Posted By: all spooled up
reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 01:05 AM
any one switch from slicks to et street drag radials go faster
reg slicks to drag radial lower et
Posted By: SILVER67
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 02:16 AM
My mother went from BFGoodrich Drag Radials to Slicks and she lost a tenth and over a MPH on her '63 Plymouth... But her car only does mid to occasionally low 12's! Best of 12:20 on Mickey Drag Radial...
Michael
Michael
Posted By: dOOc
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 02:31 AM
FASTER and QUICKER ...roger that 
'effen it can hook at the starting line
'effen it can hook at the starting line
Posted By: 9 Sec Phill
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 03:11 AM
almost a full .500. From ET slick to ET radial same day testing on my old cuda that ran low 10's....Phill
Posted By: dOOc
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 03:19 AM
how about your MPH ?
A bud told me that he gained SIX mph on a 12 flat drive-out car.
A bud told me that he gained SIX mph on a 12 flat drive-out car.
Posted By: Triple Threat
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 03:31 AM
Every car is different, But bottom line is a radial will be faster, but can be more tempermental when it comes to track prep. If it hooks, it will run hard. Every stock / super stock racer in the country knows this.
Posted By: superwrench
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 04:53 AM
Dustin's got that right.......I run MT ET Street radials and Hoosier bias slicks.
My faster times have been on the Radial tires.
BUT......poor track = poor launch (spin) but if they hook it'll be a hard run.
The slicks are more forgiving with track conditions.....poor track means slower times but usually CONSISTANT slower times. With a good track.....still won't beat the radial.
The whole thing I've found with the radials is that if they spin you'll be back peddling to tame it down because they'll keep spinning. So I guess what I'm saying is that if you have a superbly prepped track that you always run on, stay with a radial. If not...I'd personally run the bias slick for consistancy over best ET.
I just bought some new Hoosier bias slicks......first shot in the new season will be on them. Hope I don't surprise myself.
My faster times have been on the Radial tires.
BUT......poor track = poor launch (spin) but if they hook it'll be a hard run.
The slicks are more forgiving with track conditions.....poor track means slower times but usually CONSISTANT slower times. With a good track.....still won't beat the radial.
The whole thing I've found with the radials is that if they spin you'll be back peddling to tame it down because they'll keep spinning. So I guess what I'm saying is that if you have a superbly prepped track that you always run on, stay with a radial. If not...I'd personally run the bias slick for consistancy over best ET.
I just bought some new Hoosier bias slicks......first shot in the new season will be on them. Hope I don't surprise myself.
Posted By: all spooled up
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 05:13 AM
lets say you hook on slicks and hook on radials 60 foot times on radials should be lower. lets here some 60 foot times
Posted By: superwrench
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 05:20 AM
My car ain't no rocket, so I'll tell you that it's ran a 1.48 on the 295/65R15 MT radials but only a 1.54 on the 29/10.0 Hoosiers. Both dead hooked but were on different race tracks so it might not be a fair comparison. But I can tell you that I've never "FELT" the car hook hard with bias tires...with the radials you FEEL it and you know it's gonna be a good run.
Posted By: all spooled up
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 05:27 AM
thats what i was looking for my best 60 is a 1.56 love to be in the 1.40s
Posted By: 9 Sec Phill
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 05:33 AM
1.36 60' in street trim
Posted By: all spooled up
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 05:40 AM
phill is that on moter or nos
Posted By: an8sec70cuda
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 12:18 PM
After trying unsuccessfully to get my car to work on slicks, I put on a pair of 295-65 drag radials after one of the tech guys at M/T recommended them to me. Runs much better on the radials.
I've been a best of 1.32 sixty foot and 9.54 at 140+ mph on the radials, footbraking and naturally aspirated.
The best I've gotten from it on bias ply tires is a 1.43 sixty foot and a 9.94 at 138+ MPH. Given the conditions I ran that in, the bias plies will MPH slightly better b/c they grow. Radials don't grow much, if at all.
In the bias ply tire's defense, I only have 8.5" wide rims and was running a 29.5x10.5 stiff sidewall M/T slick with tubes. I had to run 18 psi in them to keep from folding the tire up. With a wider rim I think it'd do a lot better.
