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Going racing again.. slicks vs drag radials
#1599109
03/27/14 11:35 AM
03/27/14 11:35 AM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,847
Oakdale CT
gdonovan
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,847
Oakdale CT
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I plan on racing again but still have a few details to tidy up and need an opinion.
Normally when I raced my GTX I would slap on the Welds with M/T 10.5" slicks and go at it. But the car no longer has long studs and my slicks are several years old (but only had 6-8 passes on them) so I'm left with some choices.
1) I have access to a set of 15" x 8 Ramcharger rims, slap some new drag radials on and no worries about the wheel studs.
2) Pickup a set of spare axles, slap some long studs on and swap them out as needed. Was even considering a new set of Yukon axles with green bearings, Cass has them for $300 a pair I think.
Odds are the slicks will have to be replaced too even though they were bagged and in climate controlled storage but won't cost me nothing to make a few passes with them and assess.
Car has a 440 auto with 8.75, when the car had a stick in it on slicks it ran 11.2 at 124 mph with a 1.75 ST boiling the slicks. Stock "hemi" bars up front with XHD leafs out back and a snubber.
I'm thinking with the auto, some 4:10's out back instead of 4:56's and a good hook it will finally been in the 10's even though both car and owner has put on a few pounds since last outing.
I have read some of the pro's and cons between slicks vs the radials. The car "walking around the track" during a pass doesn't bother me a lick and is something I'm use too so that isn't a strike for me against the slicks.
The radials seem to be less forgiving about track prep though.
Thoughts? Maybe even another option I have not considered?
Almost time to make some smoke, been too long.
"I think its got a hemi"
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Re: Going racing again.. slicks vs drag radials
[Re: gdonovan]
#1599110
03/27/14 11:47 AM
03/27/14 11:47 AM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,422
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Dragula
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,422
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
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I don't have my rule book in front of me, but I believe the after market axles are required as well as the long wheels studs...
And many on here will praise the drag radials, I for one do not like them. They have tread on them, the tire pressure is very touchy on them, and when they do spin, its not a little, they just go up in smoke...
Slicks are more consistant, less touchy on pressure, and for their width, they have more surface contact. Also, they flex the sidewall at the hit, often helping the suspension find the grip needed...Can't go flexing the sidewall on a radial...
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Re: Going racing again.. slicks vs drag radials
[Re: Dragula]
#1599111
03/27/14 11:58 AM
03/27/14 11:58 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,416
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,416
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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The radials will be faster, but not as forgiving on a marginally prepped track. If your track isn't typically prepped good, or if your car isn't set up to transfer weight well, then I'd go w/ a slick. Quote:
Can't go flexing the sidewall on a radial...
Why not?
CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
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Re: Going racing again.. slicks vs drag radials
[Re: gdonovan]
#1599113
03/27/14 01:46 PM
03/27/14 01:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
383man
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
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I mostly run test & tunes but I still have stock axles. I plan to upgrade when I can but cash is tight with me living on disability and thats why I dont race much. But none of the tracks have ever said anything to me about my stock axles. I use the Hoosier 30 x 9 radial slick as no one makes a 30 x 9 drag radial which is the size I like for my stock wheelwells. But they seem to hook fine for me most of the time at most tracks. I honestly did not notice any difference on how consistent the car hooks when I went to radial slicks and they do handle very nice since I use a radial street tire up front. I was using Hoosier QTP tires which are a bias tire. Ron
Last edited by 383man; 03/27/14 01:49 PM.
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Re: Going racing again.. slicks vs drag radials
[Re: racerhog]
#1599115
03/27/14 02:09 PM
03/27/14 02:09 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,169
CT
GTX MATT
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,169
CT
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Gary I would go with the real slicks if you really want that 10 second slip. Are you opposed to putting long wheel studs back in? You could do it the bootleg way with a lug nut, I just did it last weekend. Any reason you can't leave them in all the time?
Also, I know you have a T ram, but wtf is the rest of your build to trap 124?
You going to LVD or NED?
