strip tires for the strip.
For the street, lots of folks are using Michelin Pilots and love them. For me, I use Firestone Firehawk EMT but don't do any hard hitting on the streets.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 1,612
From: Michigan & Florida
I guess I do. Conflicting goals/ having cake and eat it too!! I was surprised that I got a 1.95 on my runcraps, but it only happened once. All the rest were +2.07 range. I would be happy with 1.8 even, if they were there most every time (consistent). I've heard Mickey T is releasing new tire sizes for our cars in spring of '05. Guess I'll wait and see. Where did you get the line lock? I said earlier that Goodyear super car tires were out, but maybe not. If I could run a 295/40/18 in rear, I'd save by not buying a set of 17" wheels and, if you could advise, I have been told that these are a softer compound than the stock runcraps I got . Also, are these 295's stock on the Z-06? Thanks, and have a happy turkey day and don't eat too much turkey (Mustangs!)!! 
9 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,252
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
C5 take offs for are cheap. I had one guy selling his wheels and fairly used drag radials with about 20 - 30 runs left on them for $75. The deals aren't always that good but you are patient you will find it.
I bought my line lock about four years ago from jegs or summit, I forget. It was installed on my prior vette first and on the C5 it was installed by The Vette Doctors.
The F1 super cars will be better but will likely still not survive a direct hit from your converter on the starting line, at least not consistently.
Not sure what you are asking on the 295 stock question on Z06.
Turkey was great. As usual, I did not get enough turkey becasue I filled up on all the side dishes that came with it. Shame how the turkey seems to lose to all the fixins and it is suposed to be the main event. Oh, brought home some left overs so round II on Friday
I bought my line lock about four years ago from jegs or summit, I forget. It was installed on my prior vette first and on the C5 it was installed by The Vette Doctors.
The F1 super cars will be better but will likely still not survive a direct hit from your converter on the starting line, at least not consistently.
Not sure what you are asking on the 295 stock question on Z06.
Turkey was great. As usual, I did not get enough turkey becasue I filled up on all the side dishes that came with it. Shame how the turkey seems to lose to all the fixins and it is suposed to be the main event. Oh, brought home some left overs so round II on Friday
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 1,612
From: Michigan & Florida
295/Z06 answer...
Originally Posted by REDGAR
C5 take offs for are cheap. I had one guy selling his wheels and fairly used drag radials with about 20 - 30 runs left on them for $75. The deals aren't always that good but you are patient you will find it.
I bought my line lock about four years ago from jegs or summit, I forget. It was installed on my prior vette first and on the C5 it was installed by The Vette Doctors.
The F1 super cars will be better but will likely still not survive a direct hit from your converter on the starting line, at least not consistently.
Not sure what you are asking on the 295 stock question on Z06.
Turkey was great. As usual, I did not get enough turkey becasue I filled up on all the side dishes that came with it. Shame how the turkey seems to lose to all the fixins and it is suposed to be the main event. Oh, brought home some left overs so round II on Friday
I bought my line lock about four years ago from jegs or summit, I forget. It was installed on my prior vette first and on the C5 it was installed by The Vette Doctors.
The F1 super cars will be better but will likely still not survive a direct hit from your converter on the starting line, at least not consistently.
Not sure what you are asking on the 295 stock question on Z06.
Turkey was great. As usual, I did not get enough turkey becasue I filled up on all the side dishes that came with it. Shame how the turkey seems to lose to all the fixins and it is suposed to be the main event. Oh, brought home some left overs so round II on Friday
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 1,612
From: Michigan & Florida
Originally Posted by REDGAR
I think they are the same size (thought the 275 is on our front not rear).
The advantage comes from not having the stiff sidwall insert that the run flat has and thus the tire flexs better.
The advantage comes from not having the stiff sidwall insert that the run flat has and thus the tire flexs better.