The radials are faster when the track will hold them.
I recently ran into some major traction issues, but learned a valuable lesson about how important the front suspension is to making a small tire car work. It's all fixed now and runs like it has for the last 4 years.
I've been a best of 1.32 sixty foot and 9.54 at 140+ mph on the radials, footbraking and naturally aspirated.
The best I've gotten from it on bias ply tires is a 1.43 sixty foot and a 9.94 at 138+ MPH. Given the conditions I ran that in, the bias plies will MPH slightly better b/c they grow. Radials don't grow much, if at all.
In the bias ply tire's defense, I only have 8.5" wide rims and was running a 29.5x10.5 stiff sidewall M/T slick with tubes. I had to run 18 psi in them to keep from folding the tire up. With a wider rim I think it'd do a lot better.
The radials are faster when the track will hold them.
I recently ran into some major traction issues, but learned a valuable lesson about how important the front suspension is to making a small tire car work. It's all fixed now and runs like it has for the last 4 years.
Posted By: preddy
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 12:35 PM
I was just talking about this very topic with some friends Saturday. It got me thinking.... My 10.5 slicks are screwed to the rim and I run inner tubes. What do you do with drag radials? Do you screw them to the rim too or is that not needed?
Posted By: an8sec70cuda
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 12:53 PM
Quote:
I was just talking about this very topic with some friends Saturday. It got me thinking.... My 10.5 slicks are screwed to the rim and I run inner tubes. What do you do with drag radials? Do you screw them to the rim too or is that not needed?
Mine are screwed to the rim. They will move like a slick.
Posted By: Big Squeeze
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 01:38 PM
Like Chip mentioned, I bet the guys that go faster with radials either have a rim that's too narrow or the sidewalls are dead......
Think about it........If neither tires spins, why would one be quicker than the other?
It's, obviously, the sidewall........If radials were so great, you'd see them in Stock Elimantor (yes, I know a lot of them run a radial slick)........
So, to have the same ET with slicks (which is typcially more desired because it is the more forgiving tire), the sidewalls need to be stiff, which means 2" wider rim than tread width along with the correct, higher, air pressure.........and tubes help stiffen the sidewall too.........and you're not going to be able to run slicks to the cords like so many people do......... 
We'd actually change the tire pressure in 1/4-1/2LB increments on Top Fuel cars to control how fast the car gets up on the tire and to control tire shake........If the track is really good, we'd lower the tire pressue 1/4-1/2LB so the sidewall wasn't as stiff so it would sling out and get up on the tire quicker to keep it from shaking.......If the track was bad, we'd raise it 1/4-1/2LB to stiffen the sidewall to prevent shake because we couldn't hit it as hard with clutch because it could blow the tires off....... 1/4-1/2LB doesn't sound like much, but with a tire that big, that's quite a bit of air.......
Even weather effected how much tire pressure we ran.......Bad air meant lower pressure because power was down, so it would get up on the tire easier/quicker........
Think about it........If neither tires spins, why would one be quicker than the other?
It's, obviously, the sidewall........If radials were so great, you'd see them in Stock Elimantor (yes, I know a lot of them run a radial slick)........So, to have the same ET with slicks (which is typcially more desired because it is the more forgiving tire), the sidewalls need to be stiff, which means 2" wider rim than tread width along with the correct, higher, air pressure.........and tubes help stiffen the sidewall too.........and you're not going to be able to run slicks to the cords like so many people do.........
We'd actually change the tire pressure in 1/4-1/2LB increments on Top Fuel cars to control how fast the car gets up on the tire and to control tire shake........If the track is really good, we'd lower the tire pressue 1/4-1/2LB so the sidewall wasn't as stiff so it would sling out and get up on the tire quicker to keep it from shaking.......If the track was bad, we'd raise it 1/4-1/2LB to stiffen the sidewall to prevent shake because we couldn't hit it as hard with clutch because it could blow the tires off.......