Last edited by GTX MATT; 03/27/14 02:11 PM.
Now I need to pin those needles, got to feel that heat
Hear my motor screamin while I'm tearin up the street
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Re: Going racing again.. slicks vs drag radials
[Re: GTX MATT]
#1599116
03/27/14 02:26 PM
03/27/14 02:26 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,847
Oakdale CT
gdonovan
OP
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Quote:
Are you opposed to putting long wheel studs back in?
Yes since the car is primarily going to see street use and changing tires with long studs is a pain in the ass. I'd rather swap axles out (5 nuts on each side and done) then run on the street with long studs sticking out my 15 x 8 Rallyes.
I don't plan to take the car to the track that often so swapping axles time to time is no hardship.
Quote:
You could do it the bootleg way with a lug nut,
I had a trick set of lug nuts (wink, wink) but stopped running them when I found out I cracked two. One expanded so bad had to drive it out the rim with a punch. Not worth the risk, to me or the guy in the other lane.
Quote:
Also, I know you have a T ram, but wtf is the rest of your build to trap 124?
30 over 11:1 440 with .590 cam, McCandless ported 452 heads with oversize valves, titanium retainers, battleship steel springs, maxi rocker gear and 2" Hooker supercomp headers at the time. The hookers have been replaced with a smaller tube header and there is an auto in it now. With 3:23's the car is fun as hell to drive, with the 4:10's I suspect my street tires are going to be severely abused.
I'll have to do some fine tuning once I'm at the track but I'm sure with some tweaking of the timing and jets it will be at 100% again.
Quote:
You going to LVD or NED?
The Valley, I find that they much nicer to people who have gone to the trouble of driving all the way from CT.
"I think its got a hemi"
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Re: Going racing again.. slicks vs drag radials
[Re: gdonovan]
#1599117
03/27/14 02:52 PM
03/27/14 02:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,635
Oakland, MI
dizuster
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,635
Oakland, MI
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The slick will be much more repeatable. I have 275/60 radials on my car, rancho's, 3.23 gear, and cal tracks. On the same day I had it go 1.50 60ft one weekend, and wouldn't hook again for 7 more passes the next weekend when I finally had the power turned down so much it only went 1.68 60ft. As mentioned... when they hook... they hook. But if they spin... it's all over. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGjej81qIDoThat being said... I just spent $1,500 on shocks trying to make the radials work...    
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Re: Going racing again.. slicks vs drag radials
[Re: Sport440]
#1599121
03/27/14 07:22 PM
03/27/14 07:22 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,058
bigfork mn
dragram440
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,058
bigfork mn
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The track I normally run on is prepped to the max. I run faster on the drag radial every pass. I went from Hoosier Q.T.P. 28 x 14.40 x 15 to 275-60-15 Drag radial and ran my best 60' ever. I now went to 325-50-15 and they hook great at the track not so great on the street. The drag radials seem to drive alot better on the street and you dont get any of that back end sway going down the track.
Last edited by dragram440; 03/27/14 07:23 PM.
67' charger 499 RB
10.57 at 127
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Re: Going racing again.. slicks vs drag radials
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#1599122
03/27/14 10:00 PM
03/27/14 10:00 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,422
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Dragula
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,422
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
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Quote:
The radials will be faster, but not as forgiving on a marginally prepped track. If your track isn't typically prepped good, or if your car isn't set up to transfer weight well, then I'd go w/ a slick.
Quote:
Can't go flexing the sidewall on a radial...
Why not?
Well Obviously you can, but when the side wall goes, they are junk regaurdless of tread depth...
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I've raced on tires that where stored outside in Las Veags, NV that had set for three years flat, them stupid tires hooked like you know what until they where worn out 
My current car sat for 6 yrs before I bought it last year and the tires have some weather checking on the sidewalls, the car has gone 1.27 60 ft. times on them so far 
How big are your old slicks? I would try them, the worst thing that can happen is they won't hook anymore 
, I put the new smaller hoodscoop hood on the car today for the Las Vegas races 
.
