BFGoodrich Drag Radial Speed Rating?
01-07-2009, 08:36 PM
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BFGoodrich Drag Radial Speed Rating? I have a simple question. If I buy a pair of BFGoodrich g-Force T/A Drag Radials (NT, 275/35/18), am I going to have to worry about driving my Camaro on the Highway if I have to?
I've done as much research as I can, and there is no Speed Rating for these Tires, which is understandable since it's a Competition Tire.
However, I don't want to be driving on the highway one day, and blow one of these tires out because I never knew if they were acceptable for highway use or not. Also has anyone had experience with low profile drag radials, and how they perform?
Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks!
Jim
I've done as much research as I can, and there is no Speed Rating for these Tires, which is understandable since it's a Competition Tire.
However, I don't want to be driving on the highway one day, and blow one of these tires out because I never knew if they were acceptable for highway use or not. Also has anyone had experience with low profile drag radials, and how they perform?
Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks!
Jim
01-08-2009, 12:02 PM
#5
From Tire Rack:
"The g-Force T/A Drag Radial is BFGoodrich's first tire to combine a proprietary drag racing tread design with a special radial carcass construction to offer the T/A (Traction/Advantage) tires to drag racers by providing race-winning performance at the dragstrip from a tire that is fully streetable. The g-Force T/A Drag Radial is designed to combine the enhanced traction, superior handling and extended durability not normally associated with competitive bias-ply drag racing tires.
The g-Force T/A Drag Radial is the direct descendant of the world's first street-legal drag radial that met U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) street tire standards (the BFG Comp T/A Drag Radial). The primary difference between the g-Force T/A Drag Radial vs. its predecessor (the Comp T/A Drag Radial that is now called the g-Force T/A Drag Radial 2) is that the g-Force T/A Drag Radial offers a broader range of performance. While both tires are essentially capable of the same peak performance, the g-Force T/A Drag Radial makes it easier for the racer to achieve because it's available over a broader range of conditions. This benefit is especially valuable to new racers, some of whom may not yet be experienced enough to get the peak performance out of the g-Force T/A Drag Radial-2.
The g-Force T/A Drag Radial molds a high-grip tread rubber compound into a directional tread design that features massive competition-developed tread blocks for quick response and optimized for straight-line grip. High angle grooves help channel water towards the sides of the tire to help preserve wet traction on the street. The internal structure of the g-Force T/A Drag Radial features two full-width steel belts reinforced with BFGoodrich's Equal TEnsion Containment (ETEC) system to stiffen the tread longitudinally and laterally. This helps prevent the contact area from distorting under acceleration while ensuring the consistency of the footprint from the starting line to its high-speed stability at the traps. The g-Force T/A Drag Radial also features a special radial carcass construction to enhance performance during the launch, provide high-speed control and reduce internal stresses for longer treadlife (compared to bias-ply drag racing tires).
The Drag Radial's popularity has resulted in some questions about the tire's high-speed capabilities because, unlike other Ultra High Performance street radials, its speed capability is not indicated on the sidewall by a speed symbol in its size or service description. While the g-Force T/A Drag Radial has many of the internal construction features usually found in high speed radial tires, the feature that prevents it from being speed rated in the "normal" ways is its unique high-hysteresis tread compound. This compound has extreme energy-absorption characteristics that help the Drag Radial readily conform to the track surface to help launch the car and take it to victory... an eighth- or quarter-mile at a time. This same tread compound, when subjected to continuous operation at high speeds, could possibly overheat and blister like super-sticky "qualifying tires" that have been used in professional oval track or road racing competition. Thus, even if the g-Force T/A Drag Radial is available in a vehicle's ideal size for use in activities other than drag racing, it should not be used in competition where the car and tire will be exposed to extreme cornering loads or sustained high speeds.
It is also important to remember that the g-Force T/A Drag Radial operates most efficiently on the strip at cold inflation pressures of between 15psi and 20psi (in no case should below 12psi be used). And after the racing is done for the day, it is essential that the g-Force T/A Drag Radial be reinflated to normal highway operating pressures before carrying the driver and trophy back home. Running any tire at relatively low inflation pressure for a given load reduces the tire's speed capability by causing it to stretch more and operate at a high deflection (more radial bulge). The Drag Radial is built to withstand brief "bursts" of high speed while inflated at low pressure (such as would be experienced on a quick car in the quarter-mile), but no tire can be expected to survive for a long time at high speed while operating at high deflection. While the tires require minimal scuffing, heat cycling is recommended to further enhance consistency and wear."