1/4-1/2LB doesn't sound like much, but with a tire that big, that's quite a bit of air....... Even weather effected how much tire pressure we ran.......Bad air meant lower pressure because power was down, so it would get up on the tire easier/quicker........
Posted By: DJVCuda
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 03:43 PM
a radial will not expand like a bias ply at the top end ,where a bias ply will grow, get taller, and lower your gear.
A radial will not grow, maintaining the circumference of the tire through the duration of the run.
That is why a radial will be faster.
A radial will not grow, maintaining the circumference of the tire through the duration of the run.
That is why a radial will be faster.
Posted By: Big Squeeze
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 03:57 PM
Quote:
a radial will not expand like a bias ply at the top end ,where a bias ply will grow, get taller, and lower your gear.
A radial will not grow, maintaining the circumference of the tire through the duration of the run.
That is why a radial will be faster.
That's not the only reason.......Stiff sidewall tires typically 60 foot better.....so it can't be because of tire growth difference.....
Posted By: DJVCuda
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 03:59 PM
i agree - the hit of the two tires are different - you dont roll over a radial, which will slow down a bias slick
Posted By: tboomer
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 04:03 PM
I talked to a rep at Hoosier a few years ago about this. Track prep is the key to using a radial slick. For a plain old bracket car,he said just use the bias....
Posted By: 9 Sec Phill
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 04:17 PM
Quote:
phill is that on moter or nos
Thats with a 150 hit, will loose a tenth just on motor to a 1.45 or so.
Posted By: HEMIFRED
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 04:20 PM
Quote:
Like Chip mentioned, I bet the guys that go faster with radials either have a rim that's too narrow or the sidewalls are dead......
the above statement applies to 90% of the improvmenets that guys claim from a new tire size or brand change. More so the dead sidewalls. We tend to pay much more attention to wear on circumferance than sidewalls. I have seen improvments equal to what claims are made here regarding switch to radials that came fom putting tubes in tires that had dead walls.
Posted By: Monte_Smith
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 04:27 PM
The radial, of comparable size, provided you can hook it, will be faster than the bias tire, every time. The radial tire construction, is simply better. Yes the sidewall is stiffer, but the tire as a whole is stiffer. The tire stays more "round" during the run, which is quicker and faster. We run both slicks and radials. With identical tune ups and identical 60fts, the 330 and 660 numbers, are quicker with radials, EVERY time.
Monte
Monte
Posted By: BobR
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 04:33 PM
Quote:
The radial, of comparable size, provided you can hook it, will be faster than the bias tire, every time. The radial tire construction, is simply better. Yes the sidewall is stiffer, but the tire as a whole is stiffer. The tire stays more "round" during the run, which is quicker and faster. We run both slicks and radials. With identical tune ups and identical 60fts, the 330 and 660 numbers, are quicker with radials, EVERY time.
Monte
But when the hook goes away it won't recover without pedaling on a car with any power. Even when pedaled it's hard to get them stuck again. I know these tires are resposible for some fan interest.
Posted By: all spooled up
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 04:39 PM
im going to a 325/50r15 on 12 rim
Posted By: justinp61
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 04:42 PM
My experience falls in line with most here. The radials either hook or spin hard. My Dart was quicker and faster with the radials than it was with new slicks, 275/60 MT ET Streets and new 28 X 9 MT slicks.
I haven't tried slicks with the 408, it has gone 1.38 60' on pump 93 with no power adders on a 325/50 MT ET Street Radial. Over the winter I plan on buying a extra set of rear wheels and a new pair of slicks. There is only one track here that it will consistently hook at with the radials. I bracket race so it will run on slicks next year.
I haven't tried slicks with the 408, it has gone 1.38 60' on pump 93 with no power adders on a 325/50 MT ET Street Radial. Over the winter I plan on buying a extra set of rear wheels and a new pair of slicks. There is only one track here that it will consistently hook at with the radials. I bracket race so it will run on slicks next year.
Posted By: StealthWedge67
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 05:09 PM
This is hard to articulate, but I'll try.