"The g-Force T/A Drag Radial is BFGoodrich's first tire to combine a proprietary drag racing tread design with a special radial carcass construction to offer the T/A (Traction/Advantage) tires to drag racers by providing race-winning performance at the dragstrip from a tire that is fully streetable. The g-Force T/A Drag Radial is designed to combine the enhanced traction, superior handling and extended durability not normally associated with competitive bias-ply drag racing tires.
The g-Force T/A Drag Radial is the direct descendant of the world's first street-legal drag radial that met U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) street tire standards (the BFG Comp T/A Drag Radial). The primary difference between the g-Force T/A Drag Radial vs. its predecessor (the Comp T/A Drag Radial that is now called the g-Force T/A Drag Radial 2) is that the g-Force T/A Drag Radial offers a broader range of performance. While both tires are essentially capable of the same peak performance, the g-Force T/A Drag Radial makes it easier for the racer to achieve because it's available over a broader range of conditions. This benefit is especially valuable to new racers, some of whom may not yet be experienced enough to get the peak performance out of the g-Force T/A Drag Radial-2.
The g-Force T/A Drag Radial molds a high-grip tread rubber compound into a directional tread design that features massive competition-developed tread blocks for quick response and optimized for straight-line grip. High angle grooves help channel water towards the sides of the tire to help preserve wet traction on the street. The internal structure of the g-Force T/A Drag Radial features two full-width steel belts reinforced with BFGoodrich's Equal TEnsion Containment (ETEC) system to stiffen the tread longitudinally and laterally. This helps prevent the contact area from distorting under acceleration while ensuring the consistency of the footprint from the starting line to its high-speed stability at the traps. The g-Force T/A Drag Radial also features a special radial carcass construction to enhance performance during the launch, provide high-speed control and reduce internal stresses for longer treadlife (compared to bias-ply drag racing tires).
The Drag Radial's popularity has resulted in some questions about the tire's high-speed capabilities because, unlike other Ultra High Performance street radials, its speed capability is not indicated on the sidewall by a speed symbol in its size or service description. While the g-Force T/A Drag Radial has many of the internal construction features usually found in high speed radial tires, the feature that prevents it from being speed rated in the "normal" ways is its unique high-hysteresis tread compound. This compound has extreme energy-absorption characteristics that help the Drag Radial readily conform to the track surface to help launch the car and take it to victory... an eighth- or quarter-mile at a time. This same tread compound, when subjected to continuous operation at high speeds, could possibly overheat and blister like super-sticky "qualifying tires" that have been used in professional oval track or road racing competition. Thus, even if the g-Force T/A Drag Radial is available in a vehicle's ideal size for use in activities other than drag racing, it should not be used in competition where the car and tire will be exposed to extreme cornering loads or sustained high speeds.
It is also important to remember that the g-Force T/A Drag Radial operates most efficiently on the strip at cold inflation pressures of between 15psi and 20psi (in no case should below 12psi be used). And after the racing is done for the day, it is essential that the g-Force T/A Drag Radial be reinflated to normal highway operating pressures before carrying the driver and trophy back home. Running any tire at relatively low inflation pressure for a given load reduces the tire's speed capability by causing it to stretch more and operate at a high deflection (more radial bulge). The Drag Radial is built to withstand brief "bursts" of high speed while inflated at low pressure (such as would be experienced on a quick car in the quarter-mile), but no tire can be expected to survive for a long time at high speed while operating at high deflection. While the tires require minimal scuffing, heat cycling is recommended to further enhance consistency and wear."
01-08-2009, 07:26 PM
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Well, thank you, that helps in many ways. I would assume when they talk about consistent high speeds, they're talking about over 100 mph.
However, the last thing I need is a tire to blow out if I'm driving on the highway at 70 mph, you know?
However, the last thing I need is a tire to blow out if I'm driving on the highway at 70 mph, you know?
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01-09-2009, 07:58 PM
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Informative! AAAA+ Thanks Xsta Z-28, good reading! I've been thinking about some drag radials for the summer season. That answers the questions I had. Right on!
01-11-2009, 01:25 PM
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To the people that do have them, How's the tread life? I'm just curious because the treat starts at 5.5/32 and If this tread goes faster than KDW2 tread, than im no longer interested.
Basically, is it easy to burn through the tread on those tires?
Basically, is it easy to burn through the tread on those tires?
01-13-2009, 11:37 AM
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I daily drive mine.......I drove to Baton Rouge to see MadMan at 80mph on cruise...800 miles round trip.....no issues here...I have about 10k on them right now......I just haven't used them at the track or done burn outs with them....
I hope they hook I have some in the garage 