I always consider that most all things your car does takes energy to make that thing happen. This energy is supplied in the form of torque from the motor. Anything that takes energy without effectively moving the car forward steals that much energy / power from your ultimate goal of getting to the stripe. Now, A bias tire with softer sidewalls flexes much more at the sidewall (and I believe in the treadpatch) than a radial tire. Flexing the tire takes energy. This energy that is used to flex the tire is energy that dies in the tire, and is not transferred to the track. The stiffer radial tire flexes less, and thus is more effective at transferring all the energy its recieving into rolling force.
The flex is also what makes them hook, so its a double edged sword. But, as said, as long as the radial tire hooks, you're now using more effective energy to push you forward, as less is spent flexing the tire. I think this same principal can be applied to rear suspension (but thats another discussion).
Also, as far as growth. My philosopy here is that growth will only help if you're at the end of your motor's power range, and it needs more gear. If you're still in your effective power range at the top of the track, then you don't want growth, the lower effective gear ratio offered by the non-growing tire will offer acceleration at a faster rate than the higher effective gear.
These are merely my thoughts as a reasonably intelligent person, offered up for discussion. Your thoughts may vary.
I always consider that most all things your car does takes energy to make that thing happen. This energy is supplied in the form of torque from the motor. Anything that takes energy without effectively moving the car forward steals that much energy / power from your ultimate goal of getting to the stripe. Now, A bias tire with softer sidewalls flexes much more at the sidewall (and I believe in the treadpatch) than a radial tire. Flexing the tire takes energy. This energy that is used to flex the tire is energy that dies in the tire, and is not transferred to the track. The stiffer radial tire flexes less, and thus is more effective at transferring all the energy its recieving into rolling force.
The flex is also what makes them hook, so its a double edged sword. But, as said, as long as the radial tire hooks, you're now using more effective energy to push you forward, as less is spent flexing the tire. I think this same principal can be applied to rear suspension (but thats another discussion).
Also, as far as growth. My philosopy here is that growth will only help if you're at the end of your motor's power range, and it needs more gear. If you're still in your effective power range at the top of the track, then you don't want growth, the lower effective gear ratio offered by the non-growing tire will offer acceleration at a faster rate than the higher effective gear.
These are merely my thoughts as a reasonably intelligent person, offered up for discussion. Your thoughts may vary.
Posted By: superwrench
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 05:59 PM
Quote:Quote:
The radial, of comparable size, provided you can hook it, will be faster than the bias tire, every time. The radial tire construction, is simply better. Yes the sidewall is stiffer, but the tire as a whole is stiffer. The tire stays more "round" during the run, which is quicker and faster. We run both slicks and radials. With identical tune ups and identical 60fts, the 330 and 660 numbers, are quicker with radials, EVERY time.
Monte
But when the hook goes away it won't recover without pedaling on a car with any power. Even when pedaled it's hard to get them stuck again. I know these tires are resposible for some fan interest.
That's it exactly. Once mine decide to fry, then the run's done...no ifs,ands, or buts. Only way to get them to hook after that is either back peddle severely or try an upshift(short shift) to the next gear.Personally, when my radials loose it, I can easily cover the whole width of the track for the first 300 feet....sometimes not a fun ride.
Great for the fans, but hell on the driver.
Posted By: Tig
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 06:20 PM
Are we discussing treaded radial race tyres or radial slicks? I've found that a radial slick will et and 60ft better but are not as forgiving on less well prepped tracks.
I've no experience with the treaded radial race tyres but have listened to many tales of mixed results with them, seems they will work well on a good track, similar to the above.
I've no experience with the treaded radial race tyres but have listened to many tales of mixed results with them, seems they will work well on a good track, similar to the above.
Posted By: superwrench
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/04/10 07:35 PM
The OP was refering to ET Street Radials, so they do have a tread design.
Personally I have seen a few guys at our local track running just radial slicks. They have pretty well the same problems as the street radials.Both them and myself usually just hope the track stays together for the final rounds.
Personally I have seen a few guys at our local track running just radial slicks. They have pretty well the same problems as the street radials.Both them and myself usually just hope the track stays together for the final rounds.
Posted By: all spooled up
Re: reg slicks to drag radial lower et - 11/05/10 08:11 PM